Medical University South Carolina

Job Description Summary

The Hollings Cancer Center (HCC) at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Cancer Center in the State of South Carolina, serving 5.2M residents. As the only NCI-designated cancer center in South Carolina, HCC is part of an elite network of 72 cancer centers across the country recognized for our dedication to delivering cutting-edge treatments to patients and conducting innovative research to serve the unique needs of our state. HCC is also one of just 14 National Cancer Institute Minority/Underserved Community Oncology Research Programs across the country with the goal of bringing clinical trials to patients in their communities and reducing disparities in access to care based on regional or socioeconomic status.

Mission

The mission of HCC is to reduce the cancer burden in the state through the provision of cancer screening, care, training/education, community outreach, and conducting transformative research that spans the bench, bedside, and population.

Summary

The Senior Grant Development and Scientific Writer plays a crucial role in securing funding for cancer-focused research projects and advancing scientific initiatives for the Center. Responsibilities include leadership and oversight for the development, refinement, and management of grant proposals ranging from individual-investigator to large-scale, multi-institutional grants, including center or program project grants; creates scientifically accurate and compelling content, such as research papers, reports, and scientific articles; identifies appropriate funding opportunities from government agencies, foundations, and other relevant sources that contribute to HCC’s success in attracting funding. Expertise in grant development, scientific writing, and project management will be essential in driving scientific progress and securing resources for impactful research projects at HCC.

Entity

Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC - Univ)

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type

Unclassified

Cost Center

CC001331 HCC Administration CC

Pay Rate Type

Salary

Pay Grade

University-00

Pay Range

$0 - $0 - $0

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Work Shift

Job Description

Job Duties:

30% - Scientific Writing

• Collaborate and participate with the principal investigator to write and edit new and revised grant applications, and all associated annual reports.
• Responsible for the editing of grant applications and reports for grammar, readability, clarity, consistency, and conformance with any applicable RFA requirements.
• Provide expert guidance to junior faculty with respect to specific elements of all document types.
• Anticipate future needs so that templates and expertise can be developed in a proactive fashion.
• Maintain expert knowledge of current applicable regulations, guidelines, policies, instructions, etc., as they relate to clinical research, grants management, and data reporting.
• Maintain a strong knowledge of scientific writing including grammar, punctuation, usage, and style guides (AMA, CSE).
• Develops and maintains research proposal related templates that facilitate the writing of proposal related documents with a consistent style throughout, and which also facilitate the development of multi-investigator grants such as P01, P30, T32, K12, etc.
• Responsible for determining if documents and templates conform with all applicable regulations, current guidance, and policies; inform appropriate PI or director as required and suggest appropriate correction.
• Develops and maintains templates that facilitate subsequent submissions to common audiences (journal, national meeting, boiler plate for budget justification, etc.).
• Prioritizes projects based on a combination of factors including receipt date, deadline date, amount of work needed, and overall impact of the project to HCC.

25% - Grant Development

• Prepare and edit grant proposals, ensuring compliance with guidelines, deadlines, and evaluation criteria.
• Coordinate and review grant applications, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and quality.
• Assist Program Leaders in establishing cross-disciplinary partnerships to cultivate collaborative grants, including multi-PI, program project grants, and NCI SPOREs. Familiarize yourself with NIH/NCI grant guidelines to gain a thorough understanding of eligibility and review criteria for these grant mechanisms.
• Participates in the development and management of Transdisciplinary Caner Teams (TCTs) (4-6 meetings/month) that will focus on specific disease areas, such as breast, prostate, lung, head and neck, and bring together basic, translational, clinical and population scientists whose research focuses on these specific disease areas to collaborate on research proposals.
• Active participant in review of HCC funded intramural pilot program, specifically Team Science Awards, Idea Awards, and Pre-clinical/Clinical Concepts Awards.
• Meets regularly with HCC scientific programs (3 meetings/month) to stimulate collaboration and development of co-PI research projects.
• Meets regularly with Phase I team to support development of investigator-initiated trials. 
• Responsible for developing and maintaining templates for INDs and their associated components, clinical protocols, informed consent documents, and other documents that are needed on a recurring basis.

20% - Cancer Center Support Grant

• Assist the Associate Director of Research Administration with developing, implementing, and maintaining the HCC NCI Cancer Center Support Grant competitive application and progress report templates.
• Collaborates with principal investigator and other key senior leadership authors in the development of section narratives and administrative components (non-budget) of the grant proposal.
• Responsible for formatting, substantive editing, proofreading, and finalizing the document as required and requested.
• Develops a standard style guide and review criteria for data checking and content verification.
• Ensures the readability, clarity, consistency, and conformance to NCI submission requirements.
• Communicates with principal investigator and key senior leadership authors as necessary to ensure the accuracy and clarity of the documents and to meet both internal and sponsor submission deadlines.

20% - Scientific Manuscripts and Abstracts

• Assist HCC members with editing manuscripts and abstract proposals for grammar, readability, clarity, consistency, and conformance with all applicable requirements as needed.
• Reviews on an ongoing basis, publications from the FDA, OHRP, NIH, NCI, CTEP and MUSC-IRB to determine if current documents or templates need to be updated as per new requirements; notify appropriate PI or director as required and suggest new language.
• Determines (to the extent possible based on content knowledge) that document language is scientifically/medically correct, consistent, and justifiable.
• Determines (to the extent possible based on content knowledge) that document language is responsive to the document requirements.

5% - Special Projects as assigned

Preferred Qualifications and Competencies

Education and Training:

• A Master’s degree is required. A PhD, MD, or equivalent degree with training in a basic and/or clinical science field is desirable.
• The ideal candidate should have a minimum of three years of experience in oncology research, including two years of crafting and submitting grant and science proposals.

Specialized Knowledge and Skills:

• Experience working in a matrix environment within academic medicine.
• Proven success in collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams.
• Proficiency in articulating scientific concepts for technical reviewers, along with a track record of composing science proposals for government entities such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is essential.
• Ability to write and edit engaging science and medical content for diverse audiences, encompassing both scientific and lay readers. This includes the creation of compelling materials such as press releases, blog posts, and other articles intended for the public.
• Experience within a scientific research environment and a comprehensive understanding of the pivotal role research and grant funding play in a major university setting.
• Strong program planning and project management skills are prerequisites, as well as exceptional organizational capabilities for handling multiple projects concurrently.
• The ability to deliver accurate and timely results, meet established deadlines, and effectively manage short and competing timelines is crucial.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and effective interpersonal abilities, facilitating collaboration within cross-functional teams and with external stakeholders.
• Advanced understanding of medical and scientific terminology.
• Demonstrated experience in data analysis, interpretation, and the ability to draw logical conclusions, projections, and conduct program evaluations is required.
• Proficiency in AP and other writing styles and impeccable editorial skills.

Physical Requirements: (Note: The following descriptions are applicable to this section: Continuous - 6-8 hours per shift; Frequent - 2-6 hours per shift; Infrequent - 0-2 hours per shift) Ability to perform job functions in an upright position. (Frequent) Ability to perform job functions in a seated position. (Frequent) Ability to perform job functions while walking/mobile. (Frequent) Ability to work indoors. (Continuous) Ability to work outdoors in all weather and temperature extremes. (Infrequent) Ability to work in confined/cramped spaces. (Infrequent) Ability to perform job functions from kneeling positions. (Infrequent) Ability to squat and perform job functions. (Infrequent) Ability to perform 'pinching' operations. (Infrequent) Ability to fully use both hands/arms. (Frequent) Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders. (Frequent) Ability to reach in all directions. (Frequent) Possess good finger dexterity. (Continuous) Ability to maintain tactile sensory functions. (Continuous) Ability to lift and carry 15 lbs., unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift objects, up to 15 lbs., from floor level to height of 36 inches, unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lower objects, up to 15 lbs., from height of 36 inches to floor level, unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to push/pull objects, up to 15 lbs., unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected, in one eye or with both eyes. (Continuous) Ability to see and recognize objects close at hand. (Frequent) Ability to see and recognize objects at a distance. (Frequent) Ability to determine distance/relationship between objects; depth perception. (Continuous) Good peripheral vision capabilities. (Continuous) Ability to maintain hearing acuity, with correction. (Continuous) Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements. (Frequent)

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

MUSC and the Hollings Cancer Center value faculty who are committed to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in their research and teaching. In their cover letter, candidates may include a brief explanation of how they will further these ideals. Candidates from backgrounds underrepresented in nursing, medicine, and/or science are strongly encouraged to apply.

Additional Job Description

Physical Requirements: (Note: The following descriptions are applicable to this section: Continuous - 6-8 hours per shift; Frequent - 2-6 hours per shift; Infrequent - 0-2 hours per shift) Ability to perform job functions in an upright position. (Frequent) Ability to perform job functions in a seated position. (Frequent) Ability to perform job functions while walking/mobile. (Frequent) Ability to work indoors. (Continuous) Ability to work outdoors in all weather and temperature extremes. (Infrequent) Ability to work in confined/cramped spaces. (Infrequent) Ability to perform job functions from kneeling positions. (Infrequent) Ability to squat and perform job functions. (Infrequent) Ability to perform 'pinching' operations. (Infrequent) Ability to fully use both hands/arms. (Frequent) Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders. (Frequent) Ability to reach in all directions. (Frequent) Possess good finger dexterity. (Continuous) Ability to maintain tactile sensory functions. (Continuous) Ability to lift and carry 15 lbs., unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift objects, up to 15 lbs., from floor level to height of 36 inches, unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lower objects, up to 15 lbs., from height of 36 inches to floor level, unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to push/pull objects, up to 15 lbs., unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected, in one eye or with both eyes. (Continuous) Ability to see and recognize objects close at hand. (Frequent) Ability to see and recognize objects at a distance. (Frequent) Ability to determine distance/relationship between objects; depth perception. (Continuous) Good peripheral vision capabilities. (Continuous) Ability to maintain hearing acuity, with correction. (Continuous) Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements. (Frequent)

If you like working with energetic enthusiastic individuals, you will enjoy your career with us!

The Medical University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MUSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and/or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit and business need.

Medical University of South Carolina participates in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees. For further information about the E-Verify program, please click here: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify/employees

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