Research Technician - cfDNA laboratory, Biobank

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.

Exciting Opportunity at MSK: Research Technician – cfDNA Laboratory, Biobank

Join the MSK Biobank as a Research Technician in our cfDNA Laboratory and be part of a team that supports life-saving cancer research across Memorial Sloan Kettering. In this role, you will help ensure that investigators have access to high-quality patient biospecimens linked to meaningful clinical data. Your work will help enable discoveries in cancer biology, treatment response, and precision medicine that directly impact patient care.

Role Overview

• Process and manage biospecimens daily, ensuring samples are handled with precision and in accordance with established protocols to support high-quality research outcomes.
• Contribute to ongoing quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) activities to maintain the integrity, reliability, and traceability of biospecimens.
• Collaborate closely with senior Biobank staff and investigators to troubleshoot issues, resolve workflow challenges, and improve laboratory processes.
• Operate laboratory equipment safely and confidently.
• Organize and prioritize daily assignments in partnership with technician colleagues and investigators to meet operational and research timelines.
• Manage laboratory supplies and reagents, including ordering, inventory tracking, and maintaining accurate documentation to support smooth day-to-day operations.

Key Qualifications

• BA/BS in Biology, Biochemistry, or another Biological/Natural Science field.
• Prior wet lab experience preferred.
• Familiarity with QA/QC practices is beneficial.
• Licensing not required.

Core Skills

• Ability to work independently and perform repetitive tasks while maintaining accuracy.
• Strong attention to detail and excellent record-keeping habits.
• Communicate effectively with investigators and Biobank staff via email and shared systems, and use computer-based tools (including Excel and internal databases) to track samples, maintain records, and support laboratory workflows.
• Ability to follow protocols while troubleshooting when needed.
• Team-oriented approach to support colleagues and investigators across MSK.
• Adaptability in a dynamic laboratory environment.

Additional Information

• Location: New York, NY – Center for Laboratory Medicine
• Schedule: On-site, 37.5 hours per week; Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Reporting to: Supervisor, Core Facilities

Helpful Links:

• Compensation Philosophy
• Benefits

About the MSK Biobank: The Biobank is MSK’s centralized facility for the processing, storage, and distribution of human biological specimens from cancer patients. While the Biobank does not conduct investigative research itself, it plays a critical role in supporting investigators across MSK by providing high-quality biospecimens for research studies.

The cfDNA Laboratory processes blood collected for research studies and isolates circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA), which are small DNA fragments found in the bloodstream. These molecules serve as important biomarkers for cancer detection, tumor profiling, and monitoring disease progression. Each specimen stored in the Biobank is linked to demographic and clinical information, including the patient’s diagnosis, treatment history, and treatment response.

The Biobank adheres to rigorous quality control standards to ensure biospecimens are processed consistently for all investigators using this shared resource.

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.  

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.