Undergraduate Research Assistant

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit organization providing adult cancer treatment and groundbreaking research focused on cancer and infectious diseases. Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington.

With a track record of global leadership in bone marrow transplantation, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunotherapy and COVID-19 vaccines, Fred Hutch has earned a reputation as one of the world's leading cancer, infectious disease and biomedical research centers. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services, and network affiliations with hospitals in five states. Together, our fully integrated research and clinical care teams seek to discover new cures to the world's deadliest diseases and make life beyond cancer a reality.

At Fred Hutch we value collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity and respect. Our mission is directly tied to the humanity, dignity and inherent value of each employee, patient, community member and supporter. Our commitment to learning across our differences and similarities make us stronger. We seek employees who bring different and innovative ways of seeing the world and solving problems.

The Mayers lab is recruiting a highly motivated Undergraduate Research Assistant to join our new team for the Academic Summer Quarter, 2026. Our lab focuses on understanding the metabolism of microbes and how these activities contribute to disease. Our work has implications for antibiotic resistant infections, structural lung diseases like COPD, and cancer development. The Mayers lab uses a combination of patient samples, preclinical mouse models, and bacterial culture systems to probe these areas. Specifically, we utilize mass spectrometry metabolomics, RNA and DNA sequencing, genetics, chemical biology, protein biochemistry, and standard molecular biology techniques to study the two key parts of metabolic reactions, the small molecule metabolites (nutrients) and the enzymes that make them.

The candidate will assist the Principal Investigator (PI) and members of the lab in performing research and contributing to daily laboratory operations. They will work with the PI and other lab members to perform cutting-edge research across a variety sample types to understand the contributions of microbial metabolism in diseases ranging from acute infections to cancer. The Undergraduate Research Assistant will perform standard investigative laboratory work in support of scientific research by performing bench-level experiments, operating analytical instruments, recovering, compiling and verifying the accuracy of research data; performing calculations; preparing charts, graphs and summaries, as well as contribute to the maintenance and management of the laboratory.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Must have a high school diploma or equivalent
• Must be at least be a first year college student
• Contribute to daily laboratory operations
• Ability to perform bench-level experiments that involve operating instruments (PCR machine, gel electrophoresis, metabolite extraction, centrifugation, etc.), recovering, compiling, and verifying the accuracy of research data, performing calculations, preparing graphs, and performing statistical analyses
• Be able to compile, analyze, and present data

The hourly pay range for this position is from $21.30 to $30.13 and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications.

Although Fred Hutch is not sponsoring most H-1B visas at this time, candidates who already hold an H-1B sponsored by another organization and are currently in the U.S. may be eligible for this position.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center offers employees access to a retirement savings plan, an employee assistance program, paid sick leave (1 hour for every 30 hours worked), and prorated paid holidays (up to 11 days per year).