Postdoctoral Research Associate

The Postdoctoral Research Associate is a doctoral-level laboratory scientist who participates in the design, execution, and interpretation of translational cancer research under the mentorship of the Principal Investigator (PI). The research program focuses on the role of the microbiota and bacterial extracellular vesicles (bEVs) in shaping anti-tumor immunity and the response to cancer immunotherapy, with particular emphasis on lung cancer.

The incumbent will independently conduct molecular, biochemical, and cellular biology experiments, bacterial and primary cell culture, and in vivo animal studies; will analyze, present, and publish resulting data; and will play a central role in generating the preliminary and supporting data required for the PI's extramural grant applications. Independent scientific judgment, doctoral-level training, rigorous documentation, and effective collaboration within a team-based laboratory environment are required.

Duties & Responsibilities Designs and executes in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo experiments investigating the microbiota and bacterial extracellular vesicles in anti-tumor immunity and immunotherapy response, with an emphasis on lung cancer, independently and in collaboration with the PI, other postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, and research staff. Performs molecular and biochemical assays (nucleic acid and protein isolation and analysis, qRT-PCR, immunoblotting, ELISA, cloning and vector construction, CRISPR-based gene editing) and cellular assays (primary and tumor cell culture, bacterial culture, co-culture and immune functional assays, flow cytometry, microscopy, histology and immunohistochemistry of tissue specimens).

Conducts animal studies in accordance with approved IACUC protocols, including tumor model establishment, treatment administration, longitudinal monitoring, tissue collection and processing, and colony management; assists in the preparation, amendment, and renewal of animal and biosafety protocols. • Generates, analyzes, and interprets rigorous, reproducible data; maintains complete records and organized raw data files; and prepares publication-quality figures and summaries.

Contributes substantively to the PI's extramural grant applications by generating preliminary and supporting data on defined timelines, assembling figures, and drafting and editing sections of the research strategy and supporting documents. Prepares first-author and co-author manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication and presents laboratory data at internal meetings and external scientific conferences. Critically evaluates the current literature and adapts evolving understanding of cancer biology, immunology, microbiome science, and emerging technology to the objectives described above; proposes new experimental approaches and contributes to the development of ongoing and new research goals.

Develops, optimizes, validates, and documents new laboratory methods and standard operating procedures; troubleshoots complex technical and instrumentation problems and assists other laboratory personnel in doing so. Functions as a technical and scientific resource to the laboratory: provides bench instruction and orientation on general and technical procedures to graduate students, undergraduate students, technicians, and visiting scholars, and disseminates current knowledge and best practices.

Participates in the shared operation of the laboratory, including equipment use and maintenance, routine procurement and inventory of supplies, reagent and cell line management, and shipment of biological reagents and animal models to collaborating laboratories with the relevant technical information. Coordinates and communicates effectively with the PI, laboratory members, core facilities, clinical collaborators, and institutional research administration; notifies the PI or appropriate personnel promptly of equipment or product defects, protocol deviations, safety concerns, and other significant issues.

Complies with all institutional and federal requirements governing laboratory safety, biosafety, chemical hygiene, animal welfare, human subjects research, and data integrity, and completes all required training. Additional duties may be assigned per laboratory and programmatic needs.