Postdoctoral Research Associate - Surgery

Position Summary SAINT LOUIS, MO 63110 Position Summary The Cao Lab aims to better understand why certain cancers are increasing among younger adults by identifying the external and internal factors that shape cancer risk and investigating how these factors converge across life stages to influence cancer development and progression. By integrating population science, mechanistic biology, and implementation science, and leveraging computational innovation, the lab examines these relationships across exposures, tissue types, life stages, and populations to identify opportunities for prevention and early intervention. We are looking for passionate, curious, and collaborative rising leaders with training in molecular epidemiology, data science and informatics, cancer biology, or environmental sciences, who are excited to work across disciplines and help advance this emerging field. Job Description Primary Duties & Responsibilities For further details please visit Information on being a postdoc at WashU in St. Louis can be found at Lead interdisciplinary research integrating large-scale population and clinical data with multi-omics, biology, and AI to investigate the causes and biomarkers of early-onset cancers and identify opportunities for precision prevention. Develop and execute studies from literature review and hypothesis formulation through study design, protocol development, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination. Apply rigorous and reproducible methods to complex population, clinical, and molecular data using R, Python, SAS, or related tools, with well-documented code and analytic workflows. Collaborate and communicate effectively with cohort leaders, data providers, clinicians, biostatisticians, bioinformaticians, data scientists, and basic scientists on multisite and multidisciplinary projects. Coordinate scientific activities across projects, including data acquisition, harmonization, analysis, and communication among internal and external collaborators. Lead and contribute to original and review manuscripts, scientific presentations, and grant applications, and present findings at internal meetings and scientific conferences. Mentor graduate students, research assistants, and other trainees. Conscientious discharge of their research responsibilities in terms of protocols, reports, presentations, and manuscripts. Maintain conformity with ethical standards in research and continuous knowledge development in Responsible Conduct of Research. Maintain compliance with good laboratory practice including the maintenance of adequate research records. Engage in open and timely discussion with their mentor regarding possession or distribution of material, reagents, or records belonging to their laboratory and any proposed disclosure of findings or techniques privately or in publications. Collegial conduct towards mentors, co-trainees, staff members and members of the research group. Adherence to all applicable University policies, procedures and regulations. All data, research records and materials and other intellectual property generated in University laboratories remain the property of the University. Additional caution in handling data from external collaborators ensuring data safety and security measures. Working Conditions This position works in a laboratory environment with potential exposure to biological and chemical hazards. The individual must be physically able to wear protective equipment and to provide standard care to research animals. Salary Range Base pay is commensurate with experience. Education Required Qualifications: Ph.D., M.D. Or Equivalent Terminal Or Doctoral Degree. Certifications/Professional Licenses No specific certification/professional license is required for this position. Work Experience No specific work experience is required for this position. Skills Not Applicable Driver's License A driver's license is not required for this position. More About This Job At Washington University, postdoctoral appointments Have a 5-year term limit that includes previous experience. Education Preferred Qualifications No additional education unless stated elsewhere in the job posting. Certifications/Professional Licenses No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting. Work Experience No additional work experience unless stated elsewhere in the job posting. Skills Collaboration, Data Analysis, Data Interpretations, Experimentation, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Techniques, Researching, Results Reporting, Scientific Writing Questions For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ. Accommodation If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email View email address on click.appcast.io or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at View phone number on click.appcast.io and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request. All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship. Pre-Employment Screening All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening. Benefits Statement Washington University in St. Louis is committed to providing a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to our employees. Benefits eligibility is subject to employment status, full-time equivalent (FTE) workload, and weekly standard hours. Please visit our website at to view a summary of benefits. EEO Statement Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information. #J-18808-Ljbffr