Assistant Lead, TCR Discovery Team

Weill Cornell Medicine; New York (NY); On-site; USD 129,000 - 146,000; Full time

Job summary

Weill Cornell Medicine on the Upper East Side seeks an Assistant Lead, TCR Discovery to drive a high-throughput discovery and preclinical engine. The role supports IND/CTA enabling data, mentors junior staff, and collaborates across gene therapy initiatives.

The candidate will design end-to-end TCR workflows, integrate multi-omics data, and prepare translational packages for regulatory submission while maintaining high integrity and timelines.

Qualifications

• PhD in Immunology or related field is required.
• 8+ years post-PhD experience in academia or industry.
• Experience in TCR discovery and preclinical development required.

Responsibilities

• Design & implement end-to-end TCR discovery workflows including tumor-reactive T cell identification, TCR cloning & characterization, validation, and safety de-risking.
• Interpret and report campaigns for identification of TCRs against known tumor antigens.
• Integrate data across potency, specificity, and safety to support go/no-go decisions.

Skills

TCR discovery

High-throughput screening

Cross-functional collaboration

Preclinical development

IND enabling

Education

PhD in Immunology

Job description

Title: Assistant Lead, TCR Discovery Team

Location: Upper East Side

Org Unit: MCC Laboratories

Work Days

Weekly Hours: 35.00

Exemption Status: Exempt

Salary Range: $128,700.00 - $146,100.00

Position Summary

The Assistant Lead, TCR Discovery, is responsible for supporting the development of a rigorous, high‑throughput discovery and preclinical development engine that identifies high throughput and with high confidence tumor‑specific TCRs for downstream analysis, engineering, and translational development.

Job Responsibilities

• Design & implement end-to-end personalized TCR discovery workflow incl. tumor‑reactive T cell identification, TCR cloning & characterization, specificity validation, & safety de‑risking leading to the selection of personalized TCRs for clinical application
• Design and implement advanced de‑risking methods and workflows to assess alloreactivity, unintended HLA interactions, off‑target toxicity risk including X‑scan, peptide library screens and library‑on‑library HTS
• Interpret and report complex campaigns for identification of TCRs against known tumor antigens
• Integrate data across functional potency, specificity, and safety to support go/no‑go decisions on specific TCRs, their cloning, specificity validation, and safety de‑risking
• Prepare translational packages (reports, assay descriptions, validation summaries) supporting IND/CTA‑enabling preclinical data
• Collaborate with cross functional teams to integrate learnings and advance gene therapy initiatives
• Operate with highest integrity and ethics, conduct all experiments following lab, department, and college policies and procedures
• Mentor and train junior scientists and staff, promote scientific rigor, collaboration, independent thinking, and career advancement.
• Prepare scientific abstracts and articles, publish results in research journals, and present findings at conferences

Education

• PhD in Immunology, Molecular/Cell Biology, Genetic Engineering or related field

Experience

• A minimum of 8+ years post‑PhD experience in academia or industry setting.
• Prior experience in TCR discovery, complex immune assays and preclinical development is required.
• Experience working across functional teams.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Deep expertise in high‑throughput TCR discovery, functional validation, and safety de‑risking.
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced and milestone‑oriented environment
• Passion for scientific innovation and the bridging of rigorous basic science with translational impact.
• Familiar with advancing candidates from discovery through preclinical validation to IND enabling.
• Highly organized and detail‑oriented with excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Working Conditions/Physical Demands

Ability to work flexible hours, evenings and weekends, when requested for special projects.

Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world‑class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of "any person, any study." No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy‑related conditions, age, creed, religion, arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRRA). We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.