Postdoctoral Associate

Duke Careers • Durham, NC

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Wang Laboratory in the Department of Pathology at Duke University School of Medicine is seeking a highly motivated, creative, and collaborative Postdoctoral Associate to join a newly established multidisciplinary research program focused on patient-derived organoid technologies, New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), precision oncology, and translational cancer research. Current research areas include gliomas, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and other solid tumors. Our laboratory is dedicated to developing next-generation human-relevant experimental platforms that advance the understanding of cancer biology and accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into clinical applications. By integrating patient-derived organoids with functional genomics, multi-omics profiling, high-content imaging, artificial intelligence, and computational biology, we seek to develop innovative approaches for disease modeling, therapeutic discovery, biomarker identification, and precision medicine while advancing alternatives to conventional animal models. As one of the founding members of the laboratory, the successful candidate will have a unique opportunity to help shape the scientific direction and culture of a growing research program. The candidate will play a leading role in establishing cutting-edge experimental platforms, driving innovative and independent research projects, mentoring graduate students and junior trainees, and fostering multidisciplinary collaborations across Duke University as well as with leading academic, clinical, industry, and regulatory partners.

Requirements

• PhD degree, or the foreign equivalent in Cancer Biology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Bioengineering, Pathology, Genetics, Immunology, Computational Biology, or a closely related discipline

Nice To Haves

• Strong record of scientific productivity, demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a multidisciplinary collaborative research environment.
• Strong organizational skills, scientific rigor, and commitment to reproducible research
• Patient-derived organoid culture or other advanced 3D cell culture systems.
• Cancer biology, particularly brain or prostate cancers.
• Functional genomics, CRISPR technologies, or genome engineering.
• Single-cell sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, or spatial proteomics.
• Multi-omics data integration and systems biology.
• Computational biology, bioinformatics, machine learning, or artificial intelligence.
• Drug screening, pharmacology, or precision oncology.
• Advanced microscopy, image analysis, or quantitative imaging.
• Experience working with human biospecimens and translational research.
• Interest in developing and validating New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for biomedical research and therapeutic development.
• Programming experience in R, Python, or related computational languages is desirable but not required.

Responsibilities

• Design, lead, and execute independent and collaborative research projects aligned with the laboratory's scientific mission.
• Develop and optimize patient-derived organoid models and other innovative NAMs to investigate cancer biology, therapeutic resistance, and treatment response.
• Design and perform experiments using advanced molecular, cellular, and biochemical techniques, including organoid culture, CRISPR genome editing, single-cell sequencing, spatial biology, imaging, and multi-omics technologies.
• Analyze and interpret complex experimental datasets using appropriate statistical, bioinformatics, and computational approaches.
• Develop novel experimental platforms and methodologies that advance human-relevant cancer models and translational research.
• Collaborate closely with clinicians, pathologists, computational scientists, engineers, and basic researchers across Duke University and external institutions.
• Prepare manuscripts for publication in high-impact peer-reviewed journals and present research findings at national and international scientific meetings.
• Assist in writing fellowship applications, grant proposals, progress reports, and collaborative funding applications.
• Mentor graduate students, research technicians, undergraduate students, and visiting scholars.
• Contribute to establishing laboratory infrastructure, standard operating procedures, and a collaborative, inclusive laboratory culture.
• Participate in human biospecimen research activities, including organoid biobank development and compliance with IRB and institutional regulatory requirements.

Benefits

• health insurance plans
• generous paid time off
• retirement programs with employer contributions
• tuition assistance for employees and their children

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree