Senior Research Scientist - Thoracic Head and Neck Medical Oncology

Senior Research Scientist - Thoracic Head and Neck Medical Oncology

The Thoracic, Head and Neck Surgery Department at MD Anderson focuses on the surgical treatment of cancers affecting the chest, head, and neck regions. The team specializes in complex procedures for lung, esophageal, thyroid, and head and neck tumors, often working in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive cancer care. Their approach emphasizes advanced surgical techniques, minimally invasive options, and personalized treatment plans to improve patient outcomes.
 

What's in it For Me:
By joining our Thoracic, Head and Neck Molecular Oncology (THNMO) research team, you’ll play a pivotal role in advancing cutting-edge cancer immunotherapies that directly impact patient outcomes. You’ll collaborate with world-class scientists and clinicians, gain hands-on experience with innovative technologies like CAR-T and CRISPR, and contribute to translating pre-clinical discoveries into life-saving clinical trials. This position offers the opportunity to lead groundbreaking research, develop new skills in molecular biology and therapeutics development, and make a tangible difference in the fight against cancer.

The ideal candidate is a highly skilled and innovative scientist with deep expertise in molecular biology, immunology, and cancer therapeutics development. They possess hands-on experience in vector design, CRISPR/Cas gene editing, and cellular engineering, including CAR-T and TCR-T technologies. This individual demonstrates strong leadership in managing research staff, maintaining rigorous experimental records, and ensuring compliance with institutional and regulatory standards. They thrive in a collaborative environment, excel at problem-solving, and are committed to translating pre-clinical discoveries into impactful clinical applications. Assertiveness, adaptability, and meticulous attention to safety and quality are essential traits for success in this role.

Minimum Salary: $78,500 | Midpoint Salary: $98,000 | Salary Midpoint: $98,000

MD Anderson offers our employees:
Paid employee medical benefits (zero premium) starting on the first day for employees working 30+ hours per week
Group coverage for Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, and Disability
Paid Time Off (PTO) and Extended Illness Bank (EIB) leave accruals
Paid institutional holidays, wellness leave, childcare leave, and other paid leave programs
Tuition Assistance Program available after six months of service
Teachers Retirement System defined-benefit pension plan plus two voluntary retirement plans
Employer-paid Life, AD&D, and illness-related reduced salary pay program
Extensive wellness, recognition, fitness, employee health programs, and employee resource groups

Job Specific Competencies
Administration of Research Efforts

Works productively with collaborators and sponsors.
Participates in interactions between research teams and institutional programs.
Monitors and anticipates laboratory needs in terms of equipment and supplies.
Maintains alertness and careful attention to avoid injury to self and others due to chemicals and hazardous materials in the laboratory.
Maintains assertiveness and flexibility in approaching new projects, techniques, and responsibilities, exemplifying best practices in work habits and time management.
Works with regulatory agencies to translate pre-clinical assets into clinical trials.

Research Activities

Works with the Principal Scientific Advisor and senior leadership for therapeutics development for THNMO department.
Maintains proficiency in vector design and molecular biology to engineer biologics or cellular therapies.
Designs and generates transgene vectors for expression of TCRs, CARs, T-cell engagers, tumor antigens, and other genes to be introduced into cells.
Designs and generates CRISPR/Cas guides for gene knock-out or knock-in.
Leads production of biologics (T-cell engagers, peptides, minigenes, phage) in appropriate producer cells (mammalian, bacteria, yeast).
Cultures human primary cells and tumor cell lines with current best cell culture practice.
Performs and leads genetic modification of cells, including tumor cells and primary cells (T cells, NK cells, etc.) and their subsequent culture.
Generates CAR-T cells and TCR-T cells by either viral or non-viral means.
Grows TILs from patient tumors and evaluates T-cell specificity and function.
Performs co-culture experiments and analyzes cytokine release, proliferation, T-cell activation, and cytotoxicity.
Co-cultures T-cell engagers with human T cells and tumor cell lines and evaluates functional responses.
Critical team member in antigen (neoantigens, tumor-associated, viral) and antibody discovery efforts.
Performs and is a leader in ancillary machinery and techniques for cancer immunotherapy lab, including flow cytometry, cell sorting, spectrophotometry, transfection, PCR, immunoassays.
Understands cancer genetics and can apply to department workflow for antigen discovery efforts.
Handles clinical trial specimens and can lead handling of precious patient material and development of translational assessments.
Understands and keeps up to date on the regulatory processes for early-phase clinical trial requirements and guides team(s) on appropriate steps for efficient translation of lead candidate therapies.

Maintenance of Experimental Records and Presentation of Findings

Maintains an up-to-date, organized, electronic lab notebook that records all experiments in detail and ensures that subordinates do the same.
Maintains proficiency in relevant software and associated machinery for research activities.
Coordinates data for external collaborations based on therapeutics platform data.
Optimizes project synergy, use of funds, and use of patient specimens.
Compiles, writes, and submits results of research to supervisor.
Presents oral and written reports about the progress of assigned tasks.
Prepares and coordinates abstracts, manuscripts, and presentations as required.
Presents findings of research to professional groups, including industrial collaborators or sponsors.

Manage Research Staff

Interviews and provides recommendations for hiring of laboratory personnel, sometimes acting as hiring manager.
Manages day-to-day tasks of junior research personnel.
Assigns and reviews the work of subordinates and monitors workflow.
Functions in an independent manner in the design and initiation of research experiments.
Plans and supervises training of self and personnel with respect to safety procedures and compliance with other institutional and departmental policies.
Manages space assignments for laboratory personnel.
Reviews and evaluates research activity of laboratory personnel.
Assists in setting annual and quarterly goals for the team and is responsible for team performance of goals.
Develops and revises techniques or approaches to work problems.

Establish/Maintain Laboratory Protocols, Policies, and Procedures

Works with senior group members to establish lab policies related to scientific methodologies, sample collection and storage, lab tasks, and animal experiments in accordance with institutional policies.
Ensures compliance with institutional and funding agency requirements pertaining to data storage, maintenance, and publication/sharing.
Ensures that the laboratory environment follows EH&S guidelines to avoid injuries to research personnel.
Maintains institutional compliance for all experiments involving animals (IACUC), hazardous agents (IBC), and patient specimens/data (IRB).
Creates a positive learning environment which nurtures new ideas and fosters innovation, experimentation, and discussion.