Sr. Scientist - Oncology Research

LeonaBio, Inc.

$120K — $145K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Ph.D. in Cancer Biology, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Pharmacology, or related field
  • 5+ years of industry experience in oncology research
  • Strong background in solid tumor biology
  • Proven ability to independently design, execute, and interpret experiments
  • Extensive technical expertise with cell and molecular biology techniques
  • Experience in project management with strong organizational skills

Responsibilities

  • Design and lead in vitro and ex vivo studies to evaluate therapeutic activity across cancer models
  • Investigate drug mechanisms of action, resistance biology, and pathway modulation
  • Generate hypotheses that support translational strategy and clinical development
  • Independently plan, execute, and troubleshoot experiments, including various cell-based assays and molecular biology techniques
  • Develop and optimize assays to support program needs, ensuring high-quality data generation
  • Analyze complex datasets and provide clear, actionable insights
  • Contribute to internal reports, presentations, publications, and patent filings

Benefits

  • Innovative research environment focused on oncology drug development
  • Opportunity to lead cutting-edge projects with potential real-world impact
  • Collaboration with cross-functional teams to integrate preclinical findings into strategy
  • Access to state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and resources
  • Professional growth opportunities through contributions to publications and patent filings
Full Job Description
Position Overview

We are seeking a highly motivated Senior Scientist to lead and execute laboratory research supporting oncology drug development programs.

This role will focus on advancing our understanding of tumor biology and drug mechanisms of action, with an emphasis on generating data that informs translational and clinical development.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in oncology research and has experience or interest in immuno-oncology and tumor microenvironment biology, as well as a strong foundation in mechanisms of resistance and cell signaling pathways.

Key Responsibilities
  • Design and lead in vitro and ex vivo studies to evaluate therapeutic activity across cancer models
  • Investigate drug mechanisms of action, resistance biology, and pathway modulation
  • Generate hypotheses that support translational strategy and clinical development
  • Independently plan, execute, and troubleshoot experiments, including cell-based assays (viability, signaling, functional assays), molecular biology techniques (Western blot, qPCR, ELISA, etc.), and immune-relevant assay systems
  • Develop and optimize assays to support program needs, ensuring high-quality, reproducible data generation
  • Analyze complex datasets and generate clear, actionable insights
  • Contribute to internal reports, presentations, publications, and patent filings
  • Support integration of preclinical findings into development strategy, and contribute to program direction through data-driven insights


Qualifications

Required
  • Ph.D. in Cancer Biology, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Pharmacology, or related field
  • 5+ years of industry experience in oncology research
  • Strong background in solid tumor biology
  • Proven ability to independently design, execute, and interpret experiments
  • Extensive technical expertise including hands-on experience with cell and molecular biology techniques
  • Experience in project management with strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced research environment


Preferred
  • Experience in breast cancer research
  • Experience in immune-oncology or tumor microenvironment biology
  • Familiarity with co-culture systems, immune assays, or cytokine profiling
  • Experience studying mechanisms of resistance and interrogating cell signaling pathways
  • Experience supporting drug development programs at all stages, from discovery through translational and clinical-stage programs


Placement in salary range is dependent upon experience, market rate and internal equity considerations.

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