Postdoctoral Fellow - Sarcoma Medical Oncology - Research

Postdoctoral Fellow in Sarcoma Biology and Translational Cancer Research

We are recruiting a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to join a collaborative research program in sarcoma biology, co-mentored by Dr. Joseph Ludwig and Dr. Danh Truong. This position is designed for scientists with a strong interest in wet-lab experimentation, genome engineering, and in vivo modeling to interrogate the mechanisms that drive aggressive bone and soft-tissue sarcomas.

The postdoctoral fellow will lead projects focused on CRISPR-based genome engineering, including targeted gene perturbation, pooled screening strategies, and cellular barcoding to study clonal dynamics, tumor evolution, and drug response. These studies will be conducted across a range of high-fidelity model systems, including engineered cell lines, patient-derived models, and in vivo mouse models of sarcoma. The fellow will gain extensive experience designing and executing animal studies, tracking clonal behavior over time, and integrating functional perturbations with phenotypic readouts. This role offers an opportunity to work in a highly collaborative environment that bridges basic discovery and translational relevance, with close interactions among molecular biologists, bioengineers, computational scientists, and clinician-scientists. Emphasis is placed on experimental rigor, hypothesis-driven research, and the development of an independent scientific vision, while leveraging complementary mentorship in cancer biology, functional genomics, and sarcoma translational research.

Our research program integrates functional genomics, epigenetic regulation, and tumor evolution to elucidate sarcoma initiation, progression, and therapeutic resistance. A central focus of the lab is to define how oncogenic drivers, disrupted differentiation programs, and lineage plasticity contribute to tumor heterogeneity and treatment failure. We seek to causally link molecular alterations to phenotypic outcomes using rigorously engineered experimental systems.

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

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this training, the fellow will be able to:

• Elucidate key biological principles underlying sarcoma development, clonal evolution, and therapeutic resistance
• Apply modern genetic perturbations to mechanistically dissect sarcoma biology in relevant model systems.
• Leverage CRISPR and barcoding technologies to generate and analyze complex data from sarcoma samples.
• Integrate diverse datasets to gain insights into sarcoma behavior and therapeutic response.
• Formulate and test research hypotheses related to sarcoma biology and treatment.
• Collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams focused on cancer research, including scientists, clinicians, and industry partners.
• Communicate scientific findings clearly in both written and oral formats.
• Develop skills for independent careers in sarcoma-focused or broader cancer research, which includes grant writing, manuscripts, and presentations

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Required qualifications include a PhD (or equivalent) in cancer biology, molecular biology, genetics, bioengineering, or a related discipline. Prior experience with wet-lab molecular biology techniques is essential; experience with CRISPR editing, viral delivery systems, cellular barcoding, or animal models is highly desirable but not required.

We are particularly interested in candidates who are enthusiastic about building and refining experimental models, addressing technically challenging questions, and generating mechanistic insights into rare and understudied cancers. Training will support career development toward academic, industry, or translational research paths.

POSITION INFORMATION
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.