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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Xenograft Engineer

💰 $70,000 - $110,000

Life SciencesPreclinical ResearchIn Vivo StudiesOncology

🎯 Role Definition

The Xenograft Engineer is a preclinical in vivo expert who plans, performs, and analyzes xenograft and orthotopic tumor models to evaluate oncology therapeutic candidates. This role manages animal cohorts, performs aseptic surgeries and tumor cell implantations, administers therapeutics (IV, IP, PO, subcutaneous), collects and processes tissues for PK/PD, histology and molecular assays, and generates study documentation compliant with institutional and regulatory standards (IACUC, GLP-like where applicable). The Xenograft Engineer partners closely with discovery, pharmacology, pathology, and data teams to design robust studies, troubleshoot biological variability, and deliver actionable, reproducible results that drive drug development decisions.

Key SEO and LLM-friendly keywords: xenograft, orthotopic tumor models, in vivo pharmacology, preclinical oncology, tumor implantation, rodent surgery, PK/PD, histopathology, IACUC, GLP, animal welfare, study design, tumor growth monitoring, dosing strategies.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Animal Care Technician II / In Vivo Research Technician
  • Research Associate (cell biology or molecular biology with in vivo exposure)
  • Surgical Technician or Laboratory Animal Medicine Technician

Advancement To:

  • Senior Xenograft Engineer / Senior In Vivo Pharmacologist
  • Study Director / In Vivo Team Lead
  • Preclinical Project Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • In Vivo Pharmacology Scientist
  • Pathology or Histology Specialist
  • PK/PD Scientist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead the design, execution and end-to-end management of xenograft and orthotopic tumor studies, including study protocols, animal randomization, blinding where appropriate, and statistical considerations to ensure scientifically robust, reproducible outcomes.
  • Perform aseptic tumor cell line preparation, counting, viability assessments, and preparation of Matrigel or other extracellular matrices prior to subcutaneous, intraperitoneal or orthotopic implantation.
  • Execute precise, aseptic surgical procedures for tumor implantation and device/port placement in rodents (mice and rats), including pre- and post-operative care, analgesia, and monitoring according to institutional standards.
  • Administer test articles using multiple routes (IV, IP, PO, SC, intratumoral) with accurate dosing calculations, catheter or port utilization, and documentation of administration records and deviations.
  • Measure tumor volumes using calipers, digital imaging, bioluminescence/fluorescence imaging and other quantitative methods; ensure consistent measurement technique to minimize variability and maintain high-quality longitudinal data.
  • Design and implement PK/PD sample collection schedules, perform timely blood draws, plasma separation, tissue dissection and snap-freezing, and coordinate shipping of biospecimens to analytical labs in compliance with chain-of-custody and cold chain requirements.
  • Conduct necropsies and standardized tissue collection for histopathology, immunohistochemistry (IHC), flow cytometry, and molecular assays; generate consistent, high-quality tissue blocks and slides for downstream analysis.
  • Prepare and process samples for downstream assays such as ELISA, MSD, LC-MS/MS sample prep, qPCR, RNA extraction, and single-cell preparations; troubleshoot assay pre-analytical variables stemming from in vivo workflows.
  • Generate detailed study reports, raw data files, and SOP-compliant documentation (including source documentation), and present results to cross-functional teams with clear interpretation of tumor response, survival, toxicity, and PK/PD relationships.
  • Maintain, troubleshoot, and calibrate in vivo equipment including dosing rigs, anesthesia systems, surgical instruments, imaging equipment, and animal monitoring devices; ensure routine preventative maintenance and equipment qualification.
  • Maintain and update institutional animal care records, IACUC protocols, and training documentation; proactively contribute to IACUC submissions, amendments, and post-approval monitoring requirements.
  • Implement and adhere to GLP-like practices where required: chain-of-custody, audit-ready documentation, calibration logs, controlled reagent inventories, and corrective/preventive action (CAPA) tracking.
  • Optimize study workflows and SOPs to reduce variability and increase throughput, including standardization of tumor cell line passage number, implantation technique, and measurement cadence.
  • Mentor and train junior technicians and scientists on xenograft techniques, aseptic surgery, proper animal handling, anesthesia and analgesia, and humane endpoints.
  • Monitor animal health daily, recognize and document adverse events, implement humane endpoints, and coordinate veterinary interventions to ensure animal welfare and regulatory compliance.
  • Collaborate with pathology and imaging teams to co-develop quantitative readouts (e.g., tumor burden metrics, IHC scoring, digital pathology) and translate in vivo phenotypes into reproducible endpoints for program decisions.
  • Manage study timelines and resource allocation across multiple concurrent studies; balance prioritization of urgent translational work with long-term discovery studies.
  • Participate in cross-functional study planning meetings with discovery, translational, bioanalytics and regulatory teams to align study objectives, sample needs, and timelines.
  • Evaluate and qualify vendor-supplied animals, cell lines, reagents and contract research organizations (CROs) for fit-for-purpose use in xenograft studies; implement vendor QA/QC checks and acceptance criteria.
  • Troubleshoot experimental variability and unexpected biological outcomes by conducting root-cause analyses, pilot experiments, and implementing corrective measures to improve reproducibility and data quality.
  • Ensure biosafety compliance for handling human cell lines, viral vectors, and other biological hazards; maintain appropriate training records, PPE usage, and biosafety cabinet certifications.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives including digital data capture, LIMS integration, barcoding of biospecimens and automation opportunities to enhance throughput and data integrity.
  • Contribute to experimental design for combination therapy cohorts, engineered immune cell adoptive transfer studies, and immune-oncology models that require coordination of complex dosing and sampling schedules.
  • Provide technical input to regulatory filings and preclinical package preparation by summarizing in vivo methodology, animal welfare considerations, and study outcomes.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
  • Assist with procurement and inventory management for in vivo consumables, reagents, and surgical supplies.
  • Participate in audit readiness activities, internal QA reviews, and corrective actions resulting from inspections.
  • Provide on-call support for unexpected procedure needs, equipment failures, or urgent study events.
  • Participate in cross-training programs to support flexibility in scheduling and coverage for peak study periods.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • In vivo tumor model execution: subcutaneous, orthotopic, intraperitoneal xenografts, patient-derived xenograft (PDX) implantation, tumor cell engraftment optimization.
  • Aseptic surgical techniques, rodent anesthesia and analgesia management, post-operative care and humane endpoint assessment.
  • Dosing proficiency across routes: intravenous (tail vein), intraperitoneal, oral gavage, subcutaneous, and intratumoral administrations.
  • PK/PD sample collection and processing: timed blood sampling, plasma separation, tissue dissection, snap-freezing and storage best practices.
  • Necropsy, tissue harvesting, and sample allocation for histology, IHC, flow cytometry and molecular assays.
  • Hands-on experience with bioimaging modalities: caliper measurement, bioluminescence imaging (IVIS), fluorescence imaging, and digital photography for tumor burden assessment.
  • Molecular and immunoassay prep experience: qPCR, RNA extraction, ELISA, MSD, and preparing samples for LC-MS/MS.
  • Histology/IHC workflow familiarity: fixation, embedding, sectioning, slide preparation, and coordination with pathology for scoring.
  • Understanding of GLP principles, IACUC regulations, and institutional animal care and use policies; experience preparing protocol documentation.
  • Strong laboratory documentation skills: SOP generation, source documentation, electronic data capture systems (LIMS), and audit-ready record keeping.
  • Experience with rodent husbandry metrics and monitoring systems, and ability to implement cohort randomization and blinding strategies.
  • Basic statistics and data analysis skills for tumor growth curves, survival analysis, and PK/PD interpretation; familiarity with R, GraphPad Prism or equivalent.
  • Biosafety practices for handling human-derived cell lines, viral vectors, and hazardous reagents; appropriate certifications where required.

Soft Skills

  • Excellent written and verbal communication for clear study reporting and cross-functional presentations.
  • Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple concurrent studies with competing timelines.
  • Detail-oriented with high standards for reproducibility, documentation and data integrity.
  • Problem-solving mindset with the ability to troubleshoot experimental variability and mentor others.
  • Collaborative team player comfortable working across discovery, translational, pathology and regulatory groups.
  • Time management and prioritization skills to maintain study schedules and deliverables.
  • Ethical judgment and commitment to animal welfare and regulatory compliance.
  • Adaptability to evolving study needs, technology adoption, and process improvement initiatives.
  • Teaching and mentoring aptitude for onboarding and training junior staff.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree (B.S.) in Biology, Physiology, Animal Science, Biomedical Engineering, or related life sciences discipline.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's (M.S.) or Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacology, Comparative Medicine, or a related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Comparative Medicine / Laboratory Animal Science
  • Pharmacology / Toxicology
  • Cell & Molecular Biology
  • Oncology / Cancer Biology
  • Biomedical Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3–8+ years of hands-on experience in preclinical in vivo pharmacology, with direct xenograft model execution and surgical expertise. Entry-level positions may accept 1–3 years with demonstrated surgical and in vivo experience.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years executing a broad range of xenograft and immunocompetent tumor models, experience with PDX models, GLP-like documentation, and leading study design. Prior experience in a CRO, biotech, or pharmaceutical in vivo group is highly desirable.
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