Research Associate I

City of Hope

Monrovia, CA

ID: 7203466 (Ref.No. 10022005)
Posted: December 29, 2023
Salary / Pay Rate: $24.52 - $28.44 / hour
Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

Job Description

Join the transformative team at City of Hope, where we're changing lives and making a real difference in the fight against cancer, diabetes,

and other life-threatening illnesses.City of Hope’s growing national system includes its Los Angeles campus, a network of clinical care locations across Southern California, a new cancer center in Orange County, California, andtreatment facilitiesin Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix. our dedicated and compassionate employees are driven by a common mission: To deliver the cures of tomorrow to the people who need them today.

We seek a Research Associate candidate within the multidisciplinary research team headed by Dr. Ajay Goel, Professor and Chair Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Experimental Therapeutics and Associate Director of Basic Sciences, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer. Our research is focused on translational research on the genomic and epigenomic characterization of various gastrointestinal cancers (GI), including colorectal, pancreatic, and gastric cancers.

Some of the key research topics in our laboratory include:

  1. Developing ctDNA and cfRNA-based liquid biopsy biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and predictive responses to various therapies.
  2. Study the epigenetic basis of GI cancers (e.g., aberrant DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs).
  3. The genetic basis of early-onset and familial/hereditary colorectal cancers.
  4. The role ofthe tumor microenvironment, stem cells, immune regulation, and identification of novel targeted therapies.
  5. The role of extracellular vesicles/exosomes in cancer pathogenesis and their role as disease biomarkers.

As a successful candidate, you will:

  • Maintain various aspects of lab management, including maintenance and upkeep of reagent and clinical specimen inventories, ordering, lab safety, and regulatory tasks.
  • Ensure that all laboratory activities comply with each procedure(s) by utilizing safety procedures and guidelines in handling, storage, and disposal of bio-hazardous, infectious, and toxic material.
  • Perform a variety of routine and non-routine laboratory research experiments nd record and validate results for accuracy and completeness.
  • Perform Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics techniques and general lab maintenance that assists in conducting an Investigator’s Research Project.
  • Be responsible for accurately recording work performed, including results and methodology.

Your qualifications should include:

  • Bachelor’s or master’s degree; master’s degree preferred.
  • Two years of laboratory experience with a bachelor’s degree or 3 years of related research/ laboratory experience with a master’s degree
  • Assist and perform various molecular biology techniques, such as tissue culture, flow cytometry (analysis), and molecular tests, according to the Laboratory’s Standard Operating Procedures.

City of Hope is an equal opportunity employer. To learn more about our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, please click here.

Salary / Pay Rate Information:
Pay Rate: $24.52 - $28.44 / hour

The estimated pay scale represents the typical [salary/hourly] range City of Hope reasonably expects to pay for this position, with offers determined based on several factors which may include, but not be limited to, the candidate’s experience, expertise, skills, education, job scope, training, internal equity, geography/market, etc. This pay scale is subject to change from time to time.



City of Hope is a community of people characterized by our diversity of thought, background and approach, but tied together by our commitment to care for and cure those with cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The innovation that our diversity produces in the areas of research, treatment, philanthropy and education has made us national leaders in this fight. Our unique and diverse workforce provides us the ability to understand our patients' needs, deliver compassionate care and continue the quest for a cure for life-threatening diseases. At City of Hope, diversity and inclusion is a core value at the heart of our mission. We strive to create an inclusive workplace environment that engages all of our employees and provides them with opportunities to develop and grow, both personally and professionally. Each day brings an opportunity to strengthen our work, leverage our different perspectives and improve our patients’ experiences by learning from others. Diversity and inclusion is about much more than policies and campaigns. It is an integral part of who we are as an institution, how we operate and how we see our future.