Senior Research Scientist, Georgia Cancer Center

Job : 276341

Location: Augusta University

Full/Part Time: Full Time

Job Summary: 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 booming research team driving CAR‑T Cell Therapy discovery research. The faculty member will play a crucial role in the design, development, optimization, and nomination of CAR‑T cell candidates using various in vitro and in vivo phenotypic and functional assays and will work closely with our cross‑functional teams to advance our exciting lead CAR‑T candidates to clinical application.

This position is not considered to be on tenure track.

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 cell and suspension/adherent cell lines.
• Support IND‑enabling preclinical studies.
• Coordinate tasks across multiple projects and teams, demonstrating prioritization and planning.

• PhD or equivalent in Cell or Molecular Biology/Biological Sciences with 10 or more years 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.

• 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 using data analysis tools such as Flow Jo and Graph Pad Prism.
• Understanding of US FDA cGMP and international regulatory requirements is welcomed.

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 is commensurate with education, experience, and achievements. The salary is subject to availability of funds. Comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, 13 paid holidays, vacation leave, sick leave, generous retirement plans, tuition waiver, wellness options, and much more!

Also, our full‑time employees who have been employed with us successfully for more than 6 months can be considered for the Tuition Assistance Program.

The Medical College of Georgia is one of the nation's largest medical schools by class size, with 260 students per class. The educational experience is anchored by the main campus in Augusta, regional clinical campuses for third‑ and fourth‑year students across the state and a second four‑year campus in Athens in partnership with the University of Georgia. MCG's expanding partnerships with physicians and hospitals across Georgia currently provides about 350 sites where students can experience the full spectrum of medicine, from complex care hospitals to small‑town solo practices.

MCG and its teaching hospitals also provide postgraduate education to more than 500 residents and fellows in 50 different Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education‑approved programs. Our researchers and clinicians focus on what most impacts the health of Georgia's and America's children and adults, including cardiovascular biology…