Research Scientist - Immunology

$66,500 - $99,500/Yr

MD Anderson - Houston, TX

Full-time - Mid Level

Houston, TX

Ambulatory Health Care Services

About the position

The Immunology department at MD Anderson Cancer Center seeks to determine the fundamental cellular and molecular mechanisms of a wide range of processes by which the body recognizes and eliminates pathogens and use these findings to unleash the patient's own immune system against previously treatment-resistant cancers. Treating the immune system rather than the cancer itself, the therapeutics developed are applicable to many cancers.

Responsibilities

• Oversees the maintenance and establishment of tissue culture cell lines, ensuring adherence to sterile techniques and the use of advanced methodologies for assessing cell counts and viability via microscopes and hemocytometers.
• Manages inventory, monitors supply needs, and coordinates the ordering and organization of tissue culture supplies for the lab.
• Leads the establishment of short-term cell cultures from human or mouse tissues, optimizing protocols to align with project objectives.
• Designs and supervises experiments involving microbiology, immunology, and in vitro assays of cell growth and proliferation, while mentoring junior team members in experimental techniques and data interpretation.
• Leads the dissection of tissues from animals, employing a range of mechanical and enzymatic methods to isolate single-cell suspensions for downstream assays.
• Optimizes tissue dissociation conditions to maximize cell yield and viability while minimizing perturbations to cell state, guiding junior team members in best practices.
• Completes advanced training and certification by the Department of Veterinary Medicine to handle and work with live animals, primarily mice, ensuring compliance with institutional guidelines for the humane treatment and disposal of deceased animals, biohazards, and used needles.
• Collaborates with the Principal Investigator (PI) to develop and submit Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) protocols, ensuring all research complies with ethical standards.
• Takes charge of maintaining mouse colonies and breeding pairs for specific strains, implementing best practices for colony management and genetic integrity.
• Oversees the setup of breeding cages, manages the transfer of cages between rooms, performs ear tagging and tail snipping, and updates lab, breeding, and genotyping records to ensure accurate data tracking.
• Leads the implantation of orthotopic and subcutaneous tumors in mouse models, coordinating the execution of experiments to align with research objectives.
• Trains and supervises team members in oral gavage and tail vein injection techniques, promoting best practices for in vivo procedures.
• Demonstrates proficiency in working within a BSL2 environment, ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
• Monitors mouse health and tumor growth during treatment trials, providing guidance on experimental adjustments based on observed data.
• Conducts in vivo assays of tumor growth and treatment efficacy, leading analysis efforts to derive meaningful conclusions from experimental results.
• Calculates molarity and prepares media solutions and reagents accurately, ensuring high standards for experimental reliability.
• Safely manages hazardous materials, including acids, polyacrylamide solutions, and flammable substances, adhering to OSHA and institutional safety policies.
• Engages in strategic discussions with the supervisor regarding project goals and methodologies, articulating plans clearly and effectively.
• Promotes a safe, efficient, and collaborative laboratory environment, fostering a positive work culture for all team members.
• Demonstrates a proactive willingness to learn new techniques related to chemical handling, microbiological practices, and data analysis software, contributing to personal and team development.
• Coordinates with staff to manage weekend and holiday work schedules for mouse experiments, ensuring that projects proceed without interruption.
• Upkeep of laboratory consumable stocks to ensure consistent availability of reagents and consumables for experiments in the lab.
• Input of lab orders in timely fashion.
• Receiving packages and ensuring materials are stored properly and in an organized fashion with inventory tracking.
• Supervises use of equipment and safety procedures; arranging for equipment servicing and maintenance to ensure proper and uninterrupted function of the lab.
• May plan training and research work activity for assigned laboratory personnel.
• Adhere to lab and institutional policies surrounding biosafety and ethical use of animals.
• Oversees the staining of cells with antibodies and other reagents for multiparametric flow cytometry, including validation and titration of reagents and compensation protocols.
• Manages the collection of data and sorting of cells across various flow cytometers, ensuring high-quality results.
• Directs data analysis efforts, mentoring staff on interpretation and application of findings.
• Directs the preparation of dissected tissues for preservation and banking, ensuring proper protocols are followed.
• Oversees the generation of tissue sections and staining with antibodies or nucleotide probes, including the validation of staining reagents and protocols.
• Coordinates the acquisition of images using various imaging platforms and performs basic quality control (QC) and quantification of images.
• Functions independently in designing and initiating research experiments, demonstrating leadership in project development.
• Maintains a strong attention to detail and plans experimental procedures meticulously to ensure reproducibility.
• Exhibits problem-solving and troubleshooting skills, guiding the team in overcoming experimental challenges.
• Ensures detailed documentation of experimental conditions and procedures is accessible to all team members, fostering a collaborative research environment.
• Organizes both raw and processed data systematically for easy retrieval and analysis, promoting efficient data management practices.

Requirements

• Master's degree in one of the natural sciences or related field.
• Four years of experience in experimental or scientific work. With PhD, no experience required. With Medical degree, two years of experience in experimental or scientific work.

Nice-to-haves

• Medical degree or PhD in one of the natural sciences or related field.
• Expertise in immunology, cell imaging, computational biology, or microbiome research.

Benefits

• Relocation Assistance Available