Staff Scientist

University of Rochester•Wilmot, AR

10d•$29 - $41•Onsite

About The Position

The Staff Scientist will lead major components of a cellular therapy research program focused on allogeneic CAR-T and CAR-NK approaches for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The role independently manages project work, validates CAR-T cells provided by collaborators, oversees T-cell and NK-cell engineering and large-scale expansion, and conducts in vivo studies. The Staff Scientist helps shape the project’s scientific direction and supports its translational goals in consultation with the principal investigator (PI). The position includes planning and executing complex experiments, analyzing and interpreting data, preparing regulatory documents, contributing to grant applications and manuscripts, and training and supervising laboratory members. The Staff Scientist also develops and improves protocols, supports project operations and resource planning, and presents research findings to laboratory members, collaborators, and scientific audiences.

Requirements

Doctoral degree in Immunology, Cancer Biology, Cell Biology, Gene Therapy, Molecular Biology, or a related field, and 2 years of relevant postdoctoral training; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Strong background in cancer immunology or cellular immunotherapy is preferred.
Hands-on experience with T-cell and/or NK-cell engineering, vector design and production, CAR-T/CAR-NK activation and expansion (including G-Rex systems), flow cytometry, and IncuCyte or similar live-cell analysis is preferred.
Experience analyzing patient samples from cell therapy studies is preferred.
Solid technical skills in in vitro and in vivo experimental work are preferred.
Experience working with solid tumors is preferred.
Grant-writing experience is preferred.
Clinical trial-related research experience is preferred.
Experience with PDX models or organoids is preferred.

Nice To Haves

Hands-on experience with in vivo mouse work, especially NSG or similar immunodeficient models.
Experience preparing IACUC protocols.
Experience with IRB submissions related to laboratory research.
Strong background in cancer immunology or cellular immunotherapy.
Hands-on experience with T-cell and/or NK-cell engineering, vector design and production, CAR-T/CAR-NK activation and expansion, flow cytometry, and IncuCyte or similar live-cell analysis.
Experience analyzing patient samples from cell therapy studies.
Solid technical skills in in vitro and in vivo experimental work.
Experience working with solid tumors.
Grant-writing experience.
Clinical trial-related research experience.
Experience with PDX models or organoids.

Responsibilities

Lead major components of the CAR-T/CAR-NK research program and help set project priorities with the PI.
Design and conduct experiments validating collaborator-derived allogeneic CAR-T cells in PDAC models.
Plan and execute experiments involving T/NK-cell engineering, vector production, G-Rex expansion, flow cytometry, IncuCyte assays, and NSG mouse studies.
Contribute to grant writing, including NIH applications, and prepare IRB, IACUC, and IBC regulatory documents.
Analyze and interpret experimental data and evaluate its significance to the overall research program.
Write up research findings and make substantial contributions to manuscripts, with co-authorship or senior authorship when appropriate.
Oversee day-to-day scientific work on the cell therapy project; develop and improve protocols, maintain data quality and records, and troubleshoot technical problems.
Train and supervise postdoctoral researchers, technicians, students, and other laboratory members in specialized techniques, including vector work, G-Rex culture, multi-color flow cytometry, IncuCyte, NSG models, and patient sample processing.
Stay current with the field through literature review and meeting attendance, and present data at lab meetings, collaborator calls, and scientific conferences.
Help manage project resources by ordering reagents and supplies, coordinating equipment maintenance, tracking spending, and assisting with budget planning in consultation with the PI.
Perform other duties as assigned.