Senior Research Scientist II - Oncology Research

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.

We strive to create a diverse and inclusive workplace, while seeking talented individuals to work with us across the many functions that will allow us to deliver new medicines to transform the lives of patients. You will work with outstanding people who together pioneer the research, development and commercialization of bi-specific TCR therapies. We aim to create an environment where individual contributions and initiatives can be maximized, while fostering a culture of collaboration, based on respect and integrity. We want each individual employee to own their career, as part of high-performing teams, and in the context of on-the-job and formal continuous development and training, as well as constructive feedback. We always strive to identify ways to improve what we do and how we do it, by asking questions, voicing opinions, exploring various approaches and staying connected with healthcare professionals, patients, academia and other key partners.

The Oncology Research department is actively searching for a motivated and detail-oriented cellular immunologist, molecular immunologist, or molecular cell biologist, to become a valuable member of the functional pharmacology unit. As an integral team member, you will collaborate closely with colleagues to derive deep mechanistic immuno-biology insight into our therapeutic platforms and disease indications of strategic interest. You will play a pivotal role, generating pharmacology data on new drug formats/platforms, dissecting drug MOA and immunophenotyping response and resistance mechanisms. You will combine your immuno-oncology skillset to devise strategies with the team to target cancer through modulation of the immune and stromal compartments of the tumour microenvironment (TME) and build advanced in vitro models to test hypotheses. In addition, the candidate will establish combination screening workflows designed to explore the pharmacology of agents, including
standard-of-care anti-cancer drugs, on target/disease biology and immune cell activation and redirected killing. You may also assist on in vivo pharmacology studies through support of ex vivo and pharmacodynamic studies. It is anticipated unique insights into disease, TME and therapeutics will be uncovered during this work. You will make major contributions to Oncology Research and drug development and will be encouraged and supported to publish and present research findings both internally and externally.,

• Pharmacology: Lead projects and collaborate with colleagues to build pharmacology data on new drug formats (e.g. TCRm, multi-specifics) and effectors (including immune checkpoint- / cytokine-enhanced drugs and alternative cell effectors (e.g. myeloid))


• Immunophenotyping: Play a key role in the establishment of a suite of in vitro assays for immunophenotyping drug MOA and response/resistance relationships


• Combinations: Establish drug libraries and screening workflows for investigating drug combinations. Explore the effect of these agents (including standard-of care therapeutics) on target/disease biology and drug efficacy/MOA. Ensure data packages support clinical line-of-sight. Identify clinically actionable combination therapy opportunities designed to debulk tumours and enhance therapeutic immune response.


• Targeting TME: Identify and test novel strategies to block/reprogramme immune (e.g. MDSC, TAMS, T-regs) or stromal cell (e.g. CAF) subsets that generate suppressive TMEs


• Disease models: Generate patient stratified in vitro models of disease that accurately model drug target biology and complex disease TMEs. Utilise in pharmacology screens.


Other Responsibilities


• Collaborate with colleagues to build a deep knowledge around drug targets and cancer indications of strategic interest to Immunocore.


• Proactively contribute to internal project / programme team meetings. Generate and communicate knowledge and data packages to solve complex problems and help inform go / no-go decisions


• Establish and support collaborations with both internal and external partners/ key opinion leaders to accelerate oncology research and pharmacological studies


• Keep up to date with scientific literature and the latest developments in applicable research fields


• Contribute to peer reviewed publications and patents


• Contribute to internal and external conferences


• Provide technical training and mentorship to support and empower team members
  
  The candidate should be a naturally inquisitive problem solver, with strong theoretical, practical, and conceptual knowledge in both immunology and cancer biology and possess a keen interest to keep abreast of current literature. The candidate should be comfortable and willing to learn new techniques, be capable of moving between different research fields and technical disciplines and be flexible to adapt to changing needs on challenging and varied projects. The candidate will be a strong team player, but capable of independent research, and possess excellent written and oral communication skills. The post holder will be expected to navigate ambiguous situations and solve complex problems in creative and effective ways., Deep and broad understanding of immunology and cancer cell biology


• Significant prior pharmacology experience, testing the effects of therapeutic molecules and combinations on tumour biology, immune cell activation and cancer cell killing.


• Extensive experience with a broad range of immunoassay techniques, including isolation of primary human immune cells and proficiency in lymphocyte (T-cell, NK) and myeloid (TAMs, MDSC) functional assays and endpoints (measuring proliferation and cytokines, flow cytometry, ELISA etc.)


• Experienced in generating in vitro models of cancer that model complex TMEs through immune and/or stromal cell co-culture.


• Capable in the genetic modification of cancer and/or primary human immune cells (e.g., CRISPR, lentiviral transduction, si/shRNA). Evidence of applying GM in vitro models to answer biological hypotheses. Excellent molecular biology and biochemistry skills (DNA cloning, mutagenesis, western blotting, protein purification).


• Excellent written and oral communication skills.


Desirable


• High throughput screening


• 3D in vitro modelling experience (e.g., organoid, spheroid, tissue slice, organ-on-chip)


• Experience with omics technologies (i.e., bulk and single cell genomics/transcriptomics)


• Bioinformatic expertise (e.g., R, Python)


• Microscopy (e.g., confocal, single molecule, super-resolution, TIRF, live and fixed cell)


• In vivo pharmacology experience, PhD or equivalent in Immunology, Immuno-oncology, Pharmacology, Oncology, Molecular Cell Biology, Biochemistry, or similar discipline


• 5+ years' experience of post-doctoral research in an academic or industrial setting


• Or, MSc degree or BSc degree with role-specific equivalent research or industrial experience.
  
  We are a pioneering, commercial-stage T cell receptor biotechnology company working to develop and commercialize a new generation of transformative medicines to address unmet needs in cancer, infectious and autoimmune diseases.