Lab Technician

The **Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute** (IJC) is a non-profit research institute based in Barcelona dedicated to advancing the understanding of leukemia and related disorders, in collaboration with the University of Barcelona and the Autonomous University of Barcelona. The IJC has laboratories in 5 locations: i) Hospital Clínic, ii) Hospital de Sant Pau and iii) Hospital Germans Trias Pujol iv) Hospital del Mar and v) Hospital Josep Trueta Girona. IJC serves as a collaborative center for basic researchers and physicians to work together on fundamental clinical and biological aspects of leukemia. The IJC offers an excellent work environment based on a multidisciplinary fusion of state-of-the-art ideas and facilities.

We are looking for a Lab Technician that will join Dr. Manel Esteller Research Group within collaboration with the Single Cell Unit.

**RESEARCH DESCRIPTION**

The team of Manel Esteller at the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), is seeking for a motivated Lab Technician.

The group continues the wide-ranging work on epigenetics that Manel Esteller, has carried out during his career, devoted to the establishment of the epigenome and epitranscriptome maps for normal and transformed cells. His laboratory pioneered the observation that epigenetic disruption of mRNA transcription, related to DNA methylation and histone modification patterns, contributed to cancer (Esteller, NEJM 2008; Heyn and Esteller, Nat Rev Genet 2012). His lab characterized the first ncRNAs undergoing specific cancer-methylation associated silencing (Cancer Res 2007; PNAS 2008; Oncogene 2012, Oncogene 2010; NSMB 2012; Mol Cell 2014; PNAS 2016, Genome Biol 2016; Oncogene 2017; Leukaemia 2019).

The lab has also a strong interest in the establishment of new epigenomic platforms to elaborate comprehensive DNA methylome maps (Epigenetics 2011; Epigenomics 2016). The use of these approaches has made several breakthroughs in lung cancer (JCO 2010), Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP) (Lancet Oncology 2016); and anti-PD1 immunotherapy (Lancet Respiratory Medicine 2018).

Interestingly, the “repertoire” of epigenetic modifications of DNA is fairly limited, (Heyn and Esteller, Cell 2015). In sharp contrast, more than one hundred post-transcriptional modifications occur in RNA (Esteller and Pandolfi, Cancer Discov 2017; Cell 2018). In this field, the group has shown aberrant RNA modifications and epitranscriptomes in different tumour types (Oncogene 2016; Leukaemia 2017; Acta Neuropathol 2019; Oncogene 2019).

Finally, the group has a long-standing interest in translating the epigenetic knowledge gained to clinical outcome and therapy response prediction (Nature Comm, 2014; JNCI, 2014; Oncotarget 2015; JCI Insight 2019) and to assay new epigenetic drugs (Oncogene 2012; Oncotarget 2017; Haematologica 2018) to reverse the distorted cancer landscape (Berdasco and Esteller, Nat Rev Genet 2019).

The contract is part of the research project ID GEACC18004TAB - ACRCelerate (Accelerator award), funded by CRUK, AICR and FC AECC.

**WHAT WE NEED**
- A person with a degree in Biotechnology, Biology, Genomics or similar.
- Master in Genomics, Translational Research or similar will be a plus.
- Experience with next-generation sequencing library preparation.
- Skills in molecular and cell biology techniques.
- Background in sequencing technologies.
- A person eager to learn quickly and being able to work independently at some points.
- High level of collaborative and communicative skills and able to adapt to different lab environments.
- Good level of English speaking and writing skills.

**MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Support to DNA methylation screening and profiling analysis, as well raw data generation.
- Preparation of histological sections.
- Preparation of sequencing libraries.
- Storage of the generated sequencing libraries.
- Updating and optimization of existing protocols.
- Implementation of new protocols of interest to the group.
- Maintenance of a detailed record of the samples processed, the protocols used and all relevant information on sample processing.
- Support to potential single cell studies by taking care of quality control of the samples and generated sequencing libraries to guarantee that they are suitable for sequencing.

**WHAT WE OFFER**
- Permanent contract (linked to the Research line DNA methylation profiling analysis and raw data generation and the Project DNA methylation profiling analysis and raw data generation. This project finishes the 30/10/2023 with possibilities of an extension of 1 year). “contrato indefinido por actividades científico-técnicas”
- Full time contract.
- An exciting and innovative research project.
- The stimulating environment of the IJC and its scientific network.
- Working in the mixed basic and clinical research environment of the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute.
- Incorporation in a multinational and highly collaborative team.
- The stimulating envi