Associate Scientist or Scientist- dos Santos's Lab

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Memphis (TN); On-site; USD 86,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s dos Santos laboratory in the Oncology department seeks an Associate Scientist or Scientist to lead animal-model and organoid-based cancer research.

The role involves independent project management, experimental design, data analysis, and ensuring high reproducibility and animal welfare. The candidate will work with the PI, trainees, and shared-resource teams to advance studies on cancer initiation, epithelial–stromal interactions, and systemic risk

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in cancer biology, cell biology, molecular biology, developmental biology, biomedical sciences, or related field is required.
• PhD or equivalent doctoral degree strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design, coordinate, and execute studies using engineered, syngeneic, transplantation, and treatment-based mouse models of mammary gland biology and breast cancer.
• Manage mouse breeding strategies, cohort generation, genotyping plans, randomization, and longitudinal monitoring.
• Perform or supervise animal procedures and tissue collection.
• Develop and maintain detailed experimental timelines and animal-cohort records.
• Assist with IACUC protocol preparation and amendments.
• Ensure compliance with animal welfare policies, biosafety requirements, and approved procedures.
• Train laboratory personnel in relevant animal procedures and confirm competency.
• Establish and optimize primary mammary epithelial and tumor organoid cultures from mouse and human samples.
• Design organoid assays evaluating growth, differentiation, and drug response.
• Develop co-culture systems with fibroblasts, immune cells, and ECM components.
• Perform organoid-forming, invasion, and viability assays.
• Conduct molecular and cellular assays: flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, IHC, microscopy, qPCR, ELISA.
• Support preparation of bulk and single-cell sequencing and spatial profiling samples.
• Maintain detailed, accurate, and reproducible experimental records.
• Collaborate with PI to develop strategies, priorities, and assess feasibility.
• Analyze data with appropriate statistics and computational methods.
• Present findings in lab meetings and seminars.
• Promote collaboration within the lab and with external partners.

Skills

Mouse models

Primary cell culture

Organoids

Experimental design

Data interpretation

Troubleshooting

Oral communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in life sciences

PhD preferred

Job description

Location

Memphis, TN

Category

Laboratory Sciences & Support

Department

Oncology

Shift

Weekday Day

Position Type

Full Time

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

JR7616

Job Description

Join our Team!

The dos Santos laboratory in the Department of Oncology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is seeking a highly motivated Associate Scientist or Scientist to support and advance research investigating cancer initiation and progression, epithelial–stromal interactions, and systemic influences on cancer risk.

The successful candidate will provide scientific and technical leadership for animal-model and organoid-based studies. This individual will work closely with the principal investigator, trainees, research staff, and institutional shared-resource teams to design, execute, analyze, and document rigorous experiments. The position is intended for an experienced scientist who can independently manage complex projects while also helping laboratory members troubleshoot experiments, implement new approaches, and maintain high standards of reproducibility and animal welfare.

The selected candidate will be appointed at the Associate Scientist or Scientist level, based on their experience, demonstrated scientific independence, technical expertise, and leadership achievements.

Who We’re Looking For

• Demonstrated experience with mouse models and animal experimentation.
• Experience with primary cell culture, three-dimensional culture, organoids, or tissue-derived experimental systems.
• Strong understanding of experimental design, biological controls, reproducibility, and quantitative data interpretation.
• Ability to independently plan, execute, troubleshoot, and document complex experiments.
• Strong organizational and oral-communication skills.

What You Will Do

Animal Studies

• Design, coordinate, and execute studies using genetically engineered, syngeneic, transplantation, and treatment-based mouse models of mammary gland biology and breast cancer.
• Manage mouse breeding strategies, cohort generation, genotyping plans, experimental randomization, and longitudinal monitoring.
• Perform or oversee animals procedure and tissue collection
• Develop and maintain detailed experimental timelines and animal-cohort records.
• Assist with preparation, implementation, and amendment of IACUC protocols.
• Ensure compliance with institutional animal-welfare policies, biosafety requirements, and approved experimental procedures.
• Support the training of laboratory personnel in relevant animal procedures and confirm technical competency.

Organoid and Ex Vivo Models

• Establish, maintain, and optimize primary mammary epithelial and tumor organoid cultures from mouse and human specimens.
• Design and conduct organoid assays evaluating growth, differentiation, lineage plasticity, hormone response, extracellular-matrix interactions, and therapeutic sensitivity.
• Develop co-culture systems incorporating fibroblasts, immune cells, extracellular-matrix components, or other microenvironmental populations.
• Perform organoid-forming, branching, invasion, viability, differentiation, and drug-response assays.

Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Analysis

• Perform or supervise molecular and cellular assays, including flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, microscopy, quantitative image analysis, western blotting, qPCR, ELISA, and related approaches.
• Support the preparation of high-quality specimens for bulk RNA sequencing, single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial profiling, epigenomic assays, proteomics, and other molecular analyses.
• Maintain detailed, accurate, and reproducible experimental records.

Scientific and Project Leadership

• Collaborate with the principal investigator to develop experimental strategies, establish project priorities, and evaluate feasibility.
• Analyze and interpret data using appropriate statistical and computational methods.
• Identify technical or conceptual problems and develop practical solutions.
• Present findings at laboratory meetings, departmental seminars, and collaborative meetings.
• Promote communication and coordination among laboratory members and external collaborators.

Minimum Education and/or Training:

• Bachelor's degree in relevant scientific areas such as cancer biology, cell biology, molecular biology, developmental biology, biomedical sciences, or a related discipline is required.
• PhD, or equivalent doctoral degree strongly preferred.

Scientist Minimum Experience:

• Eight (8) years of relevant work experience is required
• Six (6) years of relevant work experience is required with a Master's degree
• Three (3) years of relevant work experience is required with a PhD

Salary range: $86,320.00 - $154,960.00

Associate Scientist Minimum Experience:

• 7 + years of research experience is required
• 5 + years of research experience is required with a Master’s degree
• 2 + years of research experience is required with a PHD

Salary range: $65,520.00 - $114,400.00

Compensation

In recognition of certain U.S. state and municipal pay transparency laws, St. Jude is including a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This is an estimate offered in good faith and a specific salary offer takes into account factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the salary range and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current salary range is $86,320 - $154,960 per year for the role of Associate Scientist or Scientist- dos Santos's Lab.

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St. Jude is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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