Postdoctoral Associate | Spatial Cancer Biology | Varn Lab
About The Position
The Varn Lab is seeking a highly motivated computational biologist with a strong interest in the tumor microenvironment and spatial biology to help unlock the full potential of a unique glioblastoma dataset. Our group has generated a large volume of high-quality multiplex immunofluorescence data from a large series of rare brain tumor samples. We are looking for an innovative individual excited to extract new biological insights from these complex spatial datasets with the goal of defining novel principles of tumor-microenvironment interactions in the brain. The ideal candidate will take the intellectual lead on this dataset and work closely with Dr. Varn to produce a high-impact first-author manuscript in the first year. In parallel, the position offers substantial freedom to cultivate new skillsets, expand collaborative networks, and develop independent research directions that will position them competitively for the next stage of their career, whether pursuing faculty roles, industry research positions, or other leadership opportunities in the biomedical sciences. Individuals in this position will have access to state-of-the-art cancer modeling and computational resources at The Jackson Laboratory as well as primary tissue samples through collaborative agreements between the Varn Lab and medical institutions. Scientific research will be conducted in a laboratory that is heavily invested in the mentoring, career development, and success of trainees. This mentoring will be supplemented with institutional resources that include year-round workshops hosted by JAX, scientific writing services, and intramural funding opportunities. Overall, individuals will be well-supported to grow their careers while conducting exciting research that blends the fields of cancer biology, microscopy, and computational biology.
Requirements
- PhD in Genetics, Computational Biology, or a related field
- At least one first author publication in a peer-reviewed journal
- Experience in R, Python, or a related language
- Strong managerial and organizational skills
- Ability to drive projects forward and take initiative in solving problems
- A personal growth mindset and receptiveness to constructive feedback
- A desire to work with others, both collaboratively and as a mentor
- Excellent written and oral communication skills to disseminate results and methods to the group
Responsibilities
- Apply and develop computational methods to analyze cell-cell interactions using bulk, single-cell, and spatial datasets
- Manage and organize human tissue samples and associated metadata
- Employ critical and creative thinking skills to solve scientific problems
- Synthesize scientific literature into new project ideas
- Collaborate with other labs at JAX to integrate new techniques into the laboratory
- Write manuscripts and, in the long-term, apply for independent funding
- Present results at lab meetings, institutional symposia, and national conferences
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
Number of Employees
1,001-5,000 employees
