Research Lab Technician II

Job Title: Research Lab Technician II
Annual Base Salary: DOE, $71,510-$91,780 along with bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits package
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Our Mission
Formerly known as the Ellison Institute of Technology Los Angeles, the Ellison Medical Institute strives to spark innovation, leverage technology, and drive interdisciplinary, patient-centered research to continually enhance health, reimagine and redefine cancer care, and transform lives.


Established in 2016 as a medical research and development center, the Institute features innovation labs for artificial intelligence and molecular analytics and was among the first organizations to vertically integrate the interdisciplinary study and treatment of disease. We offer multifaceted programs, including a preventative medicine and cancer clinic, cross-disciplinary research laboratories, a health policy think-tank, and community outreach and educational programs.

Please visit emila.org for more details.

Job Summary
The Ellison Medical Institute is seeking a motivated, proactive, and detail-oriented Research Lab Technician II to join our Cell Line Team, part of our Research Operations Department. This role has the primary purpose of expanding and maintaining EMI’s cell line biobank along with developing and conducting in vitro assays to support the Institute’s novel cancer therapeutics drug discovery pipeline under the directive of the Cell Line Team Manager. With 1–2 years of relevant experience, the Research Lab Technician II will perform quality control measures and characterization on all new cell lines entering or generated at the Institute including primary 3D organoid cultures, assist with method development, conduct drug response assays, write relevant SOPs, and track activities in an electronic lab notebook. The ideal candidate brings thoughtfulness and initiative to their work, thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment, and consistently delivers high-quality results on time in support of the Institute’s mission and values.

Why You Should Join Us:

• Be a Part of a Dynamic Team that Supports Multiple Research Programs: Cell Line Team is a trusted and dependable resource for researchers across EMI. It balances robust productivity with high team morale.
• Advance Your Laboratory Research Experience in a Mission-Driven Setting: Build skills across cell culture and model development, in vitro assay optimization, and scientific communication in an environment where innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration are central to advancing healthcare and cancer research.
• Work at the Forefront of Technology: Research projects incorporate advanced microphysiological systems and discoveries guided by aritificial intelligence.

Job Accountabilities:

• Expand and Maintain Cell Line Biobank: Involves handling 2D and 3D cell cultures from external and commercial sources, generating new primary tissue-derived cell lines, and keeping thorough records.
• Assist with Method Optimization: Methods include cell line generation, cell function, and cell type characterization.
• Execute in vitro Assays: Independently perform non-routine and complex research laboratory procedures and techniques.
• Support Projects Across the Institute: Work collaboratively with clinical research, microscopy, drug discovery and data analytics teams in support of cross-functional institute alignment.
• Establish and Maintain Standard Operating Procedures: Author and maintain SOPs as new methods and assays are developed.
• Participate in Team and Project Meetings: Compile results and present to colleagues to foster collaboration and drive progress.
• Utilize a Laboratory Information Management System and an Electronic Lab Notebook: A state-of-the-art system allows convenient inventory tracking and documenting of tasks and experiments.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in Biology or related life sciences field.
• Required Experience: 1-2 years of cell culture experience, 1-2 years of research lab experience.
• Required Skills: Experience in 2D and 3D cell culture; ability to read and understand scientific literature to adapt/modify/optimize methods; organization and record keeping abilities; efficient time management; communication skills needed to train others and present activities/results; fundamental understanding of in vitro molecular biology lab techniques; ability to analyze and plot data; basic understanding of statistics; familiarity with brightfield and fluorescent microscopy.

For the safety and health of employees, guests, and patients, the Ellison Medical Institute may mandate vaccination requirements for employment. The Ellison Medical Institute's policies are always subject to review and change to ensure they are appropriate under the circumstances.

The Ellison Medical Institute is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that an inclusive, collaborative team environment is just as important to our mission as stethoscopes and microscopes. We strive to always provide employees a supportive atmosphere, so they feel confident taking creative risks toward innovation. The Ellison Medical Institute values emotional intelligence and communication with empathy and respect for others. We seek to build a diverse group of people who are curious, have a deep sense of responsibility, and the grit needed to achieve excellence.