Postdoctoral Research Associate

Texas A&M University System • Houston, TX

2d • $5,084 • Onsite

About The Position

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will be involved in the identification of epigenetic and immunoepigenetic combination treatments that upregulate the MHC-I and MHC-II dependent genes to enhance host immune surveillance and anticancer efficacy. The position will support translational cancer prevention studies using cell-based systems, primary cultures, 3D spheroid/organoid models, molecular assays, immunological assays, and rodent tumor models.

Requirements

• MD/PhD in biochemistry, cell biology, immunology, cancer biology, pharmacology, molecular biology, or a related biomedical science field.
• Must be literate in the English language and be able to comprehend and follow effectively both written and verbal instructions.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills in English.
• Ability to do independent research in areas related to cancer immunology and epigenetics.
• Ability to maintain accurate records, analyze data, prepare figures and reports, and contribute to manuscripts and presentations.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with cancer biology, molecular biology, cell culture, and animal cancer models.
• MD/PhD with experience in translational cancer biology, cancer prevention, immunology, epigenetics, or related biomedical research.
• Animal cancer models, primary tissue culture, 3D spheroid/organoid cultures, molecular biology, protein biochemistry, and immunology assays.
• Epigenetics, HDAC biology, host immune surveillance, antigen-presentation pathways, immunoproteasome assays, with technical expertise of FACS, RNA-seq, Co-IP, ChIP, and T-cell co-culture systems.
• Experience in performing rodent tumor studies under approved IACUC protocols, including oral gavage, intra-venous, intra-peritoneal and subcutaneous injections
• Experience with antibody development, hybridoma screening, ELISA-based assays, and antibody characterization.
• Clinical or translational research background, including MD training or experience connecting preclinical findings to human disease relevance, is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of MHC
• Identification of epigenetic and immunoepigenetic combination treatments that upregulate MHC-I and MHC-II dependent genes to enhance host immune surveillance and anticancer efficacy. Studies may include HDAC-related mechanisms, immunoproteasome regulation, antigen-presentation pathways, and immune-response biomarkers.
• Molecular, cellular, and biochemical work: Design and execute experiments involving epigenetic analyses, immunological assays, and molecular biology, protein biochemistry, and cancer prevention models. Experimental procedures may include tissue culture, primary cell culture, 3D spheroid/organoid culture, co-IP, ChIP, PCR, qPCR, flow cytometry/FACS, Western blotting, ELISA, HDAC activity assays, fluorescence microscopy, and related in vitro assays using wild-type and genetically modified/null cell lines.
• Rodent work and preclinical tumor models: Conduct rodent studies according to approved protocols and the highest ethical standards. Participate in breeding and genotyping. Carefully monitor and record rodent well-being and morbidity. Perform endoscopies and polypectomies on live rodents. Perform necropsies and collection of organs for H&E, molecular, and immunohistochemical work. Administer drugs/compounds to study animals via intra-oral, intra-venous, intra-peritoneal or subcutaneous routes.
• Collaborations & presentations: Participate actively in weekly lab meetings within the center, and with other internal and external collaborators. Participate in joint projects involving faculty, postdoctoral fellows, students, technicians, and core facility personnel. Assist with training graduate students and junior lab personnel. Support antibody core-related activities, including hybridoma screening, ELISA-based assays, and antibody characterization. Assist with research grant proposals, conference abstracts, manuscripts, figures, tables, and timely publishable reports. Conduct literature searches and contribute to new experimental approaches with rigor and reproducibility.

Benefits

• Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life and AD&D, flexible spending accounts, and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
• Free exercise programs and release time
• All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more
• Educational release time and tuition assistance for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee

What This Job Offers

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