Senior Research Scientist, Georgia Cancer Center

Augusta University; Augusta (GA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision

Tuition waiver and assistance program

Paid holidays and vacation leave

Job summary

A leading academic institution in Augusta, GA is seeking a Senior Research Scientist for the Georgia Cancer Center. This role focuses on CAR-T cell therapy research, requiring a strong background in molecular biology and extensive lab experience. Responsibilities include planning and executing experiments and coordinating research efforts across teams. The position offers a full-time commitment with a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of research experience.
• Extensive experience with PCR, qRT-PCR, cloning, and mammalian cell culture.
• Willingness to accept responsibilities outside of initial job description.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute experiments for T cell therapy.
• Perform cell-based functional assays for candidate selection.
• Support preclinical studies and coordinate tasks across projects.

Skills

Molecular Biology

Cell culture techniques

Flow cytometry

Gene editing

Education

PhD or equivalent in Cell or Molecular Biology

Tools

FlowJo

GraphPad Prism

Job description

Senior Research Scientist, Georgia Cancer Center

Job ID: 276341 • Location: Augusta University • Full/Part Time: Full Time

The Georgia Cancer Center (GCC) at Augusta University (AU) is actively seeking a highly motivated faculty member at the rank of Senior Research Scientist with a deep immunology background to join our research team driving CAR-T Cell Therapy discovery research. The faculty member will design, develop, optimize, and nominate CAR-T cell candidates using various in vitro and in vivo phenotypic and functional assays and will collaborate with cross-functional teams to advance lead CAR-T candidates toward clinical application. This position is not on tenure track.

Responsibilities

• Research - 50%
• Independently plan, execute, analyze, and report on experiments to support the preclinical development of novel T cell therapy products.
• Genome editing and culturing human pluripotent stem cells in various conditions.
• Perform in vitro cell-based functional assays (cytotoxicity, cytokine, proliferation, etc.) for CAR T cell therapeutic candidate selection.
• Design, execute, and analyze flow cytometry experiments for CAR T cell product characterization.

• Reporting Research - 50%
• Support engineered T cell production activities (e.g., gene editing, T cell culture, cryopreservation, cell thawing).
• Culture both engineered primary T cells and suspension/adherent cell lines.
• Support IND-enabling preclinical studies.
• Coordinate tasks across multiple projects and teams, demonstrating prioritization and planning.

Required Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in Cell or Molecular Biology/Biological Sciences with 10 or more years of research experience.
• Extensive hands-on experience with Molecular Biology (PCR, qRT-PCR, ddPCR, DNA/RNA and protein preparation), cloning, mammalian cell culture and transfection.
• Experience with multi-color flow cytometry, panel design, and data analysis.
• Willingness to accept responsibilities outside of initial job description.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with human CAR T cell engineering.
• Experience using viral (lentiviral, retroviral or AAV) and/or non-viral gene delivery methods (e.g., CRISPR mediated knock-in or targeted genome integration).
• Experience with immunological assays, such as cytokine/chemokine analysis (e.g., ELISA or Luminex), cytotoxicity and in vitro cell-based assays live cell analysis.
• Proficiency in FlowJo and GraphPad Prism.
• Understanding of US FDA cGMP and international regulatory requirements is welcomed.

Shift/Salary/Benefits

• This position is fiscal year based and works year-round.
• The intended work commitment or full-time equivalent (FTE) for this position is 1.0 and considered full-time.
• Salary and compensation are commensurate with education, experience, and achievements; salary is subject to availability of funds.
• Comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, 13 paid holidays, vacation leave, sick leave, retirement plans, tuition waiver, wellness options, and more.
• Full-time employees employed for more than 6 months may be considered for the Tuition Assistance Program.
• Rank and salary are determined at hire based on experience, education, credentials, specialty, training, and internal equity.
• Advancement through the faculty ranks is via the annual Promotion and Tenure process (typically every five years).

Location

Our Health Sciences Campus: 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912

Conditions of Employment

• Background check required prior to starting.
• Credit check may be required for Positions of Trust or approved departmental Purchase Card usage, if applicable.
• Motor vehicle reports may be required for positions that drive an Augusta University vehicle.
• For Faculty Hires: provide proof of completed degree(s) and transcripts. Foreign-educated candidates may require credential evaluation.
• All employees must protect sensitive information and adhere to cybersecurity and privacy policies.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Augusta University is an equal opportunity employer welcoming applicants from underrepresented groups, including individuals with disabilities and veterans.

How To Apply

To be considered for this position, apply online at the university job portal. Upload your Curriculum Vitae, Research Statement, and Professional References as one document.

Other Information

This position involves promoting a customer-friendly environment and maintaining a tobacco-free campus.

Location: Augusta University Health Sciences Campus