Post Doc Fellow_Cancer Physiology
At Moffitt Cancer Center, we come face-to-face with cancer every day, but we also see courage. And it inspires us to be the safest and best place for cancer care – to bring greater hope to every patient we serve. It’s why we’ve been continually named One of the Top Places to Work in the Tampa Bay Area. As the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center based in Florida, Moffitt employs some of the best and brightest minds from around the world. Moffitt is the leading cancer hospital in both Florida and the Southeast and has been nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report since 1999. Because working at Moffitt is both a career and a mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. Join a dedicated, diverse and inclusive team of over 7,000 to be a part of the Courageous future we envision.
Summary
We are recruiting a postdoctoral researcher interested in using novel single cell multi-omics techniques to study leptomeningeal metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer.
Project Description: The leptomeninges and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are uniquely immunosuppressive and are emerging as a more frequent, common site of triple-negative breast cancer progression. While significant strides have been made in the treatment of extra-cranial metastases, tragically, no current therapies are effective at altering the natural history of leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) from solid tumors, with the mean survival remaining at only 6-8 weeks, even with treatment. Using state-of-the-art single-cell technologies and innovative in vitro and in vivo models of LM, we aim to define the main metabolic adaptations in breast cancer cells that mediate the immune-suppressive and pro-tumorigenic program in LM microenvironment and identify the ideal axis for therapeutic intervention. This work will lay the groundwork for the development of clinically transformative therapeutic approaches for LM in triple- negative breast cancer patients.
The successful candidate will interact with a team of cancer biologists, immunologists, mathematical modeling experts, computational biologists, and clinicians at Moffitt Cancer Center (Tampa, FL) to conduct research in a highly collaborative environment. Ideal candidates would have demonstrated expertise in signal transduction, metabolism, drug resistance, metastasis, or single-cell analysis studies.
Position highlights:
- Studying the unique biology of tumors metastatic to the leptomeninges, including the development of unique in vitro and in vivo models of disease
- Improving our understanding of metabolic interactions between the tumor and the immune microenvironment
- Developing cutting edge techniques for single-cell multi-omics
- In addition to the research, the position will have a focus on career development including grant writing, scientific writing/presentation, mentorship of junior members of the lab, networking, and building collaborations.
- Mentorship by an NCI-funded investigator in a collaborative, translational environment bridging the bench and bedside.
- Interactions and collaborations with other fellows working in the area of cancer biology, machine learning, and bioinformatics.
Responsibilities:
- Working with patient specimens (acquisition, processing, preparation for analysis, biochemical screening), establishing and maintaining tumor cell cultures, cellular signaling and phenotypic assays, establishing in vitro and in vivo models, metabolic assays, and proteomic analysis.
- Providing intellectual input on steering the project
- Developing novel technical approaches
- Mentoring graduate students and technicians
- Composing manuscripts and postdoctoral fellowships, assisting with grant applications
Credentials and qualifications:
- PhD in Cancer Biology, Molecular Biology, or a related field (required)
- Strong written and oral communication skills and the ability to work independently and with collaborators.
How to apply
Candidates should include with application:
1) A cover letter that describes their motivation to pursue this position, why they would be the perfect fit for these projects and summarizes past research accomplishments. They should also include a summary of what expectations/goals they have for this fellowship.
2) A current CV with recent publications and contact information for three references.