Senior Researcher

The department of Computational Biology Genomics Laboratory, in conjunction with the department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, has an immediate position available for a Senior Researcher with a background in molecular biology, microscopy, and cell culture techniques to support projects examining the effects of cancer treatment on the biomarkers correlated with health and aging.

St. Jude has a long history of innovation in the treatment of pediatric cancer. Less well known is the work performed at St. Jude to study the long-term impact of the treatment regimens on survivors of pediatric cancer. Many of these effects such as cognitive or physical impairments are immediately obvious. Recently, the examination of molecular markers as a predictor or indicator of future health issues in pediatric cancer survivors has begun to be investigated. For example, certain treatment protocols associated with Hodgkins Lymphoma are associated with a change in the makeup of cell populations within the peripheral blood that include genetic alterations correlated with an increased risk of breast cancer. There is also increasing evidence that the probability of the early onset of frailty can be predicted by measuring specific sites of methylation on certain populations of blood cells by what is popularly referred to as an epigenetic aging clock. The goal of our work will be to build on these early studies, by increasing the number of patients to better understand these biological mechanisms among large survivor populations and expand the scope of genes and modified sites examined to identify additional predictors of current and future adverse health outcomes. These projects will also evaluate samples from patients at both the population and single cell level to determine if specific cell populations or single cell programs serve as more accurate predictors of health outcomes. Many of the projects involve large sample sets, requiring extremely meticulous and accurate handling of samples.

Responsibilities

• Perform accurate and precise sample processing, including RNA Isolation, DNA isolation, preparation of single cells suspensions, and archiving of material under the supervision of the operations manager.
• Perform microscopic examination of tissues using H&E, and process samples using platforms for spatial transcriptional and protein profiling.
• Prepare libraries and perform sequencing on NGS platforms.  Data types include but are not limited to WGS, RNASeq, WES, and single cell multi-omics.
• Perform cell population characterization using software on the computational cluster to identify single cells with specific genotypes and cell surface markers under the direction of a senior scientist.

Opportunities for Professional Growth

• The selected candidate will have the opportunity to gain extensive knowledge on current and evolving methods for identifying genomic and transcriptomic variation in single cells and cell populations. 
• The selected candidate will have the opportunity to learn the operation and post analysis processes used for Next Generation Sequencing.
• The candidate will have the opportunity to gain extensive knowledge on single cell analysis for the identification of clonal populations in peripheral blood and other tissues.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in basic molecular biology such as PCR, QPCR, DNA isolation, and RNA isolation. 
• Experience with basic microscopy such as bright field illumination and phase contrast. Immuno-fluorescence microscopy or H & E histology experience strongly preferred.
•  Knowledge of basic cell culture techniques
• Familiarity with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word software.

Minimum Education and/or Training:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant scientific area is required.

Minimum Experience:

• Two (2) years of relevant, post-degree work experience is required.
• No experience is required with a Master’s degree.

Compensation

In recognition of certain U.S. state and municipal pay transparency laws, St. Jude is including a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This is an estimate offered in good faith and a specific salary offer takes into account factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the salary range and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current salary range is $60,320 – $105,040 per year for the role of Senior Researcher.

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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has a diverse, global patient population and workforce, built on the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our founder Danny Thomas envisioned a hospital that would treat children of the world—regardless of race, religion or a family’s ability to pay. Learn more about our history and commitment.

Today, we continue the mission to advance cures and means of prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. As we accelerate this progress globally, we believe our legacy of diversity, equity and inclusion is foundational to success. With the commitment of leaders at all levels of the organization, we strive to ensure the St. Jude culture, leadership approaches and talent processes are equitable and culturally responsive. View our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Report to learn about the hospital’s roots in diversity, equity and inclusion, where we are today and our aspirations for an even better future.

St. Jude is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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