Pfizer’s Oncology Research Unit (ORU) in La Jolla, California, is seeking a Senior Scientist (PhD level) focused on translating basic discoveries in the field of cancer epigenetics into novel therapeutics.

The Senior Scientist will work within a collaborative team of motivated and scientifically rigorous scientists to conduct preclinical research and advance drug programs in the field of cancer epigenetics. Our ideal candidate will have a strong background employing state-of-the art approaches to gain a broader understanding of epigenetic regulation in cancer biology. The candidate will translate basic research findings into therapeutic strategies, utilizing genetic and pharmacological approaches to understand target mechanism of action and generate patient stratification strategies. The successful candidate will demonstrate a proven track record of scientific productivity as evidenced by first author publications in scientific journals. Experience in the integration of molecular profiling data including epigenomic (ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq), transcriptomic, proteomic, and genomic datasets will be a plus.

Role Responsibilities

• Utilize expertise in epigenetic biology to develop innovative strategies for understanding the role of epigenetic mechanisms in cancer progression, drug resistance and immune modulation
• Design, execute and analyze/interpret experiments to advance mechanism of action studies, develop patient responder hypotheses, elucidate mechanisms of resistance  and identify rational drug combinations that can be translated to the clinic
• Work collaboratively with computational biology group to integrate complex data sets including epigenomic and other ‘omic’ data in pre-clinical settings for target validation and increased understanding of target biology
• Interface with discovery biology, systems biology and computational biology groups to design, develop, and interpret datasets developed from genetic and pharmacological screens
• Proactively seek out new information in the literature and incorporate this into individual project(s) as well as the overall program
• Present research results and methodologies at weekly meetings with immediate supervisor and/or project leader, project team meetings and other research forums
• Contribute to building a culture that embraces scientific excellence, urgency, partnerships with key stakeholders, continuous learning and improvement, increasing technical skill base and cancer biology expertise; take a proactive role in personal growth and scientific development.

Basic Qualifications

• PhD in Molecular or Cellular Biology, Genetics, Pharmacology (or a comparable biological science) with a minimum of 3-5 years of relevant postdoctoral experience in an academic or pharmaceutical/biotech environment.
• Expertise in chromatin biology, epigenetics and mechanism of transcriptional regulation as evidenced by publication in peer-reviewed journals. 
• Preference for candidates with a strong track record in cancer drug discovery/translational research and the targeting of epigenetic pathways by small-molecule inhibitors.
• Expertise in techniques used for epigenetic/ transcriptional profiling including ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq, and RNA-seq
• Able to work in a team environment, good communication skills and excellent leaderships skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency in the use of bioinformatic software tools to support epigenomic data analysis including ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq, and RNA-seq.
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of other areas of tumor biology including but not limited to immuno-oncology, oncogenic signaling, cancer metabolism, apoptosis and/or DNA damage and repair
• Experience in use of CRISPR-based techniques for gene knockout, gene editing and as well as working knowledge of pooled CRISPR -based screening approaches