Assistant Investigator, Technology Development - Immunology Accelerator

Assistant Investigator, Technology Development - Immunology Accelerator

The Allen Institute accelerates science for a healthier world through large-scale research designed to answer some of the most complex questions in biology. Our multi-disciplinary teams generate foundational knowledge, tools, and data to understand how our brain, cells, and immune system work. We share our work openly so others can build on it, move faster, and ask bigger questions. We drive discovery forward and create new possibilities for improving human health.

The goal of the Immunology accelerator is to create a deep, high-resolution reference for the human immune system in both health and disease, ultimately providing the data that will accelerate the development of diagnostics and therapies and serve as a hypothesis-generating sandbox for the entire scientific community.

Working closely with investigators, scientific leadership, and cross-functional teams, the successful candidate will help identify and prioritize technology and capability gaps across the Immunology accelerator, evaluate emerging technologies that could transform our science, develop novel assay platforms, adapt promising external technologies, and translate them into robust research workflows that support the accelerator’s strategic scientific priorities. The ideal candidate will balance technology innovation with a strong commitment to enabling the scientific goals of the broader team, recognizing that the highest-impact solution may involve inventing a new technology, adapting an emerging approach, or implementing an existing technology in a new context. They will also need to collaborate with technology teams both centrally in the Allen Institute (i.e., central shared services) and within the other accelerators to leverage and build on technologies originating in these teams.

The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated record of scientific and technological innovation through publications, technology development, patents, commercialization, or successful translation of technologies into broadly usable research capabilities. They will bring the creativity, experimental rigor, strategic judgment, and collaborative leadership required to anticipate emerging opportunities, address important unmet scientific needs, and develop technologies that enable new biological discoveries and expand research capabilities across the Immunology accelerator.

At the Allen Institute, we believe that science is for everyone – and should be open to everyone. We are dedicated to combating biases and reducing barriers to STEM careers more broadly. We also believe that science is better when it includes different perspectives and voices. We strive to make the Allen Institute a place where everyone feels like they belong and are empowered to do their best work in a supportive environment.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and strongly encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for our open positions.

Essential Functions

Technology Strategy and Prioritization

• Partner with scientific leadership, investigators, and research teams to identify critical technology and capability gaps that limit progress on the Immunology accelerator's scientific priorities
• Continuously evaluate emerging technologies and scientific advances and identify opportunities that could substantially expand the questions the Accelerator is able to address
• Help develop and maintain a strategic technology roadmap, aligned with the goals of the Immunology accelerator
• Evaluate whether priority capabilities should be developed internally, adapted from emerging academic or industry technologies, implemented through external partnerships, or accessed through existing platforms
• Work with the leadership team to prioritize technology development efforts based on scientific impact, feasibility, scalability, breadth of application, and alignment with the Accelerator's strategy

Lab Leadership

• Lead a small team focused on the design, development, optimization, validation, and implementation of innovative assay technologies to support Immunology’s strategic goals
• Allocate resources across technology development projects in alignment with broader Accelerator priorities
• Foster a collaborative, rigorous, and innovative laboratory culture
• Work in partnership with other leaders within the Immunology accelerator to prioritize technology development efforts
• Work across the Institute with other innovation and technology teams to enhance the harmonization of new assays deemed relevant to immunology
• Create a team culture in which success is measured not only by technological innovation, but also by clear evidence that new technologies and capabilities increase the productivity and scientific impact of research teams across the Immunology accelerator

Research and Technology Development

• Design, develop, optimize, and validate novel assay technologies that enable discovery in immunology and neuroimmunology in both human and mouse samples
• Develop scalable experimental workflows that generate reproducible, high-quality datasets
• Partner with production, data management, and technology teams to transition successful assays into robust, scalable research workflows

Collaboration

• Partner with investigators, computational biology, software engineering, high resolution technologies, and operations teams to develop and implement innovative technologies
• Work closely with scientific teams to translate important biological questions and experimental bottlenecks into clearly defined technology development needs
• Collaborate with external academic and industry partners to evaluate, access, adapt, and advance emerging technologies
• Document experimental methods and facilitate effective transfer of technologies across research teams
• Enable adoption of new technologies beyond the Technology Development team by ensuring that successful approaches are robust, reproducible, well documented, and transferable

Scientific Contributions

• Produce and contribute to high-impact publications, conference presentations, grant applications, intellectual property, and technology disclosures
• Support scientific collaborations that expand the Institute's research capabilities and impact
• Advance innovative technologies that enable new biological discoveries and strengthen the Institute's leadership in neuroimmunology
• Contribute scientific and technological expertise to collaborative research programs across the Immunology accelerator, with success reflected both in technology innovation and in the discoveries those capabilities enable

Note: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions; it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Required Education and Experience

• Ph.D. in life sciences (e.g., Immunology, Neurobiology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Biophysics, or a related field); or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 5+ years of postdoctoral or industry experience developing innovative molecular or cellular technologies
• Demonstrated experience developing and validating experimental assays or technologies in biologically relevant research fields
• Record of scientific and technological innovation demonstrated through publications, patents, commercial technologies, or development of impactful research capabilities
• Experience advancing technologies from early-stage development or proof of concept through validation and implementation as scalable, robust, and reproducible research workflows that can be adopted by other research teams
• Experience leading research projects and mentoring research staff
• Strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills, including demonstrated ability to work across scientific disciplines and enable the research goals of other scientists and teams

Preferred Education and Experience

• Strong understanding of immunology, neuroimmunology, or neuroscience and an ability to connect emerging technological capabilities with important biological questions
• Experience developing and applying advanced technologies to characterize immune cells and tissues, with expertise in one or more areas such as genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, spatial, imaging, or functional immune assays
• Experience with one or more of the following technology areas is preferred: single-cell genomics and multiomics, spatial transcriptomics, microscopy and imaging, high-dimensional flow or mass cytometry, functional immune assays, immune cell engineering or genetic screening, automation and laboratory robotics, AI-assisted assay development, or integrated experimental and computational workflows

Work Environment

• Working in a laboratory environment with potential exposure to lasers, biohazards

Physical Demands

• Occasional lifting to 30 pounds
• Fine motor movements in fingers/hands to operate computers and other office equipment; repetitive motion with lab equipment
• Stooping, bending, crouching

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• This role is currently working onsite and is expected to work onsite for the majority of working hours. The primary work location for this role is 615 Westlake Ave N., with flexibility to work remotely on a limited basis. We are a WashingtonState employer; any remote work must be performed in Washington State.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

• All employees who work with live animals must complete an Occupational Health medical history form and/or consultation with an Occupational Health Provider and receive clearance to work with animals. Depending on your health history and job responsibilities, an annual respiratory health screening and clearance to use a respirator may also be required.

Additional Comments

• **Please note, this opportunity may offer work visa sponsorship**
• **Please note, this opportunity may offer relocation assistance**

Annualized Salary Range

• $159,200 - $199,000 *

* Final salary depends on required education for the role, experience, and level of skills relevant to the role, along with work location, where applicable

Benefits

• Employees (and their families) are eligible to enroll in benefits per eligibility rules outlined in the Allen Institute’s Benefits Guide. These benefits include medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. Employees are also eligible to enroll in the Allen Institute’s 401k plan. Paid time off is also available as outlined in the Allen Institute’s Benefits Guide. Details on the Allen Institute’s benefits offering are located at the following link to the Benefits Guide:

It is the policy of the Allen Institute to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the Allen Institute will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.