Institute Research Investigator Disease Modeling Research Coordinator

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.

The Institute Research Investigator will be responsible for coordinating the acquisition and characterization of preclinical models derived from clinical samples that are used to support our internal and external collaborative translational therapeutic development efforts.

Key Functions

1. Serve as the research team's liaison with clinical sample collection platforms, tissue banks, and translational research teams to develop work flows and tracking mechanisms for patient sample transfer to TRACTION.
2. Coordinate transfer and processing of clinical tumor samples with internal/external collaborators to enable development and characterization of preclinical models.
3. Engage with clinical sequencing, pathology, and data analysis teams to monitor progress of patient samples through the QC and sequencing pipeline, and coordinate transfer of related molecular and pathological characterization data to facilitate clinical therapeutics development.
4. Independently conduct, oversee collaborate to execute laboratory activities to characterize and evaluate tumor pathology, including IHC/IF biomarker validation, optimization, troubleshooting, and staining using state-of-the-art techniques to identify disease markers, grade, stage, and differentiation.
5. Collaborate with innovation, computational, and in vivo biologists to design, maintain and curate preclinical model databases that include inventory, histopathological, molecular profiling, therapeutic response, and other related data.
6. Participate in the establishment, development, and optimization of molecular and histological techniques required by program biologists to advance disease model characterization and enable biomarker identification during clinical development of therapeutics.
7. Collaborate and communicate with Translational Molecular Pathology and CLIA teams as needed to support clinical biomarker evaluation.
8. Oversee general laboratory duties including tissue processing/archiving and reagent preparation.
9. Contribute to cross-functional project teams by communicating model and patient information as well as other relevant data to colleagues across programs.
10. Supervise, manage, train, and coach associate scientists.
11. Work and support multi-disciplinary teams to accomplish objectives.
12. Analyze, prepare, and present data in project team and other internal meetings as needed.
13. Employ safe lab practices.

Core Competencies

1. Self Motivation (Independent Contributor): Set high standards of performance; pursue goals with energy and persistence; drive for results and achievement.
   • Use standards set by management. Take ownership for actions. Continually meet department goals.
   • Demonstrate a personal sense of urgency in getting results. Use personal and management standards to complete assignments.

1. Technical/Functional Expertise (Independent Contributor): Demonstrate technical proficiency required to do the job; possess up-to-date knowledge in the profession; provide technical expertise to others.
   • Apply basic technical/functional knowledge to complete work. Meet essential position requirements.
   • Seek experiences and knowledge in technical/functional areas to gain additional expertise. Troubleshoot systems/processes effectively.

1. Analytical Thinking (Independent Contributor): Gather relevant information systematically; break down problems into simple components; make sound decisions.
   • Recognize simple cause and effect relationships. Diagnose problems by breaking them down into simple tasks or activities.
   • Identify relationships among a few parts of a problem. Scan own knowledge and experience base to determine potential solutions.

1. Team with Others (Independent Contributor): Encourage collaboration and input from all team members; value the contributions of all team members, and those beyond team; balance individual and team goals.
   • Support and show respect to team members. Recognize how individual actions affect the team.
   • Model team qualities, i.e. respect helpfulness and coping. Support team decisions once they are made and help to implement.

EDUCATION:
Required: Bachelor's degree in biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, enzymology, pharmacology, chemistry or related field.

Preferred: Master's degree, PhD or Medical Degree.

EXPERIENCE:
Required: Six years experience of relevant research experience in laboratory With Master's degree, four years of required experience. With a PhD in a natural science or Medical degree, no experience required.

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