Scientific Writer / Project Development Scientist

City of Hope; Duarte (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Hope, Inc. is seeking a Scientific Writer / Project Development Scientist to drive clinical and translational research. The role requires collaboration with diverse teams, advanced grant writing and manuscript skills, and either a Ph.D. or Master’s with significant experience. Responsibilities include preparing high-quality scientific documents, overseeing project operations, and leading community-engaged research. The position emphasizes health equity and supports mentoring of staff while engaging with cutting-edge research to combat significant health challenges.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in biomedical sciences, public health, or related field is preferred.
• Experience with federal and foundation grant submissions is required.
• At least three years of scientific writing experience in healthcare, research, or academic settings.

Responsibilities

• Prepare grant applications and publications.
• Oversee operations for grant development and management.
• Lead strategic planning for HACE and lab programs.
• Mentor research and team staff.

Skills

advanced manuscript writing

grant writing

communication

collaboration

project management

Education

Ph.D. in biomedical sciences or related field

Master’s degree with three years of experience

Job description

Overview

Join the forefront of groundbreaking research at the Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, where we are changing lives and making a real difference in the fight against cancer, diabetes, and other life‑threatening illnesses. Our dedicated and compassionate faculty and staff are driven by a common mission: contributing to innovative approaches in predicting, preventing, and curing diseases, shaping the future of medicine through cutting‑edge research.

We are looking for a Scientific Writer / Project Development Scientist to lead clinical, translational, and research activities in partnership with Dr. Loretta Erhunmwunsee, Chief of the Health Access and Community Enrichment (HACE) Office. You will work closely with Dr. Erhunmwunsee, laboratory and clinical researchers, biostatisticians, core facility staff, and regulatory staff to shepherd projects from idea conception to manuscript publication.

Our ideal candidate has a collaborative spirit, thrives in a multidisciplinary and fast‑paced team setting, is meticulously detail‑oriented, an excellent communicator, and possesses a broad scientific background that includes health equity and oncology experience. Advanced manuscript and grant‑writing skills are essential for success in this role.

Either experience or a keen interest in learning about clinical research, health equity, disparity reduction, regulatory reporting, and research administration is required. This unique hard‑money position seeks a research protégé who wishes to learn and grow under Dr. Erhunmwunsee’s mentorship – the ideal candidate will advance alongside the Lung, Justice & Equity (LJE) lab and the HACE Office as they expand and succeed.

Responsibilities

• Prepare high‑quality written materials for grant applications and publications for the HACE Office and the LJE Research Lab.
• Prepare data tables, figures, study schematics, model overviews, conference posters, podium presentations, and reference libraries.
• Oversee operations for HACE, grant development and management, research portfolio execution, and the creation of large‑scale, cross‑departmental research programs and events.
• Serve as a project development scientist, providing strategic programmatic and operational management within the HACE Office and the LJE Research Lab.
• Report to the Vice President of HACE and the PI for the LJE Lab.
• Support project design and grant writing; write, edit, and proofread R01 and R01‑like grant proposals, scientific manuscripts for peer review, clinical study protocols, and other scientific documents for faculty, research fellows, and students.
• Lead end‑to‑end grant and scientific writing efforts, including identifying funding opportunities, developing and submitting proposals, managing deliverables, and representing the research program through publications, presentations, and external collaborations.
• Support grant and project management; oversee and advance the PI’s clinical research and HACE portfolio by leading operations, cross‑functional collaboration, performance tracking, strategic planning, and grant development while driving enterprise‑wide initiatives and ensuring achievement of health outcomes and program goals.
• Lead strategic planning and infrastructure development for HACE and lab programs, partnering with leadership to prioritize needs, create business and project plans, and strengthen research operations and clinical trial capabilities.
• Lead and mentor research and HACE staff while overseeing program operations, performance tracking, and goal execution, ensuring effective team collaboration, continuous communication with leadership, and successful achievement of program objectives.
• Lead community‑engaged research initiatives by developing participatory frameworks, fostering stakeholder partnerships, and managing pilot funding programs from proposal design through award administration.
• Develop an in‑depth knowledge of the research goals of HACE’s social determinant of health and health equity research work as well as the LJE Research Lab; this position requires continual learning and growth.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in biomedical sciences, public health, or a related field; or a Master’s degree with at least three years of scientific writing experience in a healthcare/research/academic environment, including experience in management/leadership.
• Experience with federal and foundation grant submission (e.g., NIH).

City of Hope is an equal opportunity employer.

City of Hope employees pay is based on work experience, qualifications, and work location.