Senior Scientist - Cancer Cell Biology

Pfizer • La Jolla, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

WHY PATIENTS NEED YOU Pfizer’s purpose is to deliver breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Research and Development is at the heart of fulfilling that purpose—translating science and technology into therapies and vaccines that matter most. Whether in discovery, development, or clinical research, you will be a key contributor to our mission of bringing best‑in‑class medicines to patients worldwide. WHAT YOU WILL ACHIEVE The Pfizer Oncology Research Unit (ORU) is working to change the trajectory of cancer by translating breakthrough discoveries into transformative medicines for patients. The Oncogene & Cancer Vulnerabilities (O&CV) group, within the Tumor Biology division, applies cutting‑edge science and innovative technology-first approaches to discover and advance novel cancer therapies. O&CV supports both small‑ and large‑molecule discovery programs, spanning target discovery and validation through clinical entry, serving as biology leaders across oncology portfolio programs. In this role, you will be an integral contributor to efforts aimed at targeting oncogenic drivers and tumor‑intrinsic vulnerabilities using next‑generation small and large molecule modalities. You will design, execute, and interpret molecular and cellular experiments—including functional genomics—and integrate data across platforms to inform mechanism of action and resistance mitigation strategies. You will collaborate broadly across Pfizer, communicate findings effectively, and contribute to a culture of scientific excellence and continuous development. HOW YOU WILL ACHIEVE IT Lead from the bench by designing, executing, and analyzing experiments that interrogate tumor‑intrinsic vulnerabilities and translate target biology into patient‑relevant hypotheses Design, execute and analyze experiments to investigate mechanism‑of‑action signaling networks for small‑ and large‑molecule therapeutics targeting oncogenic pathways Apply strong attention to detail in experimental design, execution, data integration, and interpretation Maintain deep awareness of scientific literature, disseminate relevant literature summaries to key stakeholders and actively contribute to scientific discussions Communicate research findings clearly through presentations and discussions with O&CV and cross‑functional project teams. Proactively collaborate across departments to drive project progress and scientific impact. Contribute to a culture that values teamwork, accountability, scientific rigor, and continuous learning

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Tumor Biology or a related field with 1+ years of relevant postdoctoral experience in industry or academia OR B.S. or M.S. in Tumor Biology or a related field with >8 years of relevant research experience in industry
• Track record of independently leading research evidenced by first-author publication in reputable peer-reviewed journal
• Track record of independently leading research evidenced by oral and poster presentations at internationally recognized conference series
• Proven collaborative research experience, evidenced by co‑authored publications in reputable peer-reviewed journals
• Research experience in areas of Tumor Biology, such as Oncogenic Cell Signaling, Tumor Plasticity and Heterogeneity, Adaptive networks and Acquired resistance, or Proximity-first Biology mechanisms eg. molecular glues
• Strong proficiency in core cell and molecular biology techniques (eg: Cell Culture, Construct Design, Lentiviral Generation, Stable Cell line Generation, 2D-adhered and 3D-Spheroid Proliferation assays, Western blots, Immunoprecipitation, QPCR etc)
• Experience with functional genomics and protein interrogation approaches (eg: CRISPR, DTAG, NanoBRET/BIT etc.)
• Ability to query oncology databases like cBioportal, TCGA, DepMap, Project Score etc.
• Excellent organizational, verbal, and written communication skills, with strong intrinsic motivation to deliver impactful therapies for patients

Nice To Haves

• Broad knowledge of major oncogenic drivers and signaling pathways
• Experience working with large multi‑omic datasets (e.g., phosphoproteomics, RNA‑seq, whole‑exome sequencing, single‑cell datasets)
• Computational experience using R for data analysis and figure generation

Responsibilities

• Lead from the bench by designing, executing, and analyzing experiments that interrogate tumor‑intrinsic vulnerabilities and translate target biology into patient‑relevant hypotheses
• Design, execute and analyze experiments to investigate mechanism‑of‑action signaling networks for small‑ and large‑molecule therapeutics targeting oncogenic pathways
• Apply strong attention to detail in experimental design, execution, data integration, and interpretation
• Maintain deep awareness of scientific literature, disseminate relevant literature summaries to key stakeholders and actively contribute to scientific discussions
• Communicate research findings clearly through presentations and discussions with O&CV and cross‑functional project teams.
• Proactively collaborate across departments to drive project progress and scientific impact.
• Contribute to a culture that values teamwork, accountability, scientific rigor, and continuous learning

Benefits

• eligible for participation in Pfizer’s Global Performance Plan with a bonus target of 12.5% of the base salary and eligibility to participate in our share based long term incentive program
• 401(k) plan with Pfizer Matching Contributions and an additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution
• paid vacation, holiday and personal days
• paid caregiver/parental and medical leave
• health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees