Scientist II, TCR Discovery Team

Weill Cornell Medical College•New York, NY

5d•$75,000 - $94,400

About The Position

The Scientist II, TCR Discovery Team, drives development of personalized TCR-based cell therapies targeting autologous tumors. The role supports implementation of high-throughput discovery and preclinical development platforms to identify and characterize tumor-specific T-cell receptors for engineering, translational development, and potential clinical application. The position reports to the Assistant Director and works with cross-functional teams to advance gene therapy initiatives.

Requirements

PhD in Immunology or a related field.
At least 5 years of post-PhD experience in an academic or industry setting.
At least 5 years of experience in human T-cell immunology, TCR characterization, and human T-cell assays.
Deep knowledge of T-cell biology, TCR characterization, and immune assays.
Strong teamwork skills and ability to work efficiently in a multidisciplinary setting.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, milestone-oriented environment.
Highly organized and detail-oriented, with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Commitment to scientific innovation and excellence.

Responsibilities

Contribute hands-on to end-to-end personalized TCR discovery, including tumor-reactive T-cell identification, TCR cloning and characterization, specificity validation, and safety de-risking.
Use advanced methods and workflows to assess alloreactivity, unintended HLA interactions, and off-target toxicity risks, including X-scan, peptide library screens, and library-on-library high-throughput screening.
Analyze and interpret campaigns to identify TCRs against known tumor antigens.
Generate complete data packages covering functional potency, specificity, and safety to support go/no-go decisions and TCR candidate selection for clinical application.
Support the design and execution of preclinical IND-enabling studies and assemble data packages for decision-making and candidate selection.
Perform data analysis, prepare reports, and maintain detailed and accurate experimental records.
Collaborate with vector development, T-cell translation, and other teams to integrate findings and advance gene therapy initiatives.
Conduct experiments with integrity and ethics, following laboratory, department, and college policies and procedures.
Mentor and train junior scientists and staff, promoting scientific rigor, collaboration, independent thinking, and career advancement.
Prepare scientific abstracts and articles, publish research results, and present findings at conferences.