Postdoctoral Fellow - Immunology

CANCER CELL BIOLOGY, TUMOR EVOLUTION AND THE TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT

The Bullman Laboratory in the Department of Immunology, Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, and the James P. Allison Institute at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow to join our interdisciplinary and collaborative research team.

The laboratory is led by Dr. Susan Bullman, Associate Professor and Associate Member of the James P. Allison Institute. Our research focuses on understanding how cancer cells interact with their surrounding microenvironment and how these interactions influence tumor progression, metastasis, immune evasion, and therapeutic response. We combine cancer genomics, spatial multi-omics, advanced imaging, lineage tracing, and experimental model systems to uncover fundamental mechanisms governing cancer cell behavior, tumor evolution and therapy resistance.

The Postdoctoral Fellow will investigate cancer epithelial cell plasticity, lineage relationships, and cell-state transitions during tumor progression, metastasis, and therapeutic response. They will develop and apply experimental approaches to understand how tumor microenvironmental signals influence cancer cell behavior, immune interactions, and treatment resistance. The Postdoctoral fellow will be trained to utilize advanced spatial transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, imaging, and single-cell technologies to characterize cellular states and interactions within human tumors. They will integrate cancer genomics, transcriptomics, imaging, and functional studies to identify mechanisms governing tumor evolution and therapeutic response. Trainee will learn to perform mechanistic studies using genetically engineered cell systems, organoids, co-culture systems, and in vivo cancer models. They will be provided an experience to collaborate within a highly interdisciplinary environment including cancer biologists, immunologists, computational biologists, geneticists, microbiologists, and physician-scientists. Postdoc will gain an invaluable experience in translational cancer research and the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

All duties and responsibilities are carried out in compliance with institutional policies, ethical research standards, and applicable federal and state regulations.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The Fellow will have opportunities to:

• Investigate cancer epithelial cell plasticity, lineage relationships, and cell-state transitions during tumor progression, metastasis, and therapeutic response.

• Develop and apply experimental approaches to understand how tumor microenvironmental signals influence cancer cell behavior, immune interactions, and treatment resistance.

• Utilize advanced spatial transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, imaging, and single-cell technologies to characterize cellular states and interactions within human tumors.

• Integrate cancer genomics, transcriptomics, imaging, and functional studies to identify mechanisms governing tumor evolution and therapeutic response.

• Perform mechanistic studies using genetically engineered cell systems, organoids, co-culture systems, and in vivo cancer models.

• Collaborate within a highly interdisciplinary environment including cancer biologists, immunologists, computational biologists, geneticists, microbiologists, and physician-scientists.

• Gain experience in translational cancer research and the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Ph.D. in Cancer Biology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Developmental Biology, Immunology, Biomedical Sciences, or a related discipline.

• Strong background in mammalian cell culture and molecular biology.

• Experience with genetic engineering approaches including transfection, lentiviral systems, CRISPR-based perturbations, or related technologies.

• Experience with molecular biology techniques including cloning, qPCR, nucleic acid library preparation, western blotting, flow cytometry, or related approaches.

• Experience with imaging approaches including confocal microscopy, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, multiplex imaging, or related methods.

• Demonstrated scientific productivity through peer-reviewed publications.

• Strong communication, collaboration, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with cancer genomics, functional genomics, single-cell sequencing, spatial biology, or transcriptomic analyses.

• Experience with computational analysis of genomic or transcriptomic datasets.

• Experience with mouse handling and preclinical cancer models.

• Experience with lineage tracing, organoid systems, or advanced cancer model development.

• Experience working in interdisciplinary research environments.

Prior experience in microbiome research is not required. Candidates with strong backgrounds in cancer cell biology, tumor biology, stem cell biology, developmental biology, epithelial biology, cancer genomics, tumor evolution, or therapeutic resistance are strongly encouraged to apply.

ADDITIONAL APPLICATION INFORMATION

Start Date: Flexible

If you are interested in understanding the mechanisms that govern cancer cell behavior, tumor evolution, and tumor microenvironment interactions, and translating these discoveries into new therapeutic opportunities for patients with cancer, we encourage you to apply.

Recent studies from the laboratory, published in science (2017; PMID: 29170280), Nature (2022; PMID: 36385528), Nature (2024; PMID: 38509359), and Cancer Cell (2026; PMID 41106380), have advanced our understanding of how tumor-associated bacteria influence cancer epithelial cell behavior, tumor evolution, immune architecture, and therapeutic response through integrated genomic, spatial, and functional approaches. Our current research seeks to define how cancer epithelial cells respond to microenvironmental signals and how these interactions shape cellular plasticity, tumor evolution, immune responses, and treatment outcomes in oro-gastrointestinal cancers.

POSITION INFORMATION

MD Anderson offers full-time postdoc positions with a salary ranging from $64,000 to $76,000. depending on the number of years of postgraduate experience. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, paid time off, retirement, tuition benefits, educational opportunities, and individual and team recognition

Offsite work arrangements are subject to approval and may be modified or revoked at any time based on business needs, performance considerations, or regulatory requirements.

This position may be responsible for maintaining the security and integrity of critical infrastructure, as defined in Section 113.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code and therefore may require routine reviews and screening. The ability to satisfy and maintain all requirements necessary to ensure the continued security and integrity of such infrastructure is a condition of hire and continued employment.

It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law.