
Research Technician
BOSTON, MAJob$48–51K/yrSeen 2 days agoSeen in employer's feed 2 days ago
Most applications go out cold — see where you stand first. No sign-up to start.
Watch jobs like this. New roles like this one near BOSTON, MA, by email.
Don't just apply. Show up ready.
Olive works from this exact posting.
At a glance
Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.
Requirements
Credentials this posting asks for.
Job overview
The Research Technician will join Dr. Aquilanti’s group at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, contributing to cancer biology and therapeutics research as part of a multidisciplinary basic science and translational team. The role supports scientists with research and development tasks, including laboratory equipment and experiments, and involves participation in all aspects of the group’s research. No prior professional experience is necessary.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Full job description
The positions in this job family will assist scientists in performing scientific research, development and/or clinical tasks of varying complexity. In general, they will assist in the set up, operation and maintenance of laboratory instruments and equipment, monitoring experiments, making observations and calculating and recording results.
Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS, and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.
OVERVIEW
We are in search of a highly motivated and capable Research Technician to join Dr. Aquilanti’s research group at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The successful candidate will have a strong interest in cancer biology and therapeutics and will function as part of a multidisciplinary basic science and translational team. The candidate will work closely with team scientists to perform scientific research. The successful candidate will be involved in all aspects of the research.
The research technician role will assist scientists in performing scientific research and/or development tasks of varying complexity. In general, they will assist in the setup, operation, and maintenance of laboratory instruments and equipment, monitoring experiments, making observations, and calculating and recording results.
RESPONSIBILITIES
-
Set up, adjust, calibrate, clean, maintain and troubleshoot equipment
-
Clean, maintain and prepare supplies and work areas and may be responsible for ordering of supplies. Collaborates with Purchasing and may be responsible for negotiating with vendors
-
Conduct standardized biological, microbiological or biochemical tests and laboratory analyses, including the collection of information and samples from organic substances, such as blood, drugs, and animals
-
Isolate, identify and prepare specimens for examination
-
Analyze experimental data and interpret results to write reports and summaries of findings, including grant preparation and presentations, and look for opportunities to co-author publications. May be expected to participate in formal and information presentations of results to staff
-
Participate in grant application process and manuscript preparation as required
-
Maintains detailed notebook of all work-related activities
-
Monitors laboratory work to ensure compliance with Environmental Health and Safety information as well as the standard operation procedures specific to each laboratory
-
Expected to provide intellectual and interactive commitment to position by keeping up with appropriate literature and research publications
-
May be responsible for the development, modification and improvement of standard operating procedures
-
Uses computers, computer-interfaced equipment, robotics or high-technology applications to perform work duties
-
May be responsible for designing and executing advanced experiments and setting strategy
-
May be responsible for the examination of animals and specimens to detect the presence of disease or other problems
-
May be responsible for monitoring laboratory budgets
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
-
Knowledge of information and techniques related to either biology, chemistry, or medicine is preferred
-
Must have excellent communication skills (written and verbal) and be able to work with a wide variety of faculty and staff
-
Ability to analyze information and use logic to address work-related issues and problems
-
Must have attention to detail and be thorough in completing work tasks
-
Ability to work within a team environment
-
Computational skills (R and/or Python) are a plus.
MINIMUM JOB QUALIFICATIONS:
The position requires a bachelor’s degree, preferably in biology or chemistry, with no prior professional experience necessary. Candidates will learn and apply technical principles, processes, and concepts, use institutional policies to address routine issues, and work on problems of limited scope. The role involves following standard practices to analyze situations or data and building stable internal working relationships.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
No supervisory responsibilities. Normally receives detailed instructions on all work.
PATIENT CONTACT: None
At Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we work every day to create an innovative, caring, and inclusive environment where every patient, family, and staff member feels they belong. As relentless as we are in our mission to reduce the burden of cancer for all, we are committed to having faculty and staff who offer multifaceted experiences. Cancer knows no boundaries and when it comes to hiring the most dedicated and compassionate professionals, neither do we. If working in this kind of organization inspires you, we encourage you to apply.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.
EEO Poster
.
Pay Transparency Statement
The hiring range is based on market pay structures, with individual salaries determined by factors such as business needs, market conditions, internal equity, and based on the candidate’s relevant experience, skills and qualifications.
For union positions, the pay range is determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
$47,500.00 - $51,300.00
How this job compares
Set against the 2,026 open Laboratory Technician jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 27, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$48–51K/yr
- US median$50–70K/yr227 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $49K, is 18% below the US median midpoint ($60K) — in the lowest quarter of Laboratory Technician salary ranges across the US.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 66 open Laboratory Technician jobs in Massachusetts and 2,026 across the US. None of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in Massachusetts
- Mass General Brigham11 open
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology5 open
- UnitedHealth Group5 open
- Experience
- Laboratory Technician postings that state a minimum ask for 1 year of experience at the median; the middle half ask for 1 to 2 years (870 postings).
- Education
- This posting asks for a bachelor's degree; 286 of the 2,026 open Laboratory Technician jobs (14%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 27, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
Similar jobs, posted recently
Open roles like this one, listed in the last 30 days.
Research TechnicianMass General Brigham · Boston, MA · $21–29.01/hrPosted 1w agoPosted 1w ago
Research Technician-Shapiro LabDana-Farber Cancer Institute · BOSTON, MA · $48–51K/yrLaboratory Operations TechnicianConcerto Biosciences · Cambridge, MAPosted 3w agoPosted 3w ago
Research Associate, Molecular & Cellular ImmunologyStylus Medicine · Cambridge, MAPosted 4 days agoPosted 4 days ago
Research Lab Tech IMass General Brigham · Boston, MA · $21–29.01/hrPosted 5 days agoPosted 5 days ago
You've read the whole posting — now see how you match it.