Research Scientist

Title

Research Scientist

Department

Lymphoma/Myeloma - Research (Green Lab)

Reports To

Dr. Michael Green, Director, Lymphoma Tissue Bank

MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is to eliminate cancer in Texas, the nation, and the world through outstanding programs that integrate patient care, research and prevention, and through education for undergraduate and graduate students, trainees, professionals, employees and the public.

SUMMARY

The primary function of the Research Scientist position in the Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, is to apply technical expertise and experience to coordinate, design and carry out research projects related to flow cytometry and translational research.

CORE VALUES

Caring Behaviors

• Courtesy: Is respectful and courteous to each other at all times.
• Friendliness/Teamwork: Promotes and rewards teamwork and inclusiveness; is sensitive to the concerns of our patients and our co-workers.

Integrity Behaviors

• Reliability: Communicates frequently, honestly and openly.
• Accountability: Holds self and others accountable for practicing our values.
• Safety: Models safe behavior (wears badge and personal protective equipment, washes hands, and keeps work area clean and orderly); Notices a safety concern or emergency, understands role and uses proper procedures to report it; Mitigates risk to the institution through sound business practices; Demonstrates ethical and personal responsibility in work and behavior

Discovery Behaviors

• Responsiveness: By his/her actions, creates an environment of trust; Encourages learning, creativity and new ideas.
• Personal Leadership/Self-Initiative: Helps others to identify and solve problems; Seeks personal growth and enables others to do so.

JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

Research Plans, organizes, coordinates and conducts, and records, analyzes and presents data from scientific research projects, focusing on molecular biology, genetics, genomics and mouse models of various human diseases.

Lab Coordination and Research Outcomes Plans and coordinates the correlatives or research plans to include samples taken and respective time points. Works closely with the principal investigator and other faculty and lab members to determine specific goals or objectives to be attained, analyzes and evaluates resulting research data, revises techniques or approaches to work problems, and presents experimental results to faculty, industry partners, lab members and in various other departmental, institutional or research forums.

Lab Oversight Helps to oversee and maintain proper usage and performance of equipment used in research experiments. Helps to write and update, and oversees compliance with lab safety protocols, human subject's protection protocols, and experimental protocols. Maintains laboratory databases, notebooks, and electronic records. Interfaces with other laboratory members and research colleagues to compare research protocols and to ensure compliance with safety and IRB protocols. Oversees all research samples and reagents, places orders for supplies and reagents and equipment, and maintains records of these items. Helps to write any needed Material Transfer Agreements for inbound or outbound materials.

Other Duties Compiles, writes and presents written and oral reports to supervisor and in other departmental or institutional settings.

Correlative Studies Design Meets with faculty and industry partners to discuss and plan correlative research for clinical trials.

Grant Planning Assists faculty with technical and budgetary input for grant applications based upon correlative research.

Coordination of Sample Collection and Handling Tracks patient and sample collection schedules to ensure that samples are collected at the appropriate times and distributed appropriately for laboratory studies.

Other duties as assigned

COMPETENCIES

Analytical Thinking - Gather relevant information systematically; break down problems into simple components; use appropriate software tools to organize and analyze data; make sound decisions.

Innovative Thinking - Approach problems with curiosity and open-mindedness; offer rational new ideas, solutions and/or options; read relevant scientific literature and modify and implement cutting edge techniques where appropriate.

Oral Communication - Express ideas clearly and concisely in groups and one-to-one conversations; create an environment with open channels of communication.

Provide Direction - Provide clear direction and priorities toward a common vision; clarify roles and responsibilities for employees; promote empowerment.

Strategic Thinking - Define strategic goals and issues clearly; apply broad knowledge and experience when addressing strategic issues; foresee obstacles and opportunities relating to change or improvement.

Practical laboratory and mouse room technical competencies - Able to perform experiments with adequate technical skill and in an organized and efficient manner while minimizing waste of reagents or biospecimens. Able to handle mice and manage mouse colony and animal husbandry efficiently. Record and maintain lab data in notebooks, electronic databases and other media. Data from technical replicates should reflect this expected level of practical competence.

Service Orientation
Provide service to our stakeholders, including research colleagues, support staff, vendors and others in a safe, courteous, accountable, efficient and innovative manner to include:

• Promoting inclusiveness and collegiality that demonstrates respect and professionalism to our stakeholders at all times
• Modeling safe, ethical behavior that mitigates risk to the institution through sound research practices, and adherence to MD Anderson's Standards of Conduct, institutional policies and procedures
• Responding to requests in a timely manner while proactively communicating expectations for procedures, service arrival, or project deliverables to stakeholders
• Using the steps to HEAL (Hear, Empathize, Address and Learn) the relationship when service recovery is needed

Customer Focus
Builds and maintains customer satisfaction with the research outputs and results from the laboratory through skills demonstrated in communication, personalization of interactions, regulation of emotions, and proactive problem solving.

Performance Statement Examples

• Presents a cheerful, positive manner with customers either on the phone or in person. Shows interest in, actively listens to and responds in a clear and timely manner to customer's expressed needs.
• Focuses on the customer's results, rather than own. Goes beyond basic service expectations to help customers implement complete solutions through personalized service that anticipates the customer's unspoken needs.
• Delivers services when and where the customer needs them. Explores options when unable to deliver a requested product or service and pursues solutions until the customer is satisfied by addressing the root cause of the issue. Problem solves with patient, family member, care giver or clinical team to aid in proactively resolving issues and concerns.
• Provides to customers status reports and progress updates. Seeks customer feedback and ensures needs have been fully met.

Talks to customers (internal and external) with a pleasant tone to find out what they need and how satisfied they are with the service. Remains in control of own reactions and responds in a manner that demonstrates appropriate nonverbal cues and complements the customer's emotions in the situation. Recognizes when it is necessary to escalate situations to leadership

PhD in one of the natural sciences or related field or Medical degree With PhD, no experience required. With Medical degree, two years of experience in experimental or scientific work. It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.html