Postdoctoral Research Associate - Oncology
About The Position
The dos Santos laboratory in the Department of Oncology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital seeks a highly motivated postdoctoral research associate to investigate cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate mammary gland biology and breast cancer susceptibility. The laboratory studies how genetic predisposition interacts with systemic and tissue-level factors—including inflammation, infection, pregnancy, aging, and hormonal changes—to influence mammary epithelial cell identity, the tissue microenvironment, and breast cancer initiation. Research integrates genetically engineered mouse models, primary mammary organoids, human biospecimens, single-cell genomics, epigenomic profiling, spatial and tissue-imaging approaches, and functional perturbation experiments. The successful candidate will lead an independent but highly collaborative project examining breast cancer initiation and progression. Potential research directions include the effects of systemic inflammatory and physiological signals on mammary epithelial cell states and cancer susceptibility; interactions among epithelial, fibroblast, immune, and extracellular-matrix components in early tumorigenesis; lineage plasticity in BRCA1-deficient and other genetically susceptible tissues; effects of pregnancy, aging, and hormonal transitions on mammary tissue organization and tumor risk; development of organoid and in vivo models for mechanistic research and cancer interception; and increased breast cancer risk in childhood cancer survivors. The laboratory is based at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The research environment includes shared resources in animal modeling, organoid biology, flow cytometry, advanced microscopy, single-cell and spatial genomics, proteomics, computational biology, genome engineering, and biostatistics. The candidate will receive close scientific mentorship and support in developing an independent research identity, with opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, professional development, conference participation, fellowship applications, manuscript preparation, and career advancement.
Requirements
- PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or equivalent doctoral degree in cancer biology, molecular biology, cell biology, developmental biology, genetics, immunology, bioengineering, computational biology, or a related discipline.
- Strong record of scientific productivity and evidence of independent research ability.
- Experience with at least one of the following: mouse models, organoid culture, molecular and cellular biology, microscopy, flow cytometry, single-cell genomics, epigenomics, or computational analysis.
- Strong quantitative, organizational, written, and oral communication skills.
- Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to collaborative projects.
- Commitment to rigorous, reproducible, and ethical research.
Nice To Haves
- Complementary expertise in immunology, stromal biology, developmental biology, aging, metabolism, bioengineering, or computational genomics.
Responsibilities
- Design, conduct, analyze, and interpret independent research projects.
- Use genetically engineered mouse models, mammary transplantation assays, organoid systems, and mammalian cell culture.
- Perform molecular, cellular, imaging, and functional assays relevant to mammary gland and cancer biology.
- Collaborate with computational scientists to analyze single-cell RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, spatial, and other genomic datasets.
- Maintain rigorous and reproducible experimental records.
- Present findings at laboratory meetings, institutional seminars, and national or international conferences.
- Prepare manuscripts, fellowship applications, and research proposals.
- Mentor graduate students, research staff, and other junior laboratory members.
- Contribute to a rigorous, collaborative, inclusive, and intellectually engaging laboratory environment.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
