Institute Associate Scientist III

The Institute Associate Scientist III participates in cross‑functional research to identify and validate novel biomarkers and patient responder hypotheses, and translate these findings into novel oncology therapeutic agents to benefit patients.

The ideal candidate is a highly self‑motivated scientist skilled in developing AI‑driven image analysis workflows, integrating complex multimodal datasets, building automation and AI‑assisted tools, and collaborating across various scientific teams to drive translational biology, biomarker discovery, and IND‑enabling research.

• 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.

• Under minimal supervision, support programs by establishing and performing new image analysis workflows to assess pharmacodynamic targets and biology of response.
• Under minimal supervision, assist in developing state‑of‑the‑art AI‑assisted models to create computational workflows, graphical interfaces, and or/interactive "APPs" to facilitate the integration and interpretation of various datasets (e.g. histopathology, multiplex IF, bulk‑seq, single, and high‑plex proteomic and transcriptomics) and facilitate/empower program scientists to perform these analysis workflows independently.
• Under minimal supervision, assist in establishing and integrating AI‑assisted "agents" (e.g. LLMs) to enable state‑of‑the‑art data science e.g. data‑browsing/parsing/querying, project tracking, and report generation.
• Examine, identify, assess, and implement automation pipelines (at scale) to streamline a wide range of specialized tasks within TRACTION.
• Assist in developing SOPs for projects and train others in techniques learned/developed (e.g. image analysis "apps" and GUIs, parsing and simple analysis workflows of various datasets, AI‑assisted (e.g. LLMs) agents).
• Interact with computational biologists, program biologists, in vivo pharmacologists, pharmacokinetic scientists, and disease expert pathologists to establish dose‑response‑efficacy relationships, inform tumor biology, and develop assays which are essential for future clinical studies that are incorporated into IND filings.
• Evaluate the applicability and deployment of new technologies to support translational biomarker discovery and biology of response/resistance studies, becoming a technical/functional lead and advisor to other team members.
• Effectively communicate program progress/issues to colleagues and contribute to project success.
• Under minimal supervision, design, execute, document, and interpret experiments.
• Analyze, prepare, and present data in project team and other internal meetings as needed.
• Employ safe lab practices.
• Other duties assigned.

Position requires an accomplished, highly self‑motivated individual with outstanding communication and organizational skills, and the ability to effectively present results and conclusions to co‑workers, collaborators, and managers. Experience independently designing and interpreting experimental results is expected and demonstrated ability for critical thinking and problem solving is a must. Ability to work well under pressure and drive personal and team objectives that impact critical timelines is expected.

A collaborative attitude, especially across various teams, is essential for this position. Finally, a willingness to serve on TRACTION‑led initiatives to foster teamwork and team culture is preferred but not required.

Required:

Bachelor's Degree Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Enzymology, Pharmacology, Chemistry or related field.

Preferred:
Master's Degree Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Enzymology, Pharmacology, Chemistry…