AddressMelanoma Institute Australia (MIA) is an independent, non-profit organisation with its head office located near North Sydney. We are the world’s largest treatment and research centre with a single focus on melanoma, and our mission is to reach zero deaths from melanoma this decade.
The Personalised Immunotherapy Program (PIP) is a program which aims to test cancer patients tumour biopsies for the presence of immune cells and immunotherapy drug targets. This data is used by the PIP team to make predictions around the likelihood of the patient to respond to anti-cancer immunotherapies.
The PIP team is seeking an experienced Spatial and Molecular Biology Scientist with solid working knowledge of multiplex immunohistochemistry and Molecular Biology in a PC2 laboratory environment. The position will be responsible for enabling spatial and molecular biological assessments as part of a multi-omic approach for melanoma cancer tumour samples. The candidate will perform immunohistochemistry on automated systems, multiplex staining of both protein and RNA using Xenium, Akoya etc platforms, imaging using whole slide scanning systems and analysing with programs such as Inform, QuPath and Halo. The role will entail tissue preparation of tumour FFPE samples and performing nucleic acid extractions including quality control measures. Knowledge of library prep and sequencing of nucleic acids a plus. The candidate must possess the ability to perform qualitative assessments and quantitative analyses with sufficient knowledge to troubleshoot and implement new protocols as needed. The role will be responsible for adhering to quality controls, protocols and workflows for patient samples to enable the PIP team to deliver accurate and reproducible results back to the clinical pathology and oncology teams.
The successful applicant will form part of the Translational Research Laboratory of the Melanoma Institute Australia, based at The University of Sydney Camperdown campus. The member will work alongside our oncology, surgical, pathology and translational research teams. Within this team they would form part of the Personalised Immunotherapy Program which aims to ensure each patient’s cancer is screened for genetic, transcriptomic, and immune profiles to identify patients unlikely to benefit from standard therapies. These patients will then be assigned a novel clinical trial agent most likely to cure them based on the presence of the drug targets in the patient's tumour. It is anticipated that selecting treatments for patients, based on the presence of specific drug targets in the patient’s cancer, will improve cancer outcomes of cancer patients. Full and part-time roles will be considered. Applications that do not address the selection criteria will not be processed.
This is a unique opportunity to join a globally recognised research institute. You will also find immense satisfaction in joining a team which is making a very real difference to thousands of Australians, now and in the future.
Key Selection Criteria
To be successful in this role you will have:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in the life sciences with knowledge of cancer biology, immunology and/or related fields
- Experience with automated immunohistochemistry and multiplex histochemistry
- Demonstrated skills in Molecular Biology/nucleic acid techniques working with FFPE tissue
- Working knowledge of RNA-DNA sequencing a plus
- Working knowledge of multiplex image analysis programs such as Inform, Halo
- Experience with confocal microscopy and/or whole slide-based scanning systems a plus
- Must possess the ability to trouble-shoot and optimize protocols
- Excellent time management skills with the ability to multitask
- Meticulous attention to detail and accuracy of experimental results
If this role sounds perfect for you, please send us your CV and a cover letter addressing your experience as per the criteria listed in the “Key Selection Criteria” section.
Only applicants with full working rights within Australia should apply. Only successful applicants will be contacted. Please no recruitment agencies.
As we interact with patients on a cross functional level, applicants will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Please apply by clicking on the appropriate link on this job board. Role may be open until 22 July 2024 unless a suitable candidate is found in the meantime.
We pay our respects to the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which Melanoma Institute Australia works, and their Elders both past and present, and acknowledge the deep, continuing connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to the land, waters, and sky.
