Research Associate - Flow Cytometry Instrumentation and Cell Therapy Monitoring

Position Type: Full-time
Location: Dartmouth College, Precision Optical Diagnostics Laboratory, Lebanon NH
Department: Thayer School of Engineering/Dartmouth Comprehensive Cancer Center
Start Date: Immediate
Compensation: Commensurate with experience

The Precision Optical Diagnostics Lab (https://sites.dartmouth.edu/georgakoudi-lab/) is seeking a full-time Research Associate to join an interdisciplinary research project focused on the development of custom flow cytometry instrumentation and data analysis methods to monitor cell therapy products in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo.

This position is part of an exciting translational research effort at the intersection of engineering, immunology, hematology/oncology, data science, cell therapy, and immunotherapy. Our laboratory is an engineering research lab located in a building contiguous with the hospital and integrated with the Dartmouth Comprehensive Cancer Center, creating a highly collaborative environment with direct connections to clinical and translational research.

The Research Associate will work closely with engineers, immunologists, hematology/oncology researchers, clinicians, and data scientists to develop, test, and apply advanced technologies for monitoring cell therapy products. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated candidate interested in biomedical innovation, translational research, and the development of next-generation tools for cancer therapy monitoring.

The Research Associate will contribute to several aspects of the project, including:

• Supporting the development, testing, and optimization of custom flow cytometry instrumentation.
• Assisting with experimental design and execution for monitoring cell therapy products in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo.
• Performing sample preparation, data acquisition, quality control, and troubleshooting related to flow cytometry-based assays.
• Developing, implementing, or supporting data analysis workflows for high-dimensional cytometry data.
• Conducting literature reviews to inform experimental design, technology development, and data interpretation.
• Collaborating with interdisciplinary team members, including immunologists, hematology/oncology investigators, engineers, and data scientists.
• Maintaining accurate and organized experimental records, protocols, datasets, and analysis documentation.
• Participating in lab meetings, project discussions, manuscript preparation, presentations, and grant-related activities as appropriate.
• Contributing to a collaborative, rigorous, and innovation-focused research environment.

• Bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering, bioengineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, biology, immunology, biophysics, or a related field.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and documentation skills.
• Willingness to learn new experimental, computational, and analytical methods.
• Demonstrated ability to review scientific literature and apply findings to research questions.

Experience in one or more of the following areas is strongly desired but not required:

• Flow cytometry, fluorescence-based assays, microscopy, optics, or biomedical instrumentation.
• Instrument design, prototyping, calibration, or troubleshooting.
• Programming or data analysis using Python, MATLAB, R, or similar tools.
• Analysis of cytometry, single-cell, imaging, or other high-dimensional biological datasets.
• Immunology, hematology/oncology, cell therapy, immunotherapy, or cancer biology.
• Wet lab experience, including cell culture, immune cell assays, or sample processing.
• Engineering design, systems integration, signal processing, or quantitative biology.

Interest in innovation, entrepreneurship, technology translation, or biomedical device development is a plus.

The ideal candidate is intellectually curious, detail-oriented, and excited by interdisciplinary research. They should be comfortable learning across fields, communicating with collaborators from different scientific backgrounds, and contributing to both hands-on experimental work and quantitative analysis. A strong candidate will bring initiative, creativity, scientific rigor, and enthusiasm for developing technologies that can support advances in cell therapy and immunotherapy.

Our lab is an engineering-focused research group embedded in a highly translational biomedical environment. The lab is located in a building contiguous with the hospital and is part of the Dartmouth Comprehensive Cancer Center, providing opportunities to interact with clinicians, translational scientists, and researchers working at the forefront of cancer therapy. The successful candidate will gain experience in technology development, biomedical instrumentation, data analysis, and collaborative translational research.

Interested candidates should submit:

• Resume or CV
• Brief cover letter describing research interests, relevant experience, and career goals
• Contact information for 2-3 references

Applications should be submitted through Handshake or sent to Irene.Georgakoudi@dartmouth.edu.