Senior Data Scientist Immunotherapy Platform

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 123,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer-paid medical coverage

PTO and holidays

Tuition assistance

Pension plan

Job summary

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center seeks a Senior Data Scientist (Computational Biology) to support translational research within the Immunotherapy Platform at the James P. Allison Institute.

The role will lead analyses of multi-modal cancer datasets to uncover tumor-immune interactions and therapeutic response. You will collaborate with clinicians and researchers, contribute to publications and grant applications, and develop reproducible pipelines in Python and R.

Qualifications

• Experience with multi-modal omics data including single-cell and spatial transcriptomics.
• Five years of experience in scientific software or industry programming with a concentration in scientific computing.
• Experience in academic or healthcare environments.

Responsibilities

• Analyze high-dimensional biomedical datasets including single-cell RNA-seq and spatial transcriptomics.
• Characterize tumor microenvironment, immune cell states, and cell-cell interactions.
• Develop reproducible and scalable analytical workflows.
• Collaborate with experimental and clinical teams to refine biological questions.
• Develop reusable pipelines and analytical frameworks (e.g., GitHub).
• Contribute to cross-project standardization of analysis approaches.

Skills

Multi-modal omics data analysis

Single-cell RNA-seq

Spatial transcriptomics

Python

R

Education

Bachelor's Degree Biomedical Engineering/related field

PhD preferred

Tools

CosMx

Visium

CODEX

GitHub

Job description

UT MD Anderson is seeking a Senior Data Scientist (Computational Biology) to support advanced translational research within the Immunotherapy Platform (IMT) at the James P. Allison Institute. The Senior Data Scientist (Computational Biology) will lead complex analyses of multi-modal cancer datasets, helping to uncover mechanisms of tumor-immune interactions and therapeutic response. This role offers the opportunity to independently drive high-impact research projects from analytical design through biological interpretation and publication.

UT MD Anderson is a leading institution focused on cancer care, research, education, and prevention. The Senior Data Scientist (Computational Biology) will play a central role in accelerating scientific discovery within IMT by collaborating with clinicians, immunologists, and researchers, contributing to publications and grant applications, and advancing computational approaches in cancer immunotherapy.

The ideal candidate will have computational experience. Experience with multi-modal omics data, single-cell and spatial transcriptomics. Experience in academic or healthcare environment.

Why Us?

This role offers the opportunity to contribute directly to transformative cancer immunotherapy research at UT MD Anderson, working alongside leading scientists in a highly collaborative environment. The position supports professional growth through publication, grant involvement, and development of advanced computational expertise, while offering a balanced and supportive work environment.

• Employer-paid medical coverage starting day one for employees working 30+ hours/week, plus optional group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance.
• Accruals for PTO and Extended Illness Bank, plus paid holidays, wellness, childcare, and other leave options.
• Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service and access to extensive wellness, fitness, and employee resource groups.
• Defined-benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement System, voluntary retirement plans, and employer-paid life and reduced salary protection programs.

Responsibilities

Data Analysis

• Analyze high-dimensional biomedical datasets including single-cell RNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics (CosMx, Visium, CODEX), bulk RNA-seq, and clinical datasets
• Characterize tumor microenvironment, immune cell states, and cell-cell interactions
• Integrate multi-modal datasets including genomic, spatial, proteomic, and clinical data
• Develop reproducible and scalable analytical workflows
• Apply strong programming skills in Python and/or R to data processing and analysis
• Utilize public cancer datasets such as TCGA and GEO where appropriate

Project Development

• Design and execute end-to-end computational analyses aligned with IMT research priorities
• Propose independent analytical strategies and hypotheses
• Collaborate with experimental and clinical teams to refine biological questions
• Develop reusable pipelines and analytical frameworks (e.g., GitHub)
• Contribute to cross-project standardization of analysis approaches

Research

• Generate biologically meaningful insights from complex datasets
• Contribute to manuscripts with expectation of first or co-first authorship
• Support grant development through computational analysis and data interpretation
• Stay current with emerging computational biology methods and apply them to IMT datasets

EDUCATION:

Required: Bachelor's Degree Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, Science, Engineering, Computer Science, Statistics, Computational Biology, or related field. Preferred: PhD Science, Engineering or related field.

EXPERIENCE:

Required: Five years experience in scientific software or industry programming with a concentration in scientific computing. With master's degree, three years experience. With PhD, one year experience. Preferred: Genomic experience. Developing AI models. Ability to independently lead projects. Experience single-cell RNA-seq and/or spatial transcriptomics. Experience in academic or healthcare environment.

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, paid time off, retirement, tuition benefits, educational opportunities, and individual and team recognition.

This position may be responsible for maintaining the security and integrity of critical infrastructure, as defined in Section 113.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code and therefore may require routine reviews and screening. The ability to satisfy and maintain all requirements necessary to ensure the continued security and integrity of such infrastructure is a condition of hire and continued employment.

It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state, or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.html

Additional Information

• Requisition ID: 183517
• Employment Status: Full-Time
• Employee Status: Regular
• Work Week: Days
• Minimum Salary: US Dollar (USD) 123,000
• Midpoint Salary: US Dollar (USD) 154,000
• Maximum Salary : US Dollar (USD) 185,000
• FLSA: exempt and not eligible for overtime pay
• Fund Type: Soft
• Work Location: Hybrid Onsite/Remote
• Pivotal Position: Yes
• Referral Bonus Available?: Yes
• Relocation Assistance Available?: Yes