Higher Scientific Officer and Research Scientist

The Institute of Cancer Research; Sutton No. 103; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading cancer research institution in Canada is seeking a Higher Scientific Officer/Research Scientist to support histopathology for various research projects. The role involves staining pathology slides, analyzing images, and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team. Candidates must hold a PhD in relevant biological sciences and possess extensive knowledge of histopathology and advanced imaging techniques. This position offers a supportive research environment with competitive salary and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Dynamic and supportive research environment

Access to state-of-the-art facilities

Collaboration with leading researchers

Competitive salary and pension

Qualifications

• PhD in relevant biological sciences is essential.
• Strong understanding of histopathology and related techniques required.
• Ability to perform data analysis and lab management duties.

Responsibilities

• Stain pathology slides using manual and automated methods.
• Analyze and annotate pathology images using software tools.
• Maintain quality assurance and control of image quality.

Skills

Knowledge of cancer and molecular biology

Experience with image and data analysis software

Experience of working with microscopy

Knowledge of histopathology

Experience with IHC/IF and QA/QC

Education

PhD in Biological Sciences/Cancer Biology/Molecular Biology/Molecular Pathology or related subject

Tools

HALO

Visiopharm

QuPath

Leica Bond 3 Automated Slide Stainers

Hamamatsu NanoZoomer

Job description

Under the guidance of Dr Tom Lund, we are seeking to recruit a Higher Scientific Officer/Research Scientist to support all aspects of histopathology related to a range of research projects in our established, advanced translational research laboratory in the field of complex (IHC/RNA-ISH/mIF) tissue hybridisation technologies. The post holder will work alongside a team of Biomedical Scientists, Research Scientists/HSOs and a Senior Scientific Officer (SSO). The right candidate is expected to perform a variety of tasks that may include, but are not restricted to:

• Staining of pathology slides using manual and automated methodology
• Scanning of pathology slides stained using a variety of methods e.g. HE, IHC, mIF
• Maintaining a high level of QA/QC of image quality
• Annotation and analysis of pathology images and data using analysis software such as HALO, Visiopharm and QuPath, as well as IPU-developed tools

The role offers the opportunity to work within a multidisciplinary group, including clinical, scientific, and computational staff whose combined remit is to offer advanced pathology solutions to clinical research. The post holder will be required to prepare sections for a variety of pathology and molecular analysis, perform multiplex immunofluorescent immunohistochemistry with our automated slide staining platform (Leica Bond 3 Automated Slide Stainers and Ventana Discovery Ultra), be responsible for clinical trial sample audit tracking, use digital slide scanners (Akoya PhenoImager HT (previously known as the Vectra Polaris) and Hamamatsu NanoZoomer) competently to the high QC level required for AI research and perform data analysis as well as the general lab management duties.

About you

The successful candidate must have:

• PhD Biological Sciences/Cancer Biology/ Molecular Biology/Molecular Pathology or related subject
• Knowledge of cancer and molecular biology, as well as histopathology, IHC, ISH and mIF staining techniques and their analysis
• Experience with IHC/IF and QA/QC for these assays
• Experience with image and data analysis software
• Experience of working with microscopy, digital image capturing, immunohistochemistry and molecular pathology methods

Department/Directorate Information

Headed by Prof Manuel Salto-Tellez, and led by Dr Tom Lund, the IPU is a tissue-based laboratory with the mission to develop complex and highly quantitative approaches to tissue analysis (wet lab and in-silico) in the space of translational and clinical research, thus applicable in the context of clinical trials and adoption into diagnostic applications.

The IPU uses state-of-the-art tissue-based profiling such as single-plex immunohistochemistry (IHC), RNA in situ hybridization (ISH), IHC/Immunofluorescence multiplexing (mIF) and spatial transcriptomics and proteomics, together with multi-scan imaging and digital pathology/artificial intelligence biomarker quantitation. This approach is applied to well-curated cancer sample cohorts (from routine diagnostics or from clinical trials) to a) explore the clinical relevance of biomarkers and pathways; and b) identify the best quantitative delivery of biomarker analysis. The IPU works in a coordinated manner with other programmes in ICR and RMH carrying out tissue-based analysis, and it is expected to serve as a go-between for academia, healthcare, and industry. The work specifically involves identification of biomarkers of clinical relevance; clinical validation of molecular pathways; key technical capacity to work with large clinical and clinical-trial cohorts, including tissue microarray construction, as well as IHC/RNA-ISH/mIF testing. This is complemented with experience in open source and off-the-shelf use of tools for computational pathology analysis. The Integrated Pathology Unit is mainly based in the Centre for Molecular Pathology (CMP) on the Sutton site of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.

What we offer

• A dynamic and supportive research environment
• Access to state-of-the-art facilities and professional development opportunities
• Collaboration with leading researchers in the field
• Competitive salary and pension