UNIV - Staff Scientist I - Department of Pharmacology and Immunology

Medical University of South Carolina • Charleston, SC

11d • Onsite

About The Position

The ONeil laboratory is seeking a highly motivated, detail-oriented, and talented individual for a Staff Scientist I position to support ongoing research in cellular immunotherapy and autoimmune disease. The lab focuses on developing next-generation CAR-T cell therapies for autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with an emphasis on engineering T cell function through transient mRNA modification and novel manufacturing approaches. This position will support funded studies aimed at evaluating CD19-directed CAR-T cell therapies in preclinical models and advancing translational workflows toward IND-enabling studies. The Staff Scientist will contribute to experimental design, execution, troubleshooting, and analysis across both in vivo and ex vivo platforms. The individual will work closely with the Principal Investigator and collaborators to generate high-quality data supporting publications and clinical translation. The role is ideally suited for candidates with expertise in immunology, cell therapy, or related fields, with experience in T cell biology, gene modification, and/or translational research.

Requirements

• PhD in immunology, molecular biology, bioengineering, or related biomedical field
• At least 2 years of postdoctoral or equivalent research experience
• Demonstrated ability to design and execute independent research projects
• Experience with flow cytometry, immune cell culture, and functional assays

Nice To Haves

• Experience with T cell engineering, CAR-T cell platforms, or adoptive cell therapy
• Familiarity with viral transduction and/or mRNA electroporation technologies
• Experience with murine models of disease and adoptive transfer experiments
• Exposure to translational or IND-enabling research workflows
• Experience with immune profiling, cytokine analysis, or single-cell approaches

Responsibilities

• Execute and optimize experiments involving T cell isolation, activation, genetic modification (viral transduction and/or mRNA electroporation), and functional characterization. Responsibilities include assessing CAR expression, proliferation, cytokine production, and cytotoxicity, as well as troubleshooting manufacturing workflows and quality control assays.
• Perform and analyze experiments including multi-parameter flow cytometry, ELISA/Luminex cytokine assays, and immunophenotyping of lymphocyte populations. Support development of functional assays to evaluate engineered T cell activity. Maintain laboratory reagents, coordinate sample processing, and ensure proper documentation and reproducibility of experimental workflows.
• Prepare figures, datasets, and draft sections of manuscripts, abstracts, and grant reports. Participate in lab meetings and collaborative discussions. Maintain familiarity with current literature in immunotherapy, CAR-T biology, and autoimmune disease.
• Assist in training students and junior staff on experimental techniques. Maintain organized records, contribute to lab operations, and support a collaborative and compliant research environment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree