Company Overview
Sonder Research X is an early-stage biotechnology company developing innovative cancer diagnostics by integrating pathology, advanced imaging, artificial intelligence, and complementary biological data. Our multidisciplinary team works across scientific, engineering, computational, and clinical disciplines to develop novel diagnostic technologies that improve cancer detection and patient care.
Position Overview
We are seeking an accomplished Director of Translational Oncology with experience directing an oncology research laboratory team to advance basic discovery and translational science programs. This role will lead a wet-lab team investigating tumor biology, direct retrospective biomarker validation studies, design biomarker studies, and co-author high-impact peer-reviewed publications.
The Director will also serve as the Lead Scientific and Biomarker Advisor to our clinical development team and external Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), ensuring preclinical mechanistic insights inform prospective clinical trial strategy.
Key Responsibilities
Laboratory Leadership & Research Operations
- Lead, direct, and work hands-on alongside a focused wet-lab team of Ph.D. scientists in our North Brunswick facility.
- Drive basic studies to elucidate tumor biomarkers.
- Design, optimize, and supervise experimental workflows, including:
- 3D cell culture systems, patient-derived organoids, and tissue explants modeling complex tumor architecture.
- Archival and prospective patient biospecimen processing (FFPE, fresh-frozen, core biopsies, and biofluids).
- Multiplex IHC/IF, confocal imaging, and digital spatial profiling.
- Lead retrospective clinical biomarker studies on archival patient cohorts to establish clinical validity.
- Maintain laboratory compliance, material transfer agreements (MTAs), and applicable research-exempt or non-interventional laboratory IRB protocols for human biospecimen studies.
- Maintain and review standard operating procedures (SOPs), ensure BSL-2 biosafety compliance, and uphold rigorous electronic lab notebook (ELN) data integrity aligned with good laboratory practices.
Clinical Trial Scientific Advisory
- Serve as the biological authority advising clinical development teams on ongoing and prospective oncology trials, including trial protocol biology, mechanism of action (MoA), and biologically driven patient stratification.
- Guide biomarker sampling strategies for prospective clinical studies evaluating treatment response and disease progression kinetics, and interpret clinical trial correlative readouts from a biological perspective.
- Partner with clinical teams to draft translational biomarker sections for regulatory filings and trial protocols.
External KOL Engagement & Academic Collaborations
- Serve as a scientific liaison to oncology Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), academic investigators, and clinical collaborators.
- Manage scientific collaborations, sponsored research agreements, and biospecimen partnerships, and support Scientific Advisory Board activities.
Scientific Publications & Manuscript Development
- Lead and coordinate the end-to-end scientific writing and publication process for basic and translational research studies.
- Collaborate with internal scientists, clinical investigators, and external KOLs to structure, draft, edit, and finalize manuscripts as a co-author, contributing author, or senior author, as appropriate.
- Manage journal submissions, peer-review responses, and revisions across longitudinal biomarker studies (treatment response, resistance kinetics, and disease progression), retrospective clinical cohorts, and basic tumor biology, ensuring scientific accuracy, rigorous data presentation, and clear biological interpretation.
- Co-author conference abstracts, posters, and presentations for major oncology congresses.
Requirements
Required Qualifications
- PhD in Cancer Biology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Immunology, Biochemistry, or a closely related discipline.
- Minimum of 8 years of relevant research experience in cancer biology or a related field, including experience independently directing
- Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. in Cancer Biology, Translational Oncology, or a related field.
- Experience independently leading an oncology research laboratory or research program in academia or industry.
- Strong background in solid tumor biology, experimental design, and translational cancer research.
- Hands-on experience with tissue processing, histology, immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence (IHC/IF), and microscopy.
- Experience with 3D cell culture systems, organoids, or patient-derived tissue models.
- Experience designing and interpreting retrospective biomarker studies, including clinical sample analysis and biomarker validation.
- Established record of peer-reviewed publications, including senior authorship and manuscript leadership.
- Experience collaborating with academic researchers, clinical investigators, or external scientific partners.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in wet-lab biological validation and clinical scientific advisory.
- Familiarity with whole-slide imaging, quantitative digital pathology, spatial transcriptomics, mass spectrometry, or automated research platforms.
- Familiarity with patent disclosures, IP strategy, and nonclinical pharmacology sections of regulatory filings.
Sonder's Recruiting & Hiring Process
Thank you for your interest in joining Sonder Research X. We review applications on a rolling basis and typically identify qualified candidates for the next stage within 3–5 business days.
- Application Review: We review applications to identify candidates whose experience and qualifications best align with the position's requirements.
- Brief One-Way Video Interview: Selected candidates will be invited to complete a short one-way video interview with questions about their oncology research, laboratory leadership, and scientific publication experience. Candidates will have a brief period to prepare before recording each response. No advance preparation is required.
- First Interview: Candidates who advance from the video interview will meet with a member of our scientific team to discuss their research background, hands-on laboratory experience, experimental design, and approach to leading oncology research.
- Second Interview: Selected candidates will meet with a member of our senior leadership team to discuss scientific judgment, translational research priorities, manuscript development, and collaboration with clinical teams and external scientific partners.
- Scientific Case Study: Finalists will complete a brief, practical case study designed to understand how they interpret research findings, identify gaps in scientific evidence, and recommend next steps for biomarker research and validation. Candidates may draw upon prior experience without sharing confidential or proprietary information.
- Final Interview: Candidates who successfully complete the case study will meet with our CEO/CSO for a final conversation about the position, Sonder's scientific direction, and mutual fit.
- Final Selection: Following the final interviews, our hiring team will review candidate evaluations and make a final selection, typically within five business days. We will inform candidates of the outcome once a decision has been made.
Our goal is to conduct a thoughtful and efficient process while giving both Sonder and each candidate the opportunity to determine whether there is a strong fit. The full hiring process may take approximately 3–4 weeks, depending on scheduling and candidate availability. We appreciate your patience and will keep candidates informed throughout the process.
Thank you for your interest in Sonder Research X. We look forward to learning more about your scientific experience and the perspective you could bring to our team.
Benefits
The comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision coverage; generous paid time off; a 401(k); and an annual professional development budget.
Location & Relocation Assistance
This onsite position is based in North Brunswick, New Jersey. Candidates located outside of New Jersey are encouraged to apply.
We will consider relocation assistance for highly qualified candidates.
