Senior Scientist - 131183

The Moores Cancer Center (MCC) is one of just 57 NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the United States and the only one in San Diego County. As a consortium cancer center, it is a collaborative partnership between the UCSD: encompassing 28 departments, 6 schools (School of Medicine, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Public Health, Jacobs School of Engineering, School of Biological Sciences & the School of Physical Sciences), UCSD Health oncology hospitals and clinics; the basic and public health research and outreach of San Diego State University (SDSU), and the basic and translational research of the La Jolla Institute of Immunology (LJI). These various programs and units are all dedicated to fulfilling the Moores Cancer Center's mission of reducing cancer's burden. As such, it ranks among the top centers in the nation conducting the continuum of cancer research, providing advanced patient care, and serving the community through outreach and education programs. As a top-ranking, future-oriented organization, we offer challenging career opportunities in a fast-paced and innovative environment. Moores Cancer Center follows a progressive philosophy of career-path development for its employees including opportunities for cross-training, professional development, and progressive responsibility.

MCC's mission is to transform cancer care in our catchment area and beyond by driving exceptional scientific discoveries and innovations in prevention, detection, care, and training. MCC will make a global impact on improving health by reducing cancer burden through accelerated discovery and translation, compassionate and interdisciplinary care, education and community engagement, with the foundation of our core values - Excellence, Innovation and Risk-Taking, Collaboration, Diversity and Service.

This is a long-standing NIH funded laboratory focused on understanding the molecular determinants that drive pancreatic cancer development and progression. The lab also works to define therapeutic vulnerabilities in PDAC and uses laboratory-based models to study approaches for early detection, prevention, and development of novel therapeutics for pancreatic cancer. Specific areas of research interest are the DNA damage response and therapeutic vulnerabilities, understanding the complexities of the tumor microenvironment and mechanisms that drive therapeutic resistance, and developing new therapeutics to more effectively target pancreatic cancer.

Under direction of the Principal Investigator, the Senior Scientist will independently drive the scientific direction and research productivity of the lab. This will include making significant innovative contributions pertaining to the development and design of new complex research project and grant writing. Manage and coordinate research collaborations between the Simeone lab and others across the UCSD community and beyond.

Anticipated scientific duties will include partnering with the principal investigator in developing, outlining and refining the strategic directions of the laboratory, designing and overseeing projects, contribute data for publication, and grant writing.

• Advanced theoretical knowledge and/or Bachelor's Degree in cancer biology with a background in cancer biology, immunology, DNA damage response signaling.

• Experience independently isolating bone marrow and blood cells for analysis by flow cytometry, immunoblotting, gene expression and cell adhesion assays.

• Experience independently performing and directing in vivo experiments including the injection of growth factors, tumor cells and therapeutics, bleeding and tissue harvesting of mice and in performing minor surgery.

• Demonstrated experience in caring for and handling mice for surgical procedures, including anesthesia administration. Experience to maintain animal colony by breeding, genotyping and weaning animals, creating new animal strains and keeping accurate records

• Experience independently performing and directing protein analysis techniques including protein determination, ELISA and Magpix assays and protein separation techniques.

• Experience independently working with endothelial, myeloid and tumor cell culture, DNA and RNA isolation from culture cells and from tissues, immunoblotting and quantitative RT-PCR for genes and proteins that regulate myeloid cell adhesion, migration and gene and protein expression in vitro and in vivo.

• Experience independently developing improvements to tissue culture techniques, including sterile technique, cell adhesion and migration assays.

• Experience independently performing and directing molecular biological techniques, including DNA purification, genoptyping and cloning.

• Experience to develop new experimental procedures with accuracy and efficiency and to teach others to perform them with accuracy.

• Experience working with both basic and advanced laboratory equipment, including centrifuges, spectrophotometers, balances pH meters, electrophoresis, single cell sequencing, magnetic and light based plate readers and flow cytometer equipment.

• Skill in experimental design and adaptation of methods to achieve results. Ability to integrate data from multiple sources to synthesize conclusions. Ability to read and abstract scientific articles and apply to the design of experiments.

• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, including experience in laboratory record keeping, budget analysis and managing logistics. Demonstrated knowledge of lab safety rules.

• Strong communication skills (both verbal and written) needed to interact professionally and effectively in the work environment, as well as to effectively and accurately document research procedures. Ability to read, comprehend, and discuss research materials. Grant and manuscript writing experience.

• Experience with the operation of a personal computer and software application, such as Access, MS Word and Excel. Knowledge to work with and learn new software for analysis. Ability to use Quartzy and Oracle to place and reconcile orders and receipts.

• Proven ability to read scientific papers and adapt knowledge and techniques from the literature to experimental systems.

• Demonstrated experience as a scientific leader. Experience with independently conceptualizing a project, designing protocols, planning for milestones, and preparing results for publication.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality. Demonstrated administrative experience, skill to coordinate complex activities and to use independent judgment to organize and prioritize laboratory functions.

• Demonstrated experience in managing and teaching students, postdocs and new personnel methods and skills.

• Demonstrated experience in contributing and implementing innovative ideas and techniques on complex and multidisciplinary research projects.

• Demonstrated ability use and adapt existing techniques and technologies in novel and non-traditional ways in order to meet research objectives.

• Excellent interpersonal, as well as written and verbal communication skills to interact with a variety of personalities at all levels of the organization, exercising tact, mature judgment, diplomacy, and flexibility to promote positive working relationships and job effectiveness. Skill at negotiating with various personalities and developing internal and external network of contacts. Experience and interest in independently interacting with other laboratories to collaborate and adopt new methods and skills and to institute such practices throughout the lab.

• Ability to adhere to established UCSD guidelines for safety and environmental issues.

• PhD and post-doctoral training with at least 5 years lab experience in cancer biology with a background in cancer biology, immunology, DNA damage response signaling.

• Experience with UCSD regulations, policies, and procedures.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.

• Must be willing to work frequently with small animals.

• Must be willing to work occasional nights and weekends.

• Must be willing to work with biohazardous and hazardous materials.