Research Scientist - GI Medical Oncology
About The Position
The Research Scientist in the Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology department at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center supports translational and laboratory-based research on gastrointestinal cancers. The role independently leads research initiatives and collaborative projects, providing scientific expertise through experimental design, laboratory leadership, and advanced experimental model development. The work contributes to research aimed at improving cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The position includes designing and carrying out complex studies from concept through data analysis; processing human clinical specimens; developing cell, organoid, three-dimensional, and microfluidic-based models; conducting immune-oncology and molecular biology experiments; and supporting preclinical animal studies. The Research Scientist analyzes and interprets data, collaborates with multidisciplinary teams, maintains research records, and contributes to scientific communication and laboratory training. This is an onsite position. The listed salary range is $32.93 minimum, $41.11 midpoint, and $49.28 maximum; the posting does not specify the pay period. The role offers the opportunity to collaborate with scientists and clinicians on gastrointestinal cancer research, with professional development and work-life balance resources.
Requirements
- Master's degree in natural sciences or a related field.
- Four years of experimental or scientific work; alternatively, two years of experimental or scientific work with a medical degree; no experience is required with a PhD.
- Experience in cancer biology, translational research, molecular biology, advanced cell culture systems, immune-oncology research, preclinical animal studies, and complex data analysis.
Nice To Haves
- PhD in natural sciences or a medical degree.
- Experience handling human clinical specimens.
- Experience developing organoid models.
- Experience performing flow cytometry and microscopy.
- Experience providing technical leadership and mentoring in a research laboratory.
Responsibilities
- Design independent cell-based experiments to investigate gastrointestinal cancer biology and develop strategies to study disease mechanisms and therapeutic responses.
- Optimize laboratory methods and independently execute complex research studies from conception through data analysis.
- Determine research goals and project-specific scientific objectives, assign work to laboratory personnel, and review completed work.
- Receive, process, characterize, document, track, and cryopreserve human clinical specimens, including blood and tumor tissues.
- Establish primary cell cultures; develop and maintain cancer cell lines; generate and characterize patient-derived and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived organoids; and maintain three-dimensional culture systems.
- Develop and support microfluidic-based tissue models.
- Develop immune-cell culture systems, optimize tumor-immune co-culture models, perform functional immune-response assays, and investigate tumor microenvironment interactions.
- Assess therapeutic efficacy using laboratory models and conduct genetic manipulation, transfection, gene knockdown, and gene overexpression experiments.
- Conduct cell proliferation, viability, cytotoxicity, drug-screening, and therapeutic-response assays.
- Isolate DNA, RNA, and proteins; perform quantitative RT-PCR, molecular cloning, plasmid preparation, Western blotting, ELISA, and immunoprecipitation.
- Troubleshoot experimental challenges and develop laboratory methodologies.
- Conduct immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, bright-field microscopy, and quantitative imaging studies.
- Support studies involving genetically engineered mouse and tumor-bearing models, including experimental planning, drug administration, tissue collection, histological processing, and molecular characterization under approved animal research protocols.
- Analyze, interpret, and integrate experimental data using statistical, imaging, and bioinformatics approaches.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams; maintain research records; evaluate scientific literature; train laboratory personnel; prepare figures and presentations; and assist with manuscripts, research proposals, and progress reports.
Benefits
- Employer-paid medical coverage starting on the first day for employees working 30 or more hours per week.
- Optional group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance.
- Accrued paid time off and Extended Illness Bank.
- Paid holidays and wellness, childcare, and other leave options.
- Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service.
- Access to wellness, fitness, and employee resource groups.
- Defined-benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement System.
- Voluntary retirement plans.
- Employer-paid life and reduced salary protection programs.
- Educational opportunities and individual and team recognition.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
