Research Scientist - GI Radiation Oncology - Research

Research Scientist

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is a global leader in cancer care, research, education, and prevention, dedicated to eliminating cancer in Texas, the nation, and the world. Within UT MD Anderson, the Radiation Oncology - Research department in the Division of Radiation Oncology supports cutting‑edge translational programs that bridge laboratory discoveries with clinical care, advancing therapies for patients with complex malignancies.

The Research Scientist will join the Bernard Laboratory, a collaborative and rapidly growing program focused on gastrointestinal cancers. The Research Scientist role is central to integrating preclinical models, molecular profiling, and clinical specimens to address patient‑centered research questions. The Research Scientist will work closely with multidisciplinary teams and clinical investigators on studies embedded in ongoing and developing clinical trials.

The ideal candidate will hold a PhD or have significant experience in cancer biology or computational biology, with strong expertise in molecular biology techniques and mammalian cell culture. Candidates with experience using Python or R for biological data analysis and a demonstrated ability to lead or mentor junior team members are highly preferred.

Salary:
Minimum $32.93, Midpoint $41.11, Maximum $49.28.

• Employer‑paid medical coverage starting day one for employees working 30+ hours/week, plus optional group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance.
• Accruals for PTO and Extended Illness Bank, plus paid holidays, wellness, childcare, and other leave options.
• Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service and access to extensive wellness, fitness, and employee resource groups.
• Defined‑benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement System, voluntary retirement plans, and employer‑paid life and reduced salary protection programs.

• Design and execute translational and preclinical studies using GI cancer cell lines and patient‑derived models.
• Conduct experiments involving radiation and drug treatments, and clonogenic survival assays.
• Perform molecular biology techniques including PCR, qPCR, cloning, and CRISPR‑based gene editing.
• Analyze data from flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, Western blotting, and sequencing platforms.
• Integrate preclinical findings with clinical research questions.

• Support in vivo tumor studies including tumor implantation and treatment monitoring.
• Collect and analyze tissue and blood biospecimens from clinical trials.
• Prepare samples for spatial transcriptomics, single‑cell RNA sequencing, and multiplex imaging.
• Conduct liquid biopsy analyses and related molecular profiling techniques.

• Collaborate with clinical investigators and multidisciplinary research teams.
• Present findings at laboratory meetings, seminars, and scientific conferences.
• Read, evaluate, and summarize scientific literature to inform experimental design.
• Contribute to grant writing, scientific abstracts, and manuscript preparation.

• Train and supervise laboratory personnel including technicians and students.
• Introduce and implement new experimental protocols from scientific literature.
• Foster a collaborative and high‑performing research environment.

• Maintain laboratory equipment, reagents, and inventory.
• Document experimental work with clear, accurate, and accessible records.
• Ensure adherence to research protocols, safety standards, and institutional guidelines.

• Required:
  
  Master’s Degree in Natural Sciences or related field.
• Preferred:
  PhD in Natural Sciences.
• Medical Degree.

• Required:
  
  4 years experimental or scientific work.
• Required:
  
  2 years experimental or scientific work with medical degree.
• Required:
  
  No experience required with PhD.
• Preferred:
  Research experience in mammalian cell culture and basic molecular biology techniques including PCR, qPCR, and molecular cloning. Significant experience in cancer biology and computational biology with familiarity using Python/R to analyze…