Immunocore
Senior Research Scientist I, Oncology Research
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Location: Oxford, UK
Department: Oncology Research
Key Responsibilities
The Oncology Research department is seeking an immuno-oncologist to join the Cancer Disease Biology team. In this role, you will develop a suite of in vitro immunology and cancer assays and build biologically rich datasets to support several drug programmes. You will establish advanced disease models, including adult stem cell–derived organoids, that recapitulate key aspects of drug target, immune and tumour biology. This will include optimising model growth, immune co-culture conditions and phenotyping approaches to better represent patient tumours across relevant biomarkers and disease subtypes.
A major focus will be modelling key barriers to therapeutic response, including the cancer cell–intrinsic states that fuel tumour progression, relapse and metastasis, as well as features of the tumour microenvironment (TME), recreated through immune and stromal cell co-culture. You will use these models to test the efficacy of ImmTAC molecules, Immunocore’s TCR-based bispecific therapeutics, and assess how effectively they overcome disease-relevant challenges.
Through this work, you will help to dissect ImmTAC mechanism of action, identify biological factors that influence response and resistance in pre-clinical models, explore combination therapy strategies and test new drug design concepts. Your work will generate novel insights into disease biology and TCR therapeutics, directly supporting Oncology Research and drug development. You will also be supported to present and publish your findings internally and externally. This role offers the opportunity to work at the interface of disease biology, pharmacology and TCR-based therapeutics, contributing directly to drug discovery strategy.
You will be a naturally inquisitive problem-solver who can integrate cancer biology, immunology and disease modelling to design robust experiments and interpret complex datasets. Comfortable learning new techniques and moving between research areas, you will adapt readily to the changing needs of varied and challenging projects. You will be a strong team player who can also work independently, with excellent written and verbal communication skills and the confidence to navigate ambiguity and solve complex problems creatively.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop a detailed understanding of drug targets and cancer indications of strategic interest to Immunocore, in collaboration with colleagues.
- Generate patient-relevant in vitro disease models, including adult stem cell–derived organoids, that represent drug target biology, cancer cell states and relevant features of the tumour microenvironment.
- Characterise and phenotype these models using relevant molecular, cellular and functional readouts to assess how faithfully they reflect patient tumours, biomarkers and disease subtypes.
- Test ImmTAC efficacy in these models and assess their ability to overcome barriers to therapeutic response, including cancer cell–intrinsic states associated with progression, relapse and metastasis.
- Investigate how immune and stromal cell composition, as well as standard-of-care therapeutics, affect target expression, tumour biology and ImmTAC efficacy/mechanism of action.
- Explore rational combination therapy opportunities based on disease biology and mechanism of action.
- Contribute proactively to project and programme team meetings by generating, interpreting and communicating data packages that address key scientific questions and inform go/no-go decisions.
- Help establish and support internal and external collaborations, including with key opinion leaders, to accelerate oncology research and pharmacology studies.
- Keep up to date with the scientific literature and latest developments in immuno-oncology and disease modelling.
- Contribute to peer-reviewed publications and patents.
- Present scientific findings at internal and external conferences.
- Provide technical training and mentorship to support fellow team members.
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PROFILE SPECIFICATION
Experience & knowledge
Essential
- Strong understanding of immunology and cancer cell biology, and their application to disease modelling.
- Demonstrable experience generating, culturing and phenotyping cancer models, including 2D and 3D in vitro systems such as organoids or spheroids, and/or ex vivo systems such as tissue fragments, tissue slices or organ-on-chip models.
- Pharmacology experience testing the effects of therapeutic molecules on tumour biology, immune cell activation and cancer cell killing using patient-relevant disease models.
- Experience with immunoassay techniques, including T cell activation and killing assays, proliferation assays and cytokine measurements.
- Experience characterising disease models using approaches such as sequencing, microscopy and/or histology to assess how well they represent patient disease and disease subtypes.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Desirable
- Experience modelling complex tumour microenvironments through immune and/or stromal cell co-culture.
- Experience with omics technologies, such as bulk or single-cell genomics/transcriptomics, proteomics and/or mass spectrometry.
- Experience with, or strong working knowledge of, genetic modification approaches in cancer and/or primary human immune cells, such as CRISPR, lentiviral transduction or si/shRNA.
- Experience with advanced microscopy techniques, such as confocal, single-molecule, super-resolution, TIRF, live-cell and fixed-cell imaging.
- Bioinformatics or data analysis skills, for example using R or Python.
- High-throughput screening and automation experience.
- Pharma or biotech laboratory experience.
We welcome applications from candidates who bring strong expertise in some, but not necessarily all, of these areas and who are motivated to develop new capabilities.
KEY BEHAVIOURAL ATTRIBUTES
Openness and honesty
- Readily offering information pertaining to work in hand whether positive or negative.
Taking responsibility
- Being prepared to accept full responsibility for tasks entrusted to them; seeing tasks through to completion and dealing with the consequences of failure or success.
Flexibility
- Being flexible to new ideas and approaches; changes of plans, objectives and/or priorities. Handling disjointed tasks effectively.
Team spirit
- Being able to work productively with others to achieve tasks. Showing consideration for the needs and feelings of others.
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SPECIFIC BEHAVIOURAL ATTRIBUTES
Attention to Communication: Ensuring information and work is passed on correctly and in a timely way to those who depend on it.
Written & Oral Communication: Writing and speaking clearly to share thoughts and information concisely and appropriately.
Diagnostic Information Gathering: Identifying the information required to clarify a situation, asking questions when required.
Results Orientated: Focusing on desired results, seeking help and support to overcome obstacles in a timely manner.
Thoroughness: Ensuring work and information provided is complete, carefully checking and seeking additional support to help achieve this if needed.
Managing Self Performance: Works to specific and measurable goals, seeking support and advice when dealing with unfamiliar or new issues.
Analytical Thinking: Tackling day-to-day problems using a logical and systematic approach, identifying discrepancies and inconsistencies.
Education & Qualifications
- A PhD in immunology, cancer biology or a related discipline, with experience in cancer disease modelling and/or immuno-oncology.
- 3+ years’ experience of post-doctoral research in an academic or industrial setting
About the Company
Immunocore (NASDAQ: IMCR) is a pioneering, commercial-stage T cell receptor biotechnology company whose purpose is to develop and commercialize a new generation of transformative medicines which address unmet patient needs in oncology, infectious diseases and autoimmune disease. Our leaders in R&D are internationally recognised as some of the biotech industry’s most successful drug developers. We are creating not just an environment where great minds can interact but an innovation powerhouse answering the big questions.
Focused on delivering first-in-class biological therapies to patients, we have developed a highly innovative soluble TCR platform. Our ImmTAX molecules underpin a new generation of precision engineered drugs that harness the immune system to treat a broad spectrum of diseases with high unmet medical need, including oncology, infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases.
At Immunocore, we recognize that our employees are our greatest asset. We value the unique contributions each person brings to our team. By embracing Science, Trust, Respect, Integrity, Diversity, and Entrepreneurship (STRIDE), we create an environment where collaboration thrives, ideas flourish, and transformative changes happen. STRIDE represents more than just letters; it embodies our shared identity and drives our mission. We are dedicated to developing breakthrough therapies that transform patients’ lives, advancing medicine, and supporting one another in these pursuits.
Immunocore is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As such, we are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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