Computational Research Scientist, Simmons Cancer Center

The laboratory of Dr. Jaehyuk Choi, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Center for Cellular Therapies and Cancer Immunology in the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at UT Southwestern is seeking a Computational Research Scientist to lead machine-learning efforts that identify novel therapeutic targets and guide the engineering of next-generation immunotherapies for cancer.

The Role
The Center for Cellular Therapies and Cancer Immunology in the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center is looking to hire a Computational Research Scientist at the interface of machine learning, cancer genomics, and immunology. You will build and apply computational methods that turn large-scale multi-omic and functional datasets into validated therapeutic hypotheses, while working side by side with experimental and translational scientists to bring those hypotheses to the clinic.

This is a senior, high-autonomy position suited to someone who wants their models to drive biological discovery to therapies. You will help set scientific direction, mentor junior computational and experimental scientists, and serve as the analytical backbone of a program developing novel immunotherapies within a new center.

What you will do

• Build predictive models that integrate genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic, single-cell, and functional-screen data to nominate novel therapeutic targets in cancer and the tumor immune microenvironment.
• Drive immunotherapy engineering by applying machine learning to antigen and neoantigen discovery, de novo protein design, and the optimization of engineered immune cells.
• Develop methods for interpreting high-dimensional and perturbation data, including deep learning approaches to sequence, structure, and single-cell readouts.
• Partner closely with wet-lab scientists to design experiments, prioritize candidates for validation, and iterate rapidly between computation and the bench.
• Lead and mentor trainees and staff, set analytical standards, and help shape the scientific roadmap of the program.
• Communicate results through high-impact publications, presentations, and collaborations across UT Southwestern’s research and clinical community.

Areas of focus
Depending on your interests and strengths, your work can center on identifying novel cancer immunotherapy targets and/or developing novel therapeutics. Approaches may include: Machine learning applied to multi-omic, single-cell, and functional data Clinical–molecular correlations that link genotype and tumor biology to therapeutic response De novo protein design Computational proteomics  

Eligibility

• Education Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Biomedical Engineering, or related field Master’s degree in computer science, Electrical Engineering, or related field

Experience

• 2 years experience in driving computational biology/machine learning projects. 4 years experience in driving computational biology/machine learning projects with Master’s Degree. Post-doctoral fellowship preferred.

Why the Choi Lab
The Choi Laboratory is led by Jaehyuk Choi, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Center for Cellular Therapies and Cancer Immunology and Professor in the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at UT Southwestern (with an appointment in Dermatology). As director of a newly formed center within an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center, Dr. Choi leads a growing, well-resourced program at the intersection of cancer genomics, immunology, and cell therapy, and is actively building the team to match that ambition.

The lab’s research falls into two complementary thrusts, precision medicine and immune engineering, both aimed at understanding the genetic basis of cancer and turning that understanding into new therapies. Findings have been published in Nature, Nature Cancer, Blood, and other leading journals.

Precision medicine
The heart of the lab’s work: using genomics and computation to define the molecular bases of cancer, with a deep focus on T-cell malignancies, and to translate those insights directly into the clinic. The lab has identified the driver mutations and recurrent, targetable alterations that shape these diseases (for example, alterations in the JAK/STAT pathway), and has built clinical–molecular correlations that connect a tumor’s genotype to its biology and its response to therapy. This is the program’s established core, with a track record of moving molecular discoveries toward precision treatment of cancers that have lacked effective options.

Immune engineering
Building on that foundation, the lab engineers next-generation immunotherapies, for instance, harnessing naturally occurring mutations from human T-cell cancers to make engineered T cells more potent and persistent, and applying computational protein design to create novel therapeutic molecules and cell therapies.

 

Why join

• Ground-floor opportunity. As a founding member of a newly launched center, you will help build a flagship cellular-therapy and immunology program.
• Computation drives the science. Machine learning and genomics are central to how the lab finds targets and designs therapies — not a support function. Your models will set the agenda.
• A true compute–bench loop. You will work hand in hand with experimentalists and physician-scientists, so your predictions are tested fast and your priorities shape real experiments.
• Real ownership and mentorship. This senior role offers scientific autonomy, the chance to mentor a talented team, and active support for your growth toward independence or leadership.

Why UT Southwestern
UT Southwestern Medical Center is one of the premier biomedical research institutions in the world, a place where fundamental discovery and patient impact sit under one roof. Few environments offer a computational scientist this density of world-class collaborators across cancer, immunology, genetics, and structural biology.

• A culture of landmark discovery. UT Southwestern’s faculty includes six Nobel Laureates, along with 14 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators, and members of the National Academies of Sciences and Medicine — a community built around ambitious, foundational science.
• Top-ranked research output. UT Southwestern is ranked No. 1 globally among healthcare institutions by the Nature Index for publishing high-quality research, reflecting the caliber of science across its departments.
• World-class infrastructure. State-of-the-art genomics, single-cell, imaging, structural biology, high-performance computing, and bioinformatics cores give computational scientists everything needed to work at scale.
• Bench-to-bedside reach. Through the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center — an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center — discoveries move from model to clinical trial within a single connected ecosystem.
• Dallas, Texas. A vibrant, fast-growing, affordable major metro with a low cost of living, no state income tax, a strong housing market, and an international airport hub — an outstanding place to build a career and a life.

Who You Are

• Ph.D. in computational biology, bioinformatics, computer science, statistics, genetics, immunology, or a related quantitative field.
• A strong record of independent research and first-author publications applying machine learning or statistical modeling to biological data.
• Deep proficiency in Python (and/or R), modern ML frameworks, and reproducible analysis of large genomic or single-cell datasets.
• Working knowledge of cancer biology, genomics, and/or tumor immunology.
• A collaborative, bench-aware mindset: you enjoy translating models into experiments and therapies.

Preferred: experience with deep learning for genomics or protein/sequence design, neoantigen or TCR analysis, CRISPR or other functional-screen analysis, or engineered cell-therapy programs.

EEO Statement:
UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community.  As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status