Research Specialist, Core Facilities

Job details

The people of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) are united by a singular mission: ending cancer for life. Our specialized care teams provide personalized, compassionate, expert care to patients of all ages. Informed by basic research done at our Sloan Kettering Institute, scientists across MSK collaborate to conduct innovative translational and clinical research that is driving a revolution in our understanding of cancer as a disease and improving the ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat it. MSK is dedicated to training the next generation of scientists and clinicians, who go on to pursue our mission at MSK and around the globe.

Role Overview:

Exciting Opportunity at MSK: The Molecular Cytology Core Facility (MCCF) seeks a Research Specialist – Core Facilities to design and perform atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical trapping experiments for pre-clinical and clinical researchers at MSKCC and neighboring institutes.

MCCF provides elite services for single-molecule biophysics and nano-mechanical characterization of biological samples for cancer research. We maintain two Asylum MFP-3D-Bio and Bruker Nanowizard V AFMs and a Lumicks C-Trap optical trapping/confocal system for quantification of single-molecule DNA/protein interactions and nano-mechanical measurements of diverse, cancer-related biological samples.

Key Qualifications:

Responsibilities:

• Advising and assisting users in optimizing sample preparation in a wide range of experimental systems from single molecules through cells and organoids to whole tissues

• Designing, performing and analyzing AFM and optical trapping experiments

• Exploring new avenues for AFM in cancer biology and developing new techniques in collaboration with users

• Promoting and expanding the use of AFM and optical trapping technologies in pre-clinical and clinical research at MSKCC

Qualifications:

• PhD in a life sciences-related field, with relevant postdoctoral experience strongly preferred

• Experience with AFM, with optical trapping experience a major plus

• Excellent communication skills and experience in working with diverse range of collaborators

• Strong organization skills and demonstrated ability to split effort between multiple projects

• Scientific maturity and ability to assure the generation of accurate and reproducible data

Core Skills:

• Expertise in Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and optical trapping, including experimental design, execution, and data analysis.
• Advanced sample preparation techniques across biological scales—from single molecules to tissues.
• Strong collaborative and communication skills to support and guide diverse research teams.
• Scientific innovation and problem-solving in developing new biophysical methods for cancer research.
• Project management and multitasking abilities to handle multiple concurrent research collaborations.

Additional Information:

• Schedule: Monday - Friday, 37.5 hours, onsite
• Location: 417 E. 68th Street, NYC (Zuckerman)

Pay Range: $82,000.00 - $131,200.00

FSLA Status: Exempt

Closing:

At MSK, we believe in fair, competitive pay that reflects your job, experience, and skills.

MSK is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of recruiting and employment. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration without regard to race, color, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran status or any other factor which cannot lawfully be used as a basis for an employment decision.  

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