Open Staff Positions

LECTURER, 20.309, Department of Biological Engineering, to join the staff of one of our most innovative undergraduate courses: Biological Instrumentation and Measurement; and teach and help design the curriculum for course 20.309.It is an engineering subject, taught in a quantitative style, that melds core concepts of engineering and life science. The course equips students with both practical skills and a robust theoretical understanding that enables them to harness the increasingly sophisticated measurement techniques essential for breakthroughs in life science. A key objective of the class is to explore the connection between theoretical models and real-world results. In addition to basic wet lab skills, the ideal candidate will be comfortable helping students assemble a fluorescence microscope from optical components, draw Bode plots, implement op-amp circuits on a breadboard, fabricate a PDMS microfluidic device, and debug simple code. Contribute to other classes, as well as departmental committees and activities. Lectures cover underlying theoretical concepts including mathematical models of observational error and uncertainty; optics and microscopy; image processing; electronic circuits; signals and systems; control theory; biological signaling systems; and circuit analogies. Other measurement techniques are sometimes also covered.

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TECHNICAL ASSOCIATE I, JASANOFF LAB, Biological Engineering, to assist lab researchers with a variety of experiments and duties related to studies of neural function in animals. Principal responsibilities include but are not limited to rodent handling, performing surgery and behavioral experiments, performing data acquisition and analysis, performing prep work for experiments, and following institutional protocols for experimental procedures and MIT environmental health and safety regulations. The individual will be responsible for ordering animals, handling and logging controlled substances (sometimes to be used in behavioral studies), assisting with animal protocol work, and acting as a liaison to the Division of Comparative Medicine (DCM) in the building.

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POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE, MAMMALIAN SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY, Biological Engineering – Weiss Lab, to join an interdisciplinary academic research lab focused on creating integrated biological systems capable of autonomously performing useful tasks and elucidating design principles for engineering complex cellular and tissue phenotypes; design, build, and test mammalian synthetic gene circuits, including sensing modules (e.g., RNA/miRNA/metabolite-responsive elements), logic/control elements, and output programs that drive measurable cellular behaviors; engineer and maintain mammalian cell lines; perform genome engineering and targeted integration workflows; validate engineered lines using standard molecular and cellular assays; and plan and execute experiments to characterize circuit performance using flow cytometry, microscopy, RT-qPCR, sequencing-based readouts, ELISA, and related methods.

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TECHNICAL ASSOCIATE 1, Biological Engineering–Synthetic Biology Center (SBC), Weiss lab, will be aiding research staff in ongoing research projects. Research areas supported include iPSC differentiation to specific cell fates and heterogeneous tissues (including organoids/liver organoids), genetic programming of organoids to advance tissue maturation and drug development, and engineering gene-delivery systems and genomic integration strategies in human cells. Lab work includes mammalian and/or organoid cell culture, molecular cloning (genetic engineering), transfection, lentivirus production, lentivirus transduction, immunofluorescent staining, flow cytometry, microscopic image acquisition, ELISA, Droplet Digital PCR, and data preparation. Will be working with basic aseptic molecular and cellular biology and mammalian cell culture techniques and prepare biweekly progress reports with detailed analysis of experimental results, issues, and updates. Some work requires the use of lentiviruses in a BL2 or BL2+ setting. Will sterile passage and maintenance of cell lines; prepare media, bacterial, and mammalian cell stocks in a sterile environment; organize laboratory supplies and reagents; follow complex instructions and demonstrate a history of carefully documenting work; and plot and analyze data and present to the project leader and faculty supervisor for review.

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POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE, MAMMALIAN SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY, Biological Engineering, Synthetic Biology Center-Weiss Lab –Weiss Lab, to join an interdisciplinary academic research lab focused on creating integrated biological systems capable of autonomously performing useful tasks and elucidating design principles for engineering complex cellular and tissue phenotypes. Will work closely with researchers, principal investigators (PIs), and a lab manager on government- and corporate-sponsored programs in mammalian synthetic biology, including neuromorphic synthetic biology. Projects involve building mammalian genetic circuits that sense cellular state (e.g., mRNA, miRNA, metabolites) and implement feedback control and analog, digital, and “neural” logic to drive precise spatiotemporal responses (e.g., differentiation, vascularization, and cell–cell communication). Will design genetic circuits and assays; collect and analyze data using techniques such as flow cytometry, RT-qPCR, next-generation sequencing, ELISA, and related analytical methods; and apply computational skills in collaboration with cross-functional teams, including efforts in microfluidics and high-throughput scaling and analysis.

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LEADERSHIP GIVING OFFICER, Biological Engineering (BE), will create and execute a comprehensive, strategic development plan designed to raise awareness, strengthen relationships, and garner financial support for BE’s initiatives and academic programs; manage, build, and execute successful fundraising strategies for a mature portfolio (including Core Team), creating individualized solicitation plans leading to major and principal gifts in support of MIT’s fundraising priorities, capital projects, and other departmental priorities; work collaboratively to increase the visibility of BE and establish a thriving community of supporters, including both philanthropic and industry partnerships; take part in face-to-face donor/industry partner/prospect visits, arrange faculty meetings, site tours, and events, draft high-level proposals, create materials, and disseminate content and collateral related to BE; and help maximize the Department Head’s/faculty travel to engage with prospective donors and industry partners.

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SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, Biological Engineering, under minimal supervision, provides diverse, complex, and high-level administrative support for the day-to-day activities and operations of the Department Head’s office; provides calendar management and administrative support for programs, events and projects; serves as a high-level contributor or coordinator of multiple projects; serves as liaison between Department Head office and MIT offices, collaborating institutions, research centers, industry partners; works closely with travel agents in arranging complex domestic and international travel arrangements; administers support for faculty affairs, including faculty searches, faculty appointments, promotion cases and visa applications; plans and coordinates high-profile events, such as meetings, seminars, conferences, and retreats; maintains an open Department Head office and serves as a point of contact for all visitors, faculty, staff, students; performs and assists with other projects and administrative duties as assigned; serves as a contact point between the DH and BE staff, other departments and programs, and the Dean’s office.

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TECHNICAL ASSOCIATE I, GRIFFITH LAB, Biological Engineering – Hardware Innovation Team, to work closely with engineering collaborators and internal biology team, and play a central role in the development, evaluation, and implementation of next-generation fluidic platforms. These platforms aim to replicate microscale organs (“organs on chips” platforms) to model human diseases in the lab, including liver, gastrointestinal, gynecologic, and chronic infection. Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to performing mechanical and fluidic QC testing of platforms, including design evaluation, pump verification, calibration, and troubleshooting; collaborating with biologists to support quality-checked platforms during experimental runs; coordinating with electrical and software engineers to define and resolve issues, integrate design improvements, and support testing of new prototypes, and other tasks.

Description, requirements, and details on MIT HR Job Openings.