Postdoctoral Associate - Tumor Immunology

Postdoctoral Associate - Tumor Immunology

Dr. Shin is seeking a PhD Post-doctoral Associate for the project, which is VA merit grant funded, entitled "Role of ATRX, a chromatin remodeler, in immunotherapy response." This project aims to study the role of ATRX which is SWI/SNF-like ATP dependent chromatin remodeler, has various role in human cancer development and well-studied in the field of glioma. The current project is interrogating the role of ATRX in immunotherapy response using murine and cell line models that includes genetically engineered lung cancer model. Cell line model demonstrated accelerated tumor growth upon immunotherapy when cancer cell lost ATRX expression. Therefore, the study has potential to contribute to new biological insight on epigenetic mechanisms of resistance and develop new therapeutic strategy. Postdoctoral Associate will have opportunity to work on other projects, that includes CAR T cell therapy for lung cancer and other upcoming preclinical studies assessing combination immunotherapies which may lead into early clinical trials for patients with lung cancer, head & neck cancer and melanoma.

Job Duties:

• Designs, plans, and executes advanced translational cancer research experiments.
• Performs in vitro studies using human cancer cell lines (lung cancer, melanoma, and head & neck cancer) to evaluate gene function, molecular mechanisms, and therapeutic agents.
• Conducts in vivo studies using syngeneic and genetically engineered mouse models to validate therapeutic targets and treatment strategies.
• Maintains and manages cancer cell cultures and oversees mouse colony management in collaboration with animal facility staff.
• Analyzes and interprets experimental data using appropriate statistical and bioinformatic approaches.
• Develops and optimizes new experimental protocols and research methodologies.
• Prepares manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals and presents findings at national and international scientific meetings.
• Contributes to grant writing and preparation of research reports.
• Assists in maintaining laboratory operations, regulatory compliance, and safety standards.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• MD or Ph.D. in Basic Science, Health Science, or a related field. No experience required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Has strong background in laboratory research, particularly for immunological experiments using flowcytometry, animal work, and cellular/molecular biology is desired.
• Has strong oral and written communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a team environment and is highly organized.