Postdoctoral Scholar, Radiation Oncology, Moon Lab, Cancer Metastasis, Metabolism, and Radiation Biology

University of Washington • Seattle, WA

11d • Onsite

About The Position

The University of Washington Department of Radiation Oncology invites applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Moon Laboratory, with an anticipated start date of January 2027. The successful candidate will contribute to the laboratory’s research programs in tumor metastasis and metabolism and FLASH radiation biology. The role involves integrating molecular, cellular, and in vivo approaches, contributing intellectually to project development, independently designing and troubleshooting experiments, and helping shape research directions as the laboratory grows.

The laboratory investigates how the tumor microenvironment and metabolic alterations influence cancer progression, metastasis, and responses to radiation therapy. Its research programs include studying lipid metabolism, hypoxia, redox biology, and metastatic adaptation, as well as mechanisms underlying tumor and normal tissue responses to ultra-high dose-rate FLASH and conventional radiation, including the roles of iron metabolism and redox states.

The Postdoctoral Scholar will be encouraged to develop scientific independence and establish a research direction that supports their future career. The Moon Laboratory is based in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Washington School of Medicine and is connected with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center research community. The research environment offers interdisciplinary collaboration and access to shared research resources across UW and Fred Hutch.

Requirements

• PhD (or foreign equivalent) in Cancer Biology, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Radiation Biology, Metabolism, or a related field by the date of appointment.
• Strong background in experimental cancer biology and proficiency in a broad range of molecular and cellular biology techniques.
• Strong scientific curiosity and motivation.
• Critical and independent thinking.
• Strong experimental and analytical skills.
• Ability to design experiments and troubleshoot independently.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative and multidisciplinary environment.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• A record of scientific productivity appropriate to career stage.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with mammalian cell culture and functional cell-based assays.
• Experience with molecular biology techniques, including qPCR, Western blotting, ELISA, and gene expression analysis.
• Experience with gene manipulation approaches, including knockdown, knockout, or overexpression.
• Experience with flow cytometry and fluorescence-based assays.
• Experience with transcriptional regulation, chromatin analysis, or protein interaction studies.
• Experience with microscopy and immunohistochemistry.
• Experience with genomic, transcriptomic, or other sequencing-based approaches.
• Experience with in vivo cancer models, including xenograft, syngeneic, or experimental metastasis models.
• Previous research experience in tumor metastasis, cancer metabolism, lipid or iron metabolism, ferroptosis, hypoxia, tumor microenvironment, or radiation biology.

Responsibilities

• Independently design, conduct, analyze, and interpret mechanistic studies using molecular, cellular, and in vivo cancer models.
• Investigate molecular and metabolic mechanisms underlying tumor progression and metastasis.
• Study tumor and normal tissue responses to conventional and FLASH radiation.
• Develop and characterize in vitro and in vivo tumor models.
• Conduct molecular and cellular studies of gene regulation, signaling, metabolism, and protein function.
• Conduct mouse tumor, metastasis, and radiation studies.
• Integrate molecular, metabolic, and physiological data to identify mechanisms with potential translational relevance.
• Present research findings at national and international scientific meetings.
• Prepare manuscripts for publication.
• Contribute to collaborative studies and grant applications.
• Mentor students and junior researchers as appropriate.
• Contribute intellectually to project development, independently design and troubleshoot experiments, and help shape new research directions.

What This Job Offers

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