Researcher - Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Savic Lab)

The Researcher will have the unique opportunity to support clinical testing that will influence patient care, as well as participate in the design and conduct of pharmacogenomics research studies.

We are seeking an entry-level candidate with a Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry or a related field. The ideal candidate will have at least two years of availability and demonstrate a strong academic record, especially in relevant coursework, and provide three letters of recommendation.

Prior research experience is appreciated but not required—we offer comprehensive training and mentorship.

A full-time biomedical Researcher position is available in the field of pharmacogenomics within the Savic Laboratory in the Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Department at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The Savic Laboratory investigates the gene regulatory architecture of pediatric leukemia and how the noncoding genome and gene regulatory alterations impact chemotherapy response and clinical outcome in childhood patients with leukemia. For this research effort, the Savic laboratory routinely employs state-of-the-art chromatin profiling methodologies and high-throughput phenotyping assays.

The successful candidate will support ongoing chromatin profiling efforts by implementing diverse functional genomic assays on patient biospecimens in the Savic Laboratory as well as assist with the development and clinical testing of novel methods to improve cancer treatment outcomes by working closely with the Pharmacotyping Resource. The Pharmacotyping Resource is a translational laboratory in the Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Department with a strong emphasis on functional precision medicine and collaborative pharmacogenomics research that will translate to improving patient therapy. The resource uses a state-of-the-art fluorescence imaging platform to test drug sensitivity profiles (pharmacotyping) of a variety of pathologic tissues obtained from children with catastrophic diseases, with a focus on pediatric cancer.

Job Responsibilities:

• Process and perform daily testing on primary patient samples in a clinical research setting.
• Accurately document and report experimental data to the research team.
• Collaborate with research staff to execute, analyze, and interpret experiments.
• Communicate with clinical research coordinators to collect patient samples, ensuring proper documentation, quality control and strict adherence to HIPAA regulations.
• Assist in the research, development, and optimization of new assay methods to be used by the lab.
• Collaborate with scientists and personnel from other laboratories and institutions to design, carry out, analyze and interpret additional experiments.
• Maintain cell cultures.
• Maintain inventory of laboratory supplies and reagents.
• Perform other related duties as required.
• Operate and maintain sensitive laboratory equipment.
• Be available to be on-call as needed to process patient samples when they become available.
• Maintain consistent attendance and professional conduct.

Minimum Education and/or Training:

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

Minimum Experience:

• No experience required.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with basic-level laboratory techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to work both autonomously and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Ability to think critically and creatively and ask scientific questions.
• Positive attitude and good interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational techniques and the ability to handle a variety of tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with tissue culture and aseptic procedures is a plus.
• Experience with fluorescence microscopy is a plus.

What We Offer:

This role provides hands-on experience in a world-class research environment, opportunities for co-authorship on publications, and exceptional mentorship—including the potential for a strong letter of recommendation for future academic or professional applications. St. Jude also offers competitive pay and outstanding benefits.

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 $24.00 - $42.00 per hour for the role of Researcher - Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Savic Lab).

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