Medical Science Liaison
Personalis, Inc
Summary
As a member of the Medical Affairs team, the Medical Science Liaison (MSL) – Oncology serves as a field-based scientific expert who engages clinicians, researchers, and other healthcare professionals to support Personalis’ oncology genomics portfolio. This role has a primary focus on NeXT Personal®, an ultra-sensitive, tumor-informed circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) assay designed for minimal residual disease (MRD) detection, while also providing broader scientific support across our product line.
Job description
Core Responsibilities
- Clinical and Scientific Communication: Deliver clinical and scientific presentations on data supporting Personalis’ oncology products – with special emphasis on the NeXT Personal MRD assay – to healthcare providers, academic groups, and other stakeholders.
- KOL Engagement: Establish and maintain strong collaborative relationships with key opinion leaders (KOLs) and leading physicians in the oncology community.
- Clinical Advocacy & Education: Represent Personalis at scientific and clinical conferences, symposia, and other educational events.
- Field Travel: Travel frequently (approximately 50% of the time) to execute field responsibilities.
Additional Responsibilities
- Research Support: Support and coordinate clinical research and evidence-generation initiatives involving Personalis’ tests.
- Medical Content Development: Contribute medical and scientific expertise to the development and review of content such as slide decks, white papers, training modules, and publications.
- Insight Generation: Continuously gather insights from the field and stay abreast of emerging research in oncology and molecular diagnostics.
Qualifications and Experience
- Education: Advanced degree in a relevant scientific or clinical discipline (PhD, PharmD, MD or equivalent) strongly preferred; at minimum, a Master’s degree in life sciences, genetics, molecular biology or related field is required.
- Scientific Background: In-depth knowledge of oncology and molecular biology is essential, including familiarity with cancer genomics, biomarkers, and the principles of liquid biopsy testing.
- Experience: 1+ years of experience in oncology or precision medicine, whether in clinical practice, research, or industry, is preferred.
- Communication Skills: Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to interpret and present complex scientific data in a clear, concise manner.
- Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrated ability to build and sustain professional relationships with healthcare providers, researchers, and cross-functional team members.
- Independence & Teamwork: Self-motivated and able to work effectively in an independent, remote field-based setting.
- Travel Ability: Willingness and ability to travel up to ~50%, including overnight trips, by car and air.
Requirements
- Master’s degree in life sciences, genetics, molecular biology or related field required
- Advanced degree (PhD, PharmD, MD or equivalent) strongly preferred
- Genetic Counseling certification (CGC/MS) or other advanced clinical training considered
- In-depth knowledge of oncology and molecular biology essential
- Familiarity with cancer genomics, biomarkers, and liquid biopsy testing
- Experience or training in ctDNA assays, next-generation sequencing, or minimal residual disease monitoring desirable
- 1+ years of experience in oncology or precision medicine preferred
- Prior experience in field medical affairs role (MSL or similar) a plus
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Strong technical writing skills beneficial
- Demonstrated ability to build and sustain professional relationships
- Strong interpersonal skills including active listening, adaptability, and collaboration
- Self-motivated and able to work independently in remote field-based setting
- Excellent organizational and time-management skills
- Willingness and ability to travel up to ~50% including overnight trips
- Valid driver’s license and ability to travel by air required
Benefits
- Medical Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- 401(k) Match
- ESPP
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Sick/Vacation Time
- Commuter Benefits
- EV Charging Stations
- Onsite Gym
- Wellness Benefits
- Performance-Based Bonus
- Equity
Company overview
Personalis, Inc. is a pioneering cancer genomics company that is transforming the active management of cancer through breakthrough personalized testing solutions. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Fremont, California, the company specializes in developing ultrasensitive circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) assays for cancer detection and monitoring. Personalis's flagship NeXT Platform provides comprehensive molecular data about each patient's cancer and immune response, analyzing all approximately 20,000 human genes from a single tissue sample. The company's innovative NeXT Personal test enables highly sensitive detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) and cancer recurrence, often months to years ahead of standard imaging techniques. Personalis collaborates with biopharmaceutical companies to advance cancer therapies and personalized medicine, with its CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited laboratory processing over 200,000 whole-genome sequencing samples for major research programs like the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Million Veteran Program. The company's technology is particularly focused on immuno-oncology applications, tumor profiling, and personalized cancer vaccine development.