Research Scientist – Experimental Therapeutics

Research Scientist

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is a leading institution focused on cancer care, research, education, and prevention. Within the Experimental Therapeutics department, researchers advance innovative scientific discoveries to support the development of novel cancer treatments through multidisciplinary laboratory and translational research programs. The Research Scientist role contributes directly to these efforts by advancing cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM) research and structural biology initiatives.

UT MD Anderson offers an environment where the Research Scientist collaborates with scientists, trainees, and institutional resources to drive impactful cancer-focused discoveries. The Research Scientist will support cutting-edge research through cryoEM data collection, structural analysis, method development, and scientific leadership while maintaining high standards for research integrity, safety, and data management.

Minimum $32.93/hour – Midpoint $41.11/hour – Maximum $49.28/hour

Work Location:

Onsite

Typical

Work Schedule:

Days

Why Us?

UT MD Anderson provides an opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking cancer research while working alongside leading scientists and clinicians. This role offers meaningful participation in advancing structural biology and cryoEM technologies, supports professional growth through scientific collaboration and innovation, and enables researchers to contribute directly to discoveries that impact patient outcomes.

• 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.

• Plan, organize, and execute cancer-focused structural biology projects using cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM) and complementary biochemical and computational approaches.
• Develop and optimize cryoEM specimen preparation workflows independently and collaboratively.
• Assess samples, prepare grids, perform vitrification, conduct screening, and optimize specimen quality.
• Coordinate microscope screening activities and high-throughput cryoEM data collection.
• Process single-particle cryoEM datasets using established and emerging methodologies.
• Interpret structural results in conjunction with biochemical, biophysical, and functional data.
• Maintain accurate experimental records and computational documentation.
• Apply current best practices in cryoEM, structural biology, and research data management.

• Develop, evaluate, and implement new methods for specimen preparation, data acquisition, image processing, and structural analysis.
• Advance approaches for challenging, heterogeneous, dynamic, and transient macromolecular complexes.
• Create and maintain Python-based scripts and software tools that improve research workflows.
• Design automated computational pipelines to enhance reproducibility, efficiency, and throughput.
• Integrate emerging computational technologies and machine learning-enabled approaches into analyses.
• Benchmark new technologies and assess their applicability to research programs.
• Collaborate with institutional staff, computational scientists, and research partners to implement methodological advances.

• Provide scientific and technical leadership for laboratory personnel, trainees, and collaborators.
• Guide cryoEM experimental design, specimen preparation, data collection, image processing, and structural interpretation.
• Train and mentor researchers in cryoEM methodologies and reproducible scientific workflows.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary projects across the laboratory, Experimental Therapeutics, UT MD Anderson cryoEM resources, and external collaborators.
• Communicate findings through figures, manuscripts, reports, presentations, grant submissions, and data or software depositions.
• Assist the principal investigator with research project prioritization and planning.
• Support the selection, implementation, maintenance, and responsible use of…