Senior Scientist - Oncology Research, Functional Pharmacology | FTC 7 months in Oxford

Location of role: Oxford, UK

Department: Oncology Research

Key Responsibilities

• The incumbent is expected to have strong working knowledge deriving deep mechanistic immuno-biology insight into our therapeutic platforms and disease indications of strategic interest and play a pivotal role in generating pharmacology data on new drug formats/platforms, dissecting drug MOA and immunophenotyping response and resistance mechanisms. Should also demonstrate emerging knowledge of drug development process.
• To build advanced in vitro assays to model the tumour microenvironment (TME) models and test hypotheses.
• To 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.

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.

Experience & Knowledge

Essential

• Strong working knowledge and 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.
• Broad 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.
• Strong 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.

Education & Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in Immunology, Immuno-oncology, Pharmacology, Oncology, Molecular Cell Biology, Biochemistry, or similar discipline.
• 3+ 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.

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.