Lead Scientist, Cancer Models & Organoids

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Lauderdale Courts (TN); On-site; USD 66,000 - 114,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis invites an Associate Scientist or Scientist to lead and advance cancer biology projects, focusing on initiation and progression, epithelial-stromal interactions, and systemic influences on cancer risk.

The role combines independent project management with mentoring. You will design, execute, and document rigorous experiments, work with mouse models and organoid systems, and collaborate with the PI and shared-resource teams to ensure

Qualifications

• Experience with mouse models and animal experimentation.
• Experience with primary cell culture, organoids, or tissue-derived systems.
• Strong experimental design, controls, reproducibility, and data interpretation.
• Ability to plan, execute, troubleshoot, and document complex experiments.
• Strong organizational and oral-communication skills.
• Bachelor's degree; PhD preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design, coordinate, and execute mouse-model studies of mammary gland biology and breast cancer.
• Manage breeding strategies, cohort generation, genotyping plans, randomization, and longitudinal monitoring.
• Perform or oversee animal procedures and tissue collection.
• Develop detailed experimental timelines and animal-cohort records.
• Assist with IACUC protocol preparation and amendments.
• Ensure compliance with animal-welfare policies and biosafety requirements.
• Support training of lab personnel in animal procedures and confirm competency.
• Establish, maintain, and optimize mammary epithelial and tumor organoid cultures.
• Design and conduct organoid assays evaluating growth, differentiation, and drug-response.
• Develop co-culture systems with fibroblasts and immune cells.
• Perform organoid-forming, invasion, and viability assays.
• Perform or supervise molecular and cellular assays including flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, microscopy, Western blot, qPCR, ELISA.
• Support preparation of samples for bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing and other analyses.
• Maintain detailed, reproducible experimental records.
• Collaborate with PI to develop strategies and evaluate feasibility.
• Analyze and interpret data with appropriate statistics and computational methods.
• Present findings at meetings and foster collaboration.

Skills

Mouse models

Organoid culture

Experimental design

Independent planning

Oral communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant sciences

PhD preferred

Tools

Flow cytometry

Immunofluorescence

Immunohistochemistry

Microscopy

Western blot

qPCR

ELISA

Job description

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis invites an Associate Scientist or Scientist to lead and advance cancer biology projects, focusing on initiation and progression, epithelial-stromal interactions, and systemic influences on cancer risk.

The role combines independent project management with mentoring. You will design, execute, and document rigorous experiments, work with mouse models and organoid systems, and collaborate with the PI and shared-resource teams to ensure