POSITION SUMMARY: 

A six-month, full-time co-op position in the RNA Therapeutics Institute (RTI) at UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester available to undergraduate chemistry and life sciences majors.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, the field of RNA therapeutics has become significantly better known to scientific and lay communities worldwide. Oligonucleotides, including small interfering RNAs and antisense oligonucleotides, are creating a new class of medicines to treat genetic disorders such as neurodegenerative and other rare diseases. The work of synthesizing oligonucleotides for research and pharmaceutical use is an exciting combination of systematic production and scientific discovery, and chemists with oligo synthesis experience are in high demand in both industry and academia. Undergraduates interested in a career or further education in chemistry, or the life sciences will find the RTI to be a collaborative environment where students are treated as peer scientists and encouraged to participate in the many levels of experimental design, execution, discussion, and dissemination. Previous discoveries made at the RTI have resulted in the creation of pharmaceutical companies and the development of medicines being used to treat patients. Recent oligonucleotide chemists from the RTI have been recruited to well-paid positions in industry and accepted into prestigious graduate programs and medical schools.

ABOUT THE RNA THERAPEUTICS INSTITUTE AND UMASS CHAN MEDICAL SCHOOL:
The RNA Therapeutics Institute faculty are recognized as scientific trailblazers, and include a Nobel Laureate, a Gairdner Prize recipient, the 2018 RNA Society early and mid-career award recipients, two National Academy of Sciences members, a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, and three Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. UMass Chan Medical School is ranked 10^th nationwide for primary care education and 21^st in National Institutes of Health funding among the 140 medical schools, public and private, that receive NIH funding.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Under the direction of a supervisor, operates oligonucleotide and peptide synthesizers
• Under supervision, performs deprotection, purification, and QC of oligonucleotides
• Prepares laboratory reagents, buffers, media
• Under general supervision, performs and documents start-up, quality control, calibration, preventative maintenance, and troubleshooting procedures on instruments and laboratory equipment per established laboratory protocols. Assists with inventory management to maintain adequate supplies for oligonucleotide synthesis
• Under general supervision, performs complex chemical, biological, and analytical tests according to established laboratory procedures. Uses automated equipment and instruments capable of performing tests simultaneously
• Performs routine compound production evaluation of quality. Evaluates QC and calibration results for acceptability following established laboratory policies before reporting results
• Ensures accuracy of QC results. Evaluates the compound’s quality and quantity, enters results into the system, and reports according to established laboratory policies. Reviews own work to ensure that all work products are accurate, consistent with standards, and produced in a timely manner
• Participates in mandatory and voluntary continuing education to stay current with developments in the field of oligonucleotide chemistry. Completes all required competency assessments, including the running and resulting of proficiency testing samples
• Participates in the evaluation of new methods, procedures, and instruments and in the development of technical standard operating procedures under the direction of the laboratory leadership
• Adheres to all established laboratory safety and infection control policies and procedures
• May perform other basic duties assigned by Manager or Team Lead
• Answers basic questions and inquiries from lab members. Asks for assistance from co-workers and Team Leads to ensure scientists’ questions and inquiries have been satisfactorily answered
• Productively and positively interacts with co-workers and collaborators

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate program at Northeastern University in the field of chemistry or life sciences
• Ability to learn to operate complex laboratory equipment
• Proficiency with computer systems and common software

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Basic knowledge of organic chemistry
• Wet lab experience in a chemistry environment