Assistant Lead, TCR-T-cell Engineering and Translation

Weill Cornell Medical College•New York, NY

6d•$128,700 - $146,100

About The Position

The Assistant Lead, T-cell receptor (TCR) T cell Engineering and Translation will lead development of next-generation TCR-engineered T-cell therapies and support their clinical translation. The role provides scientific leadership for a multidisciplinary subteam and drives innovation and execution across multiple projects, advancing discoveries from concept through preclinical validation toward first-in-human clinical studies.

Requirements

PhD in Immunology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, or a related field.
At least 10 years of experience in translational immunology and cell and gene therapy.
Prior experience in T cell engineering and therapeutics research.
Demonstrated experience working with multidisciplinary scientific teams.
Strong background in T cell biology and cell and/or gene therapy research.
Highly organized and detail-oriented, with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work in a highly engaged, fast-paced environment.
Passion for scientific innovation, drug discovery, and development.

Responsibilities

Lead a multidisciplinary research subteam and contribute to innovation, experimental strategy, and translation of discoveries.
Develop precision TCR-T cell engineering approaches to create potent, durable, and safe personalized TCR-T cell products.
Develop clinically actionable viral and non-viral strategies for ex vivo engineered TCR-T cells.
Develop clinically actionable viral and non-viral strategies for in vivo T cell engineering.
Guide vector architecture decisions, including promoter selection, payload constraints, safety switches, and expression tuning.
Design and perform in vitro and in vivo studies to test the biological properties of personalized TCR-T cell product candidates in model systems, including ex vivo and in vivo T cell engineering.
Integrate pharmacology, safety, and mechanism-of-action datasets.
Define preclinical strategy aligned with regulatory expectations, including biodistribution, persistence, and safety risk assessment, and de-risk candidates before formal CMC engagement.
Facilitate cross-functional communication and activities among laboratory teams in TCR discovery, T cell translation, vector development, and clinical translation.
Mentor and develop junior scientists and staff, promoting scientific rigor, collaboration, independent thinking, and career advancement.
Conduct experiments with integrity and ethics, following laboratory, department, and college policies and procedures.
Collect and analyze experimental results and maintain detailed, accurate records.
Assist with grant writing and preparation of research reports.
Prepare scientific abstracts and articles, publish results in research journals, and present findings at conferences.