Research Scientist - Massey

Benefits of working at VCU

All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU's robust benefits package that includes: comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefit, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more. Learn more about VCU's benefits here.

Job Code
33244

Recruitment Pool
All Applicants

Posting Number
req7527

Unit
Massey Comprehensive Cancer Ctr MBU

Department
Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center

Department Website Link
https://www.masseycancercenter.org/

Location
VCU

Address
907 Floyd Ave, Richmond, VA 23284 USA

Duties & Responsibilities

Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center Mission

To improve the lives of all Virginians by delivering cutting-edge cancer care through patient-centered prevention and treatment; high-impact, innovative research; community input and engagement; and education and training of the next generation of researchers and healthcare professionals.

VCU is committed to hiring veterans! VCU will include a veteran's period(s) of military service in the calculation of their annual leave accrual rate. This may provide veterans with an increased leave accrual!

The university and the region

VCU is a public research university unlike any other, dedicated to serving the needs of students and patients. Inclusion is our heartbeat and it drives us to tackle difficult challenges others can't or won't. We're home to creativity, teaching, discovery and healing. Our location in the heart of downtown Richmond, Virginia, means the nonstop energy of our city ignites our innovation and provides unlimited opportunities for our students.

About Virginia Commonwealth University

We are the university for Virginia. We know that the unique backgrounds and life experiences of the VCU community are what drive the university forward. Together, we're forging a future that is built by us. Here, artists and engineers, doctors and designers come together to reimagine the human experience and tackle the problems of tomorrow.

VCU dates to 1838 with the formation of the Medical Department of Hampden-Sydney College, whose mission was to educate physicians in central Virginia and which was later renamed Medical College of Virginia. In 1968, Richmond Professional Institute merged with the Medical College of Virginia to become what is now known as Virginia Commonwealth University.

Located in downtown Richmond, the state capital of Virginia, VCU enrolls more than 28,000 students in more than 200 degree and certificate programs across its urban campuses: the downtown Monroe Park and MCV campuses in Richmond; the Rice Rivers Center in Charles City, Virginia; satellite locations in Fairfax, Virginia, and Abingdon, Virginia; and a campus in Doha, Qatar, for the School of the Arts.

Ignited by the energy of the city, we're ready to lead industries - or disrupt them. We seek out the unexpected, the experimental, the never-been-tried. VCU is designated as a research university with very high research activity by the Carnegie Foundation, garnering more than $500 million in sponsored research from federal and other agencies in FY2024. The National Science Foundation ranked VCU among the top 50 public research universities in the country, and we are one of only 69 public universities nationwide to be designated by the Carnegie Foundation as "Community Engaged" with "Very High Research Activity."

This research enterprise, and the influence of having one of the nation's top-ranked public graduate arts schools, ensures students receive unique educational experiences that equip them with a creative mindset that sets them apart.

VCU's contributions in talent, innovation and entrepreneurialism, regional stewardship and local culture shape the economic impact and overall quality of life in the region. VCU as a whole generates more than $9 billion in economic activity. It is the largest employer in Richmond with more than 26,000 employees at VCU and VCU Health, and it supports approximately 58,000 jobs in Virginia. In addition, Virginia classifies VCU with a Tier III status - the highest possible status for universities and colleges - allowing VCU more flexibility in managing its operations to implement best practices and streamline processes. To learn about VCU's finances, visit about.finance.vcu.edu.

VCU's mission, under the leadership of President Michael Rao, Ph.D., is to serve as one national urban public research institution dedicated to the success and well-being of our students, patients, faculty, staff and community through:
• Real-world learning that furthers civic engagement, inquiry, discovery and innovation.
• Research that expands the boundaries of new knowledge and creative expression and promotes translational applications to improve the quality of human life.
• Interdisciplinary collaborations and community partnerships that advance innovation, enhance cultural and economic vitality, and solve society's most complex challenges.
• Health sciences that preserve and restore health for all people, seek the cause and cure of diseases through groundbreaking research and educate those who serve humanity.

Welcome to VCU. A world unlike any other.

Benefits At a Glance

Continuing education and professional development for undergraduate and graduate tuition in addition to mandatory fees (except the transition student fee) for a maximum of six credits per semester
28 University Leave Days, 11+ State Holidays, and 2 Enhanced Community Service Leave Days
Medical, Dental and Vision Health Benefits to meet the needs of employees and their eligible family members from the Commonwealth of Virginia as well as optional FSA
Participation in the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) and other retirement saving options
Parental and Caregiver Leave, Short Term Disability (STD), Disability Insurance, Voluntary Long Term Care Insurance, and Employee Assistance Program
Professional development opportunities encouraged and offered for employees as part of annual career development, e.g. certifications, seminars, courses, annual conferences, mentorship, etc

Research Scientist

Join Our Team at the Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center (MCC), Virginia Commonwealth University! The Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center (MCCC), a distinguished National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center at Virginia Commonwealth University, is seeking applications for a Research Scientist position within the Bioinformatics Shared Resource. This pivotal role will strengthen collaborative research efforts with MCCC program members by providing computational and statistical support for the analysis of complex biological and biomedical data.

At MCCC, our mission is to alleviate the cancer burden in Virginia by addressing the complex interplay of biological, social, and policy factors through groundbreaking research. We are committed to advancing person-centered care, from prevention to survivorship, and fostering integration with communities. We are also dedicated to nurturing the next generation of community-centric researchers and healthcare professionals.

As an integral member of the Bioinformatics Shared Resource team, the successful candidate will drive the development of bioinformatics infrastructure, support experimental design and data analysis in cancer research, conduct large-scale analysis of biological data, and foster extensive collaboration with researchers to accelerate cancer research at MCCC and the VCU School of Medicine.

We are seeking candidates with proven expertise in bioinformatics and machine learning, particularly in:

Single-cell and spatial omics data analysis
Deep learning applications in biology and medicine
Biomedical imaging analysis, including digital pathology
Multi-omics integration

Preference will be given to applicants whose research focuses on cancer and other chronic diseases. The incumbent should demonstrate a history of research productivity and independence.

If you are passionate about making a meaningful impact in cancer research, contributing to innovative solutions, and shaping the future of healthcare, we invite you to join our dynamic team at MCCC. Apply now to be part of our collaborative and forward-thinking community dedicated to combating cancer and improving patient outcomes.

As a preeminent national, urban, public research university and academic health center, Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to an environment where all can thrive in their pursuit of excellence.

Qualifications

Minimum Hiring Standards:

Ph.D. in Computer Science, Biostatistics, Statistics, Biomedical Informatics, or related field.
Demonstrated expertise in bioinformatics data analysis.
Proficiency in programming languages such as Python and R, with a focus on bioinformatics applications.

Preferred Hiring Qualifications:

Extensive experience in single-cell and spatial omics data analysis, including methods for dimensionality reduction, clustering, trajectory inference, and spatial pattern recognition
Strong background in deep learning, with experience applying neural network architectures (e.g., CNNs, RNNs, Transformers) to biological and medical data, particularly in imaging
Experience with digital pathology image analysis, including developing and applying computational methods for feature extraction, classification, and segmentation of histopathological images
Proven ability to integrate and analyze multi-omics datasets (e.g., genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) in the context of cancer
Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively within interdisciplinary teams
Experience with relevant software and tools commonly used in bioinformatics research
Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU

About Richmond, Virginia

As the commonwealth's capital, Richmond, Virginia, offers a vibrant mix of history, diverse culture and real-world opportunities. Distinct neighborhoods, cozy restaurants and cafes and quaint local markets give the city an intimate feel, but theaters, galleries, music festivals, sports attractions and a steady stream of annual events bring RVA - as locals call the region - to life. Established in 1780, its rich history can be seen in the architecture, the Capitol grounds and the cobblestone streets around the city. With the historic James River and 600 acres of parks bordering it, bike trails, wineries, breweries, a flourishing arts, entertainment and restaurant scene (Food and Wine called Richmond a "culinary powerhouse") and affordable suburbs, this small city punches well above its weight in terms of attractions and buzz. In fact, Travel + Leisure named Richmond the best place to live in Virginia in 2023 and Southern Living named Richmond one of the 20 best cities to live in the South in 2024.

Richmond's location in the middle of the state allows for day or weekend trips to the beach, the Blue Ridge Mountains or Virginia's many wineries. It's within a two-hour drive of Washington, D.C., and a multitude of excellent institutions of higher education. The Richmond metropolitan area is also home to several Fortune 500 companies, a broad base of financial companies, hospitals and media firms, high-tech manufacturing companies and state and local government agencies. Entrepreneurs and artists put down roots in Richmond, and Thrillist named it one of the best U.S. cities for creatives in 2022.

Beyond Richmond, CNBC has named Virginia as the No. 1 state in the country to do business six times since the study began in 2007.It has accomplished this by bringing in billions in capital investment and thousands of new jobs; investing in education; expanding access to quality health care for all; making sure everyone has access to opportunity; and more. Business Facilities magazine named Virginia the 2024 State of the Year. Suffice to say, Virginia is full of growth and opportunity, making it the perfect location for a university determined to erase barriers and provide students with robust learning experiences that will make them unstoppable.

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or disability.

Please note VCU is not able to provide ongoing visa sponsorship for this position.

FLSA
University Employee

Job FTE
1

Exemption Status
Exempt

Restricted Position
No

E-Class
UF - University Employee FT

Job Category

ORP Eligible
Yes

Salary Range
$100,000

Compensation Type
Salaried

Target Hire Date
7/21/2025

Contact Information for Candidates

Massey Cancer Center
Masseyhr@vcu.edu

Documents Needed to Apply
Resume

Average Compensation: $199,076

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