Principal Scientist – Translational Medicine (Tumor Microenvironment)

Roche; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 142,000 - 263,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary annual bonus

Onsite presence on SSF campus

Job summary

Genentech, a Roche company, is seeking a Principal Scientist in Translational Medicine Oncology to design, develop, and implement pharmacodynamic and biomarker strategies across oncology trials. This role emphasizes hypothesis-driven translational research, cross-functional collaboration, and leadership in biomarker assay development.

You will contribute to mechanistic insights into tumor biology, work with diverse teams, and drive data-driven decision making.

Qualifications

• PhD or MD/PhD in a relevant field with strong postdoctoral training.
• First-author publications in peer-reviewed journals preferred.
• 3–5 years translational research experience with molecular profiling, multi-omics, and/or single-cell technologies.

Responsibilities

• Develop biomarker strategies for oncology from early to registrational trials.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to align translational objectives and data-driven decisions.
• Design translational research plans leveraging clinical samples and multi-omic data.
• Publish impactful biomarker research and represent Genentech at conferences.
• Lead hypothesis-driven translational work bridging discovery and clinical development.

Skills

Computational analysis

Single-cell tech

Multi-omics

Biomarker discovery

Team collaboration

Education

PhD in molecular biology, cancer biology, immunology, computational biology, or related field

Tools

R

Python

Job description

We advance science so that we all have more time with the people we love. The Principal Scientist in Translational Medicine Oncology will support one or more translational programs contributing to the clinical development of oncology therapeutics. The successful candidate will be a key member of the Translational Medicine subteam, designing, developing, and implementing pharmacodynamic and predictive biomarker strategies across early- and late-stage clinical trials.

This role also includes developing and leading hypothesis-driven translational research focused on identifying and developing novel biomarkers of therapeutic response and resistance, as well as uncovering disease-specific mechanistic insights. The candidate will collaborate closely on cross-functional biomarker efforts, working with colleagues across Research, Clinical Development, Diagnostics, Computational Science, Clinical Pharmacology, Regulatory, and Biostatistics.

Strong scientific communication and collaboration with both internal and external stakeholders—including key opinion leaders (KOLs) and academic partners—will be critical to advancing translational objectives and disease area strategies in oncology. The Principal Scientist will also contribute to the scientific community through impactful publications and presentations at national and international conferences.

We are particularly interested in highly motivated scientists with strong postdoctoral training who are excited to help bridge discovery science and clinical development in oncology. Prior industry drug development experience is not required.

The Opportunity

As a member of the Translational Medicine team, you will:

• Develop and execute biomarker strategies for oncology therapeutics from first-in-human through registrational clinical studies.
• Partner cross-functionally with Research, Clinical Development, Clinical Pharmacology, Biostatistics, Regulatory, and Companion Diagnostics to ensure scientific alignment and enable data-driven decision-making.
• Contribute to cross-functional project teams, ensuring alignment with overall program goals, timelines, and translational objectives.
• Develop and deploy next-generation biomarker assays across clinical programs to support development decisions and translational research efforts in oncology.
• Design and implement translational research plans leveraging clinical samples, multi-omic profiling, spatial biology, single-cell technologies, functional immune assays, and emerging AI-enabled analytical approaches, including agentic AI tools, to uncover mechanisms of response, resistance, tumor microenvironment interactions, and disease evolution.
• Contribute mechanistic understanding of tumor microenvironment dynamics and immune engagement to inform development and translational strategies for next-generation oncology therapeutics, including T cell engager approaches.
• Work closely with computational, translational, and laboratory scientists to integrate complex biological datasets and generate clinically actionable insights.
• Communicate project progress, challenges, and opportunities to leadership and stakeholders through presentations and written reports.
• Write and review biomarker- and disease-related sections of clinical protocols, study reports, regulatory documents, abstracts, and manuscripts.
• Contribute to external scientific engagement through collaborations and advisory interactions with academic investigators, clinical trialists, and biomarker experts.
• Publish impactful research in leading scientific journals and represent the organization at scientific and medical conferences worldwide.

Who You Are:

• PhD, MD, or MD/PhD in molecular biology, cancer biology, immunology, computational biology, bioinformatics, or a related field.
• Demonstrated scientific excellence through impactful graduate or postdoctoral research, including first-author publications in high-quality peer-reviewed journals.
• 3-5 years of experience with translational research approaches including molecular profiling, multi-omic analyses, spatial biology, single-cell technologies, and/or functional immune assays is preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in advanced quantitative and computational approaches is essential for this position, including the ability to independently analyze complex, high-dimensional biological datasets, apply statistical and computational methods, and translate findings into actionable biological insights
• Interest in leveraging innovative computational approaches, including emerging AI-enabled and agentic AI tools, to support biomarker discovery, translational insight generation, and data interpretation is a plus.
• Strong scientific curiosity with the ability to independently develop hypotheses and translate complex biological observations into mechanistic insight.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex scientific concepts to multidisciplinary audiences.
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced, shifting priorities, and highly dynamic research environment.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across diverse scientific disciplines and contribute positively to team culture.

Preferred

• Strong expertise or scientific interest in tumor microenvironment biology and prostate cancer.
• Knowledge of R and/or Python is preferred.

Relocation benefits are not available for this job posting.

Onsite presence, on our South San Francisco campus, is expected for at least 3 days a week.

The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of California is $141,500 - $262,900 of hiring range. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by law. A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and Company performance. This position also qualifies for the benefits detailed at the link provided below.

Genentech is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy and practice to employ, promote, and otherwise treat any and all employees and applicants on the basis of merit, qualifications, and competence. The company’s policy prohibits unlawful discrimination, including but not limited to, discrimination on the basis of Protected Veteran status, individuals with disabilities status, and consistent with all federal, state, or local laws.

If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the online application process, please contact us by completing this form Accommodations for Applicants.