Staff Scientist

University of Chicago•Chicago, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology at The University of Chicago is renowned for advancing the field of radiation oncology through pioneering new clinical approaches, the use of cutting-edge technologies, and impactful translational research. Our distinguished and diverse team of physicians, scientists, and physicists collaboratively provide exceptional patient care while driving scientific discoveries that shape the future of cancer treatment. This research laboratory investigates how radiotherapy interacts with the tumor immune microenvironment to influence tumor progression and metastasis. Our goal is to identify mechanisms of treatment resistance and develop novel strategies to enhance therapeutic responses in solid tumors. The Staff Scientist will lead translational research focused on tumor metastasis, anti-tumor immune responses to radiation, and the enhancement of cancer therapy efficacy. This laboratory-based role involves working with murine and human-derived biological specimens under institutional biosafety, animal care, and human subjects protocols. The position includes supervising laboratory technicians and trainees and contributing to the development and execution of grant applications in immunology and radiotherapy. Projects integrate tumor immunology, RNA biology, radiation biology, and translational studies using both preclinical models and patient-derived samples. This leadership role is ideal for a scientist passionate about advancing cancer research through innovative translational approaches and collaborative team science. This at-will position is wholly or partially funded by contractual grant funding, which is renewed under provisions set by the grantor of the contract. Employment will be contingent upon the continued receipt of these grant funds and satisfactory job performance.

Requirements

PhD in related field.
Knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Ability to interact and communicate with clarity, tact, and courtesy with patrons, patients, staff, faculty, students, and others.
Strong organizational skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Strong data management skills and attention to detail.
Knowledge of the Microsoft Suite, including Outlook.
Ability to understand complex documents (e.g., clinical trials).
Ability to handle competing demands with diplomacy and enthusiasm.
Ability to absorb large amounts of information quickly.
Adaptability to changing working situations and work assignments.

Nice To Haves

PhD in cell biology, immunology, cancer biology, radiation biology, or a related biomedical field.
Experience and knowledge in tumor immunology, multicolor flow cytometry, and molecular techniques, including RNA seq and single-cell RNA seq.
Experience in protein biology and molecular techniques, particularly in RNA modification and RNA biology.
Experience in murine orthotopic tumor models and human translational studies.
Experience in small animal CT imaging and CT-guided irradiation.

Responsibilities

Designs and performs in vivo tumor experiments, including radiotherapy treatment, immunotherapy combinations, and metastasis assays using murine models.
Conducts multiparameter flow cytometry and cell sorting to characterize immune populations in tumors, lymphoid organs, and metastatic sites.
Processes and analyzes patient-derived tumor and blood samples in collaboration with clinical teams, following IRB and biosafety protocols.
Performs molecular and cellular assays, including RNA and protein analysis, functional immune assays, and imaging-based techniques as needed.
Analyzes and interprets large-scale datasets, including collecting bulk and single-cell sequencing data, with support from bioinformatics resources when appropriate.
Develops, optimizes, and maintains experimental protocols and standard operating procedures for complex assays.
Provides technical training and scientific guidance to research technicians, students, and postdoctoral fellows.
Contributes to data presentation, figure preparation, manuscript drafting, and grant application materials.
Serves as a resource for collecting data and performing analysis.
Contributes to facilitating and promoting a research project by providing scientific or intellectual information.
Reviews laboratory protocols and training on new techniques.
Manage complex data sets for research.
Leads the contributions to scientific writing and publications, including protocols and grants.
Trains new laboratory personnel.
Performs other related work as needed.