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Posted: 11-Apr-23
Type: Full-time
Salary: Open
Internal Number: REQ-1970
The Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology seeks to recruit an experienced Staff Research Scientist and Manager to establish and manage a preclinical cell therapy research team. Much of the instituteâ™s research is focused on developing and applying platforms for CRISPR-Cas9 manipulation in primary human T cells to explore genetic mechanisms that regulate T cell functions and work toward therapeutic engineering of cells to treat cancer, HIV, primary immune deficiencies, and autoimmune diseases. We use various engineered mouse models for preclinical studies of immune cell function and immunotherapy development as well as a variety of in vitro assays to assess T cell phenotype and function.Â
We are seeking a Staff Research Scientist to build and manage a team of 2-3 research technicians engaged in a pipeline to assess candidate genetically modified T cell therapy products in standardized in vitro and in vivo models. Ideally, the successful candidate would also be interested in extending our library of assays and models as needed to suit the needs of the organization as we continue to develop cell therapies across a range of indications, including multiple cancers as well as models of autoimmunity and transplantation.
This individual will report to Alex Marson, Director, Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology. They will manage a pipeline of in vitro and in vivo assays and be responsible for the generation of high-quality data packages assessing T cell product performance across T cell product optimization. They will build benchmarking datasets and SOPs for standard in vitro and in vivo assays in cell-based immune therapies for cancer and autoimmunity. This position will require experimental benchwork as well as project management and oversight.
About Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic ImmunologyÂ
To harness the immense potential offered by immunotherapies, the Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology combines emerging biomedical technologies at the intersection of human immunology, genomics, CRISPR genome engineering, computational biology, and synthetic biology.
This instituteâ™s scientists deepen knowledge of how DNA sequences control cell functions in the human immune system. Their discoveries will enable the next generation of immunotherapies for cancer, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, and other inflammatory diseases.
This institute is the result of a close partnership between Gladstone Institutes and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). With lab space both at Mission Bay and Parnassus, it creates a unified community across the two campuses and combines UCSFâ™s world-class immunology and planned cell therapy efforts with Gladstoneâ™s expertise in the host-pathogen interface, iPS cells, computational biology, and CRISPR gene editing technologies.
Key Responsibilities include:
Designing and cloning chimeric antigen receptors, gene circuits and donor templates
Engineering T cells using viral and non-viral gene editing technologies, including retroviral vectors, AAV, RNA/RNP electroporation
In vitro characterization of engineered T cells, using techniques such as:
Multicolor Flow Cytometry analysis of engineered T cells to assess activation, cytokine production, differentiation, exhaustion
Repetitive stimulation assay
Killing assay
Proliferation assays using dye dilution and cell expansion
Cytokine production assays - intracellular cytokine stains and supernatant measurements
Suppression assays by engineered Tregs
In vivo characterization of engineered T cells, using techniques such as:
Adoptive transfer of T cells in mice
Serial tracking infused T cells in peripheral blood
Analyses of infused T cells in various lymphoid (spleen, LN, bone marrow) and non-lymphoid tissue (liver, lung, gut, etc)
Xenogeneic (human T cells in mouse) and allogeneic (murine T cells in mouse) GvHD modelsÂ
Graft rejection in humanized mouse models
Treg suppression of GvHD and graft rejection
Xenograft cancer mouse modelsÂ
Supervision of maintenance of mouse colonies / mouse husbandry for in vivo assays
Budget tracking and reporting for individual projects / products executed by the preclinical team
Management of a small group of research technicians, including experimental training
Data centralization/standardization - maintenance of high-quality benchmarking data and SOPs as well as production of high-confidence data packages to support pre-IND filings
Required Qualifications:
PhD + 3 years postdoctoral research experience
Expertise in T cell engineering, including CAR and/or TCR engineering
Expertise in gene editing technologiesÂ
Expertise with in vivo mouse models of immune responses including humanized mouse models
Highly motivated, ambitious, possess strong planning and organizational skills and brings innovation/creative thinking about science
A strong commitment to building and maintaining a positive work environment
Interest in developing and teaching new mouse experimental techniques for institute labs
Demonstrated ability to manage individuals or small teams of researchers.Â
Experience managing parallel projects and keeping timelines across a complex organization
Strong time management skills and experience prioritizing various projects
Preferred Qualifications:
Industry experience
PhD + 5 years postdoctoral research experience
Expertise in gene targeting
Experience with protocol optimization, troubleshooting, and SOP development
Experience managing research project budgets
Additional Information:
This is an on-site position at Gladstone Institutes and the Parnassus campus of UCSF
The Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology is committed to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in the genomic immunology field, from trainees to faculty, and is an equal opportunity employer.
