UNIV - Staff Scientist I - Department of OBGYN

The successful candidate will be a self-starter, independent thinker, and team player, who has a passion for science. They will assist in the planning and oversight of research projects that utilize in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro model systems to examine the endometrial cancer immune microenvironment and develop novel therapeutic strategies to overcome resistance to immunotherapy in this cancer. The successful candidate will primarily use flow cytometry to analyze the phenotypes of immune cells within the tumor microenvironment and ex vivo patient-derived tumor models (patient-derived organotypic tumor spheroids, PDOTS) to test interventions targeting immune cell phenotypes to decipher mechanisms of response and resistance to immunotherapy in endometrial cancer. The level of complexity of this work is high with requisite knowledge of cancer cell biology, T cell biology, including non-conventional T cells, basic immunology, cancer immunology, and 3D tumor modeling. Further, this position involves project management experience and experience supervising 1 or more research technicians and assisting in the teaching and training of graduate students and other trainees. The candidate is expected to develop new areas of research, conduct experiments and data analysis, assist with the preparation of manuscripts and grants, and present at meetings.

Principal duties are to assist in experiments for research projects under supervision of the project head and the PI of the laboratory. Specifically, the lab is part of Medical University of South Carolina & Hollings Cancer Center. The focus is on immunotherapy in endometrial cancer. The primary role of this position is to process patient samples from the clinic and operating room using the lab’s cutting-edge technology to evaluate immune cell phenotypes and their role in response and resistance to immunotherapy in endometrial cancer.

• 2D and 3D cell culture (especially 3D microfluidic culture of organotypic tumor spheroids)
• Handling, processing, and culturing primary tumor specimens and peripheral blood mononuclear cells
• Flow Cytometry
• Cell viability studies (including IncuCyte live cell image analysis)
• Secreted protein profiling (ELISA, Luminex)
• Specimen preparation for single cell analysis including transcriptomics, CITEseq, T cell repertoire profiling, and proteomics
• Fluorescence microscopy
• English language fluency
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as member of a team
• A passion for science and learning

Lab Management – 35%

• In conjunction with the PI provide management of laboratory staff, including training, scheduling (lab meetings), and performance evaluations.
•  Oversee day-to-day laboratory operations, including maintenance of equipment, inventory management, and ordering supplies.
• Ensure compliance with safety protocols and regulatory requirements in the laboratory.
• Monitor and maintain laboratory budgets and expenditures.
• Facilitate communication between laboratory personnel and administrative staff.
• Collaborate with principal investigators and research teams to facilitate project execution and data collection.
• Assist in the development and implementation of research protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Participate in grant writing and provide administrative support for research projects.
• Train technicians, graduate, and undergraduates in laboratory techniques and experimental analysis

Ex Vivo and In Vitro Tumor Model Development and Management - 20%

• Ex vivo 3D microfluidic culture, drug/antibody treatment of murine- and patient-derived organotypic tumor spheroids (MDOTS/PDOTS) and cell line derived monotypic tumor spheroids (MTS)
• Developing augmented 3D microfluidic organotypic tumor spheroid cultures using matched (autologous) peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) or CD3+ / γδ T cell + enriched peripheral or TIL co-culture with MTS/PDOTS
• Perform requisite fluorescence-based viability assessment of MDOTS, PDOTS, and MTS, including staining, microscope operation, image acquisition and image analysis
• Maintain internal records related to MDOTS, PDOTS, and MTS processing along with associated meta-data
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including molecular biologists, biochemists, and clinical researchers, to support translational research efforts.

PBMC and Intra-Tumoral Markers of Immunotherapy Response - 20%

• Perform Flow Cytometry to isolate intratumoral and circulating immune cell populations
• Perform Flow Cytometry to assess phenotype of intratumoral and circulating immune cell populations
• Prepare tumor and PBMC samples for single cell analysis of transcriptomics, proteomics, and T cell repertoires

Lab Maintenance - 15%

• Troubleshoots and resolves equipment malfunctions to minimize downtime and ensure smooth operation of laboratory instruments and workflows.
• Identifies and resolves issues in experimental assays to ensure accurate and reliable results, maintaining the integrity of laboratory procedures and data quality.

Data analysis and manuscript preparation- 10%

• Graphing and visualization of data with software including Graphpad Prism, FlowJo, Snapgene, Biorender, Microsoft Powerpoint, Microsoft Excel, and Adobe Illustrator
• Document and present research findings in internal meetings, conferences, and peer-reviewed publications.
• Preparing publication quality figures
• Participate in grant writing and provide administrative support for research projects.

If you like working with energetic enthusiastic individuals, you will enjoy your career with us!

The Medical University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MUSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and/or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit and business need.

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