Research Assistant

Research Assistant – BioTranslation Lab

Brigham and Women’s Hospital | Harvard Medical School | Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

Principal Investigator: Nitin Joshi, PhD
Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School
Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Location: Boston, MA
Position Type: Full-Time Research Assistant Position
Duration: September 1, 2026 – August 31, 2027
Commitment: Full-time, in-person commitment (40 hours/week)
Stipend Support: This is a stipend-supported training position. Stipend level will be commensurate with program guidelines, qualifications, and available funding.

Eligibility

Applicants must be actively enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program throughout the appointment period (September 1, 2026 – August 31, 2027) and be able to commit to a full-time, in-person research experience.

About the BioTranslation Lab

The BioTranslation Lab at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School is an interdisciplinary research laboratory focused on developing biointelligent materials, therapeutic delivery systems, and nanomedicine technologies that address major unmet medical needs. Our mission is to create technologies that precisely interact with biological systems to diagnose, prevent, and treat disease while accelerating the translation of scientific discoveries into transformative medical solutions.

The laboratory is affiliated with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and operates within one of the world’s leading biomedical innovation ecosystems. Trainees benefit from a highly collaborative environment that brings together clinicians, engineers, biologists, chemists, materials scientists, computer scientists, and biotechnology innovators across Harvard, MIT, Mass General Brigham, and the Broad Institute.

Our laboratory brings together researchers from engineering, biology, medicine, computer science, artificial intelligence, and the physical sciences to develop biointelligent technologies capable of sensing, responding to, and interfacing with complex biological systems.

Examples of ongoing research programs include:

• Biointelligent materials that sense and respond to biological signals
• Nanoparticle, RNA, and gene delivery technologies
• Precision delivery systems for the brain, lung, eye, and musculoskeletal system
• Regenerative medicine and tissue engineering
• Neuroinflammation, infectious disease, and immunomodulation
• Long-acting therapeutic delivery platforms
• Artificial intelligence-enabled biomaterials and therapeutic systems
• Translation of academic discoveries into clinical technologies and biotechnology ventures

A defining feature of the BioTranslation Lab is its commitment to translation. Technologies developed in the laboratory have advanced from fundamental research toward clinical development, commercialization, and company formation. Research Assistants gain exposure not only to scientific discovery but also to innovation, intellectual property, entrepreneurship, regulatory strategy, and the process of bringing transformative technologies from the laboratory to patients.

Research Assistants may contribute to projects spanning the full translational spectrum—from fundamental discovery and technology development to intellectual property generation, commercialization, and clinical translation.

The BioTranslation Lab has a strong track record of mentoring trainees who have gone on to successful careers in medicine, graduate research, biotechnology, entrepreneurship, and academia. Research Assistants are integrated into the scientific life of the laboratory and receive close mentorship, career guidance, and opportunities for professional development.

Position Overview

We are seeking highly motivated, intellectually curious, and enthusiastic Research Assistants to join our team for a one-year immersive research experience beginning September 2026.

The selected candidate will work closely with faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate trainees, clinicians, and collaborators on innovative projects focused on biointelligent materials, nanomedicine, therapeutic delivery, and translational medicine. This position provides extensive hands-on research training and mentorship within a dynamic and highly collaborative research environment.

Research Assistants in our laboratory are treated as active members of the scientific team and are encouraged to develop technical expertise, scientific independence, creativity, and critical thinking skills. Exceptional candidates may have opportunities to contribute to peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, intellectual property development, translational research initiatives, and commercialization efforts.

This opportunity is particularly well suited for students interested in pursuing MD, PhD, MD/PhD, or other advanced training in biomedical engineering, materials science, medicine, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, computational biology, or related disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the design, execution, and troubleshooting of laboratory experiments
• Develop, formulate, and characterize biomaterials, nanoparticles, and therapeutic delivery systems
• Perform molecular biology, cell culture, biochemical, and analytical studies
• Support preclinical animal studies and downstream tissue analyses
• Analyze, interpret, visualize, and present experimental data
• Maintain accurate and organized laboratory records
• Participate in laboratory meetings, journal clubs, and scientific discussions
• Contribute to collaborative projects across multiple disciplines and institutions
• Engage with scientific literature and assist in the preparation of manuscripts, presentations, and reports

Qualifications

Required

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program and expected to remain enrolled throughout the appointment period
• Pursuing a degree in Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Biology, Chemistry, Neuroscience, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Physics, or a related discipline
• Strong interest in biomedical research, bioengineering, translational medicine, biotechnology, or healthcare innovation
• Ability to commit to a full-time, in-person research experience for the duration of the appointment
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills
• Strong work ethic, attention to detail, and enthusiasm for scientific discovery

Preferred

Candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas are encouraged to apply:

• Biomaterials and drug delivery
• Nanotechnology and nanomedicine
• Molecular biology, cell biology, immunology, or neuroscience
• Cell culture and biochemical assays
• Animal research and preclinical models
• Materials synthesis, characterization, and analytical techniques
• Mechanical design, prototyping, or device development
• Electronics, sensors, wearables, or embedded systems
• Artificial intelligence, machine learning, or data science
• Computational biology, bioinformatics, or quantitative modeling
• Programming and data analysis (Python, MATLAB, R, C++, or similar)
• Robotics, automation, or intelligent systems
• Translational medicine, biotechnology, innovation, intellectual property, or entrepreneurship

What You Will Gain

• Intensive hands-on training in advanced biomaterials and nanomedicine research
• Direct mentorship from scientists and clinicians working at the forefront of biomedical innovation
• Experience conducting research aimed at solving significant unmet medical needs
• Exposure to a highly collaborative research ecosystem spanning Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Mass General Brigham, MIT, and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
• Experience with cutting-edge technologies in therapeutic delivery, biomaterials, bioengineering, and biointelligent systems
• Opportunities to contribute to high-impact scientific discoveries and translational innovations
• Exposure to intellectual property, biotechnology entrepreneurship, and commercialization pathways
• Insight into how new biomedical technologies progress from laboratory discovery to clinical application
• Career mentorship and guidance for MD, PhD, MD/PhD, biotechnology, industry, and academic career pathways

Application Materials

Please submit:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume
• Academic Transcript (official or unofficial)
• Brief Statement of Research Interests and Career Goals (maximum one page)

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Commitment to Inclusion

The BioTranslation Lab is committed to fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and intellectually vibrant research environment where individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences can thrive and contribute to scientific excellence. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who are members of groups historically underrepresented in science, engineering, medicine, and biotechnology, as well as those from disadvantaged, first-generation, or non-traditional educational backgrounds.