Job Description

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University invites applications for a PhD level Assistant Research Scientist (non-tenure track faculty) position. The position is designed to participate on projects to develop a tumor-targeting nanoparticle delivering Fas-encoding and IFNa-encoding plasmids to human colon cancer cells in mouse models to restore Fas expression and force tumor cells to express IFNa and enhance the efficacy of T cell-based immunotherapy. This research will involve tumor cell line, mouse models and human cancer patient specimens.

The Assistant Research Scientist will work independently under the direction of Dr. Kebin Liu and will be expected to conduct advanced research in the field of cancer immunology and the development of molecular target-based immunotherapies to enhance human cancer immune surveillance to treat human cancer. Will also train and provide supervision to the postdocs, students and technical staff and will carry out research projects independently; design and execute research experiments, perform data analysis and write/review manuscripts for publication.
Responsibilities
Planning, designing, and performing research projects and analyzing the data from these research projects.
Maintain laboratory database/inventory of reagents and antibodies.
Maintain current biosafety laboratory protocols in accordance with both university and national regulations.
Assist with training and supervision of new students, postdocs, and technicians in the lab as needed.
Attend lab meetings and discussions of results from research projects.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
Educational Requirements
PhD in Life Sciences, Pharmacology or related field from an accredited college or university.

Required Experience
Expertise in cancer immunology required. Demonstrated experience in molecular biology and cancer immunology with emphasis on T-cell and tumor cell studies. Extensive experience in mouse tumor models. Training in epigenetics is also required.

Shift/Salary/Benefits
This position is fiscal year based and works year-round.

The intended work commitment or full-time equivalent (FTE) for this position is 1.0 and considered full-time.

Comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, 13 paid holidays, vacation leave, sick leave, generous retirement plans, tuition waiver, wellness options, and much more!

Also, our full-time employees who have been employed with us successfully for more than 6 months can be considered for the Tuition Assistance Program.

Salary is determined at the time of hire and are based on a variety of factors including but not limited to experience, education, credentials, specialty, training, etc. while also considering internal equity and market data.

Advancement through the faculty ranks including research faculty at Augusta University is only through the annual Promotion and Tenure process in which faculty may apply if eligible (typically five-year increments). For more information on ranks, please review the Augusta University Promotion and Tenure Guidelines: https://www.augusta.edu/hr/faculty-support-ser/procedures/augusta_university_promotion_tenure_guidelines_feb_2020.pdf and the Medical College of Georgia Promotion and Tenure Guidelines: https://www.augusta.edu/hr/faculty-support-ser/procedures/2022_2023_mcg_promotion_tenure_guidelines.pdf.

College/Department Information
Established in 1829, the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, or BMB, is an academic home to interdisciplinary translational research for disease detection, prevention, and treatment. The research mission is focused on inventing better diagnostics and newer targeted therapies for the benign and malignant diseases of the bladder, brain, breast, eye, gastrointestinal tract, kidney, liver, and prostate. The research areas encompass biomarkers, chemoprevention, DNA damage and repair, drug resistance, the epigenome, immunotherapy, the microbiome, molecular signaling, natural products, protein modifications and targeted therapy. Our faculties are supported by major funding agencies, and the insight gained by their work has been published in reputable peer-reviewed journals.
About Us
Augusta University is Georgia's innovation center for education and health care, training the next generation of innovators, leaders, and healthcare providers in classrooms and clinics on four campuses in Augusta and locations across the state. More than 9,000 students choose Augusta for educational opportunities at the center of Georgia's cybersecurity hub and experiential learning that blends arts and application, humanities, and the health sciences. Augusta is home to Georgia's only public academic health center, where groundbreaking research is creating a healthier, more prosperous Georgia, and world-class clinicians are bringing the medicine of tomorrow to patient care today.