Staff Scientist

As a community, the University of Rochester is defined by a deep commitment to Meliora - Ever Better. The Staff Scientist will take a leading role in our cellular therapy research focused on allogeneic CAR-T and CAR-NK approaches for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This person will independently manage major parts of the project, including validating CAR-T cells we receive from collaborators, overseeing T-cell and NK-cell engineering, large-scale expansion, and in vivo studies. The position involves significant responsibility for experimental planning, data analysis, regulatory paperwork, contributing to grants, and training/supervising other lab members. The Staff Scientist is expected to help drive the scientific direction of the project and support its translational goals.

Responsibilities

Take a leading role in cellular therapy research focused on allogeneic CAR-T and CAR-NK approaches for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC); independently manage major parts of the project, including validating CAR-T cells received from collaborators; oversee T-cell and NK-cell engineering, large-scale expansion, and in vivo studies; plan experimental work, analyze data, and handle regulatory paperwork; contribute to grants; train and supervise other lab members; help drive the scientific direction and translational goals of the project; design and run experiments to validate collaborator-derived allogeneic CAR-T cells in PDAC models and help set project priorities with the PI; plan and execute complex 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 documents; analyze experimental data, interpret results, and write up findings and manuscripts; oversee day-to-day scientific work, develop and improve protocols, maintain data quality and record-keeping, and troubleshoot technical issues; train and supervise postdocs, technicians, students, and other lab members; stay current with the field and present data at lab meetings, collaborator calls, and conferences; help manage project resources, including reagents, supplies, equipment maintenance, spending tracking, and budget planning in consultation with the PI; other duties as assigned

Requirements

Doctoral degree in Immunology, Cancer Biology, Cell Biology, Gene Therapy, Molecular Biology, or a related field; 2 years of relevant postdoctoral training required; or equivalent combination of education and experience

Nice to have

Hands-on 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 (including G-Rex systems), flow cytometry, and IncuCyte; experience analyzing patient samples from cell therapy studies; solid technical skills in both 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