Staff Scientist

City of Hope•Duarte, CA

About The Position

City of Hope’s Beckman Research Institute is seeking a Staff Scientist for its Pancreas Center, a multidisciplinary program focused on improving outcomes for patients with pancreatic diseases through research, precision medicine, and clinical excellence. The Center brings laboratory and clinical investigators together to advance prevention, early detection, and treatment strategies and improve patient survival and quality of life. The Staff Scientist will report directly to the Pancreas Center Director, the position’s sole scientific and administrative supervisor. The role contributes to the Center’s scientific direction and portfolio, as well as budget planning and resource allocation. It leads translational research initiatives, biospecimen and correlative research programs, and studies using patient-derived biospecimens, preclinical models, and emerging technologies. The scientist will work across clinical, laboratory, and administrative teams to move discoveries toward clinical application, develop scientific publications, grants, and protocols, mentor trainees and junior investigators, supervise assigned research staff, and strengthen the Center’s collaborations and visibility.

Requirements

PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or another doctoral degree; alternatively, a master’s degree with substantial relevant research experience and demonstrated scientific leadership.
At least ten years of experience in biomedical, translational, clinical, or cancer-related research.
Demonstrated scientific writing expertise, including preparation of peer-reviewed manuscripts, grant applications, clinical protocols, and other scholarly documents.
Experience leading biospecimen initiatives and clinical trial correlative studies, and applying relevant approaches such as next-generation sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, multiplex imaging, tumor immunology, and flow cytometry.
Strong knowledge of experimental design, translational research methodologies, scientific data analysis, and interpretation.
Evidence of scientific productivity, including authorship of peer-reviewed publications.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to explain complex scientific concepts to multidisciplinary audiences.
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to independently manage multiple concurrent projects.

Nice To Haves

Experience in clinical protocol writing and regulatory compliance for biospecimen research, and coordination of material transfer and data use agreements.
Evidence of scientific leadership through successful grant support, development of collaborative research programs, or advancement of discoveries toward clinical implementation.
Ability to independently identify scientifically important questions and develop research strategies that advance discoveries toward clinical impact.

Responsibilities

Contribute intellectually to the Center’s scientific direction and research portfolio, and collaborate with the Director on budget planning and resource allocation.
Develop and lead translational research initiatives connecting scientific discoveries with clinical applications.
Lead biospecimen and correlative research programs, including oversight of designated biospecimen and pathology resources for Center and multi-institutional studies.
Design and lead studies using patient-derived biospecimens, preclinical models, and emerging technologies to address clinically important questions and unmet patient needs.
Collaborate with clinicians, translational investigators, biostatisticians, bioinformaticians, and laboratory scientists to support the movement of discoveries from bench to bedside.
Lead and contribute to peer-reviewed scientific publications and competitive grant applications.
Advance translational discoveries toward clinical application through development of rigorous regulatory and clinical protocols.
Serve as a scientific resource and collaborator across multidisciplinary teams and participate in relevant institutional committees.
Mentor trainees and junior investigators and supervise assigned research personnel while fostering scientific excellence.
Develop, strengthen, and maintain multidisciplinary research collaborations and programs that enhance the Center’s scientific impact, national visibility, and competitiveness for funding.
Participate in national and international scientific meetings, professional societies, and collaborative visits to share findings, develop collaborations, and inform the Center’s research direction.