Research Scientist - Sarcoma Medical Oncology

SUMMARY

The primary purpose of the Research Scientist position is to apply technical expertise and experience to coordinate, design, and carry out cancer research projects while following standard operating procedures for the laboratory.

JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES
Supervision and Leadership:

• Personnel: Oversees workflow and lab productivity; provide and develop training; provide and receive feedback; ensure cultural continuity; lab specific on-boarding/orientation of new members; annual reviews of technical staff. 
• Scientific: Develop, modify and improve SOPs; provide training on specific techniques and advice on experimental design to junior lab members. 
• Assigns and reviews work of subordinates, determines specific goals or objectives to be attained, evaluates resulting research data, and revises techniques or approaches to work problems.
• Operational: Maintain and improve operational service; equipment service orders; safety compliance; facilities service requisitions; ensures lab compliance with MDACC and accredited agency mandatory regulations/trainings. 
• Financial: coordinate with grants manager and PI to monitor/plan budget; order requisitions; inventory maintenance; budget integrity; negotiate with vendors.

Research:

• Independently design experiments and interpret results. Prioritize and manage multiple experiments in a timely and resource-effective manner.  Determines specific objectives to be obtained, evaluates research data and develops new procedures improving upon existing techniques relevant to the research. Report research findings (oral and written) at internal, local and national meetings. 
• Use standard in vitro and ex vivo immunological techniques (e.g. primary T cell isolation/culture, flow cytometry, ELISA/MSD assays, cytotoxicity assays) along with functional genomic screens to identify and characterize immune cells and their molecular pathways that mediate responses in patients with advanced malignancies; willingness to learn new assays with new cell types (e.g. macrophages, NK cells).  
• Work with standard in vitro transcription and translation kits 
• Acquire training to run PacBio, MinION, 10x machines.  Some procedures will require the use of hazardous and/or radioactive substrates.

Equipment, Supply Management & Laboratory Safety:

• Selects and purchases new equipment in consultation with other professional staff, and maintains technical equipment for the laboratory.  Manages inventory of biologics and replenishes them as needed.  Orders materials for research studies as needed. 
• Assists assigned PI to ensure correct practice of laboratory safety as required under institutional guidelines, including but not limited to:  maintenance of safety manuals and performance of laboratory testing of equipment. Takes required training and passes annual examinations.  Maintains knowledge of all safety requirements.  Coordinates and shares responsibilities of laboratory maintenance and operation issues with co-workers.

Other duties as assigned.