Staff Scientist - Cancer Research and RNA-Based Therapeutics

City of Hope; Monrovia (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Job summary

City of Hope in California is seeking a Staff Scientist to advance RNA biology and RNA-based therapeutics in cancer and related diseases. You will contribute to cutting-edge research led by Dr. Jianjun Chen and collaborate across multiple disciplines.

The role emphasizes epitranscriptomics, chromatin biology, and translational efforts including mRNA therapies, delivery systems, and preclinical models. A strong publication record and postdoctoral training are favored.

Qualifications

• PhD or MD in a relevant field with strong background in RNA biology.
• At least three years of highly productive postdoctoral research training.
• Experience with RNA modifications/editing and epitranscriptomics preferred.

Responsibilities

• Engage in advanced techniques including mRNA-based technologies, LNP development and targeted delivery.
• Perform flow cytometry, mass spectrometry, sequencing analyses (RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, RIP-seq) and pre-clinical studies.
• Collaborate across disciplines to advance cancer biology, immunology and translational drug discovery.

Job description

Join the forefront of groundbreaking research at City of Hope where we're 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: Contribute to innovative approaches in predicting, preventing, and curing diseases, shaping the future of medicine through cutting‑edge research.

The laboratory of Dr. Jianjun Chen is in search of a talented Staff Scientist. Our group is interested in discovering novel genetic and epigenetic regulations and deciphering their underlying molecular mechanisms in normal developmental processes and tumorigenesis. Our research spans multiple areas, including RNA Biology, Cancer Biology, Chromatin and Epigenetic Regulation, Cancer Metabolism, Immunology, Drug Discovery and Development, and Structural Biology, with a particular emphasis on RNA epigenetics/epitranscriptomics (RNA modifications) and RNA-based therapeutics. A major focus of our translational efforts is the development of mRNA-based therapeutics, particularly in vivo CAR‑T/NK/Macrophage technologies and cancer mRNA vaccines, as well as epitranscriptomics‑based biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic response prediction. Our research involves experiments with RNA Biology, RNA modifications/editing, mRNA-based therapeutics, lipid nanoparticle (LNP) and alternative delivery systems, targeted delivery, cancer immunology, auto immune disease, primary human cancer cells, cancer and stem cell transplantation models, mouse genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry and cell biology, chemical biology, immunology, functional genomics, CRISPR screening, signal transduction, single‑cell sequencing, spatial sequencing, metabolism, drug development, structural biology, and large‑scale data analysis and computational biology.

For more information about Dr. Chen’s lab, please visit here.

As a successful candidate, you will:

Engage in a variety of advanced techniques, including but not limited to mRNA-based technologies, LNP development, targeted delivery, flow cytometry, mass spectrometry/quantitative phospho‑profiling, CyTOF, mouse genetics models, xenograft assays, retroviral gene delivery, chemical biology, drug development, whole exome sequencing and RNA‑seq‑analysis of clonal evolution of cancer, dot blots, RNA modification‑seq, ChIP‑seq, RIP‑seq, PAR‑CLIP‑seq, single‑cell sequencing, spatial sequencing, metabolism profiling, and pre‑clinical drug testing in xenotransplantation models, etc.

Your qualifications should include:

• A Ph.D. and/or M.D. degree(s), and a solid background in RNA biology, RNA‑based therapeutics, RNA modifications/editing, epitranscriptomics, chromatin remodeling, mRNA-based therapeutics, drug discovery, drug delivery, biochemistry, chemical biology, development, epigenetics, immunology, tumor immunity, tumor microenvironment, pathology, metabolism, structural biology, and/or stem cell research.
• At least three years of highly productive postdoctoral research training experience.

Preferred qualifications:

• Mouse model research experience is a plus.

City of Hope employees pay is based on the following criteria: work experience, qualifications, and work location.

City of Hope is an equal opportunity employer.