Postdoctoral Associate

Baylor College of Medicine

Houston, TX

ID: 7107227 (Ref.No. 12575-en_US)
Posted: August 4, 2022
Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

Job Description

Summary

A postdoctoral position is immediately available in the Barbieri laboratory to study the molecular mechanisms regulating tumor initiation and progression in neuroblastoma, a pediatric cancer arising from sympatho-adrenal neural crest cells. The lab aims at understanding how MYCN drives undifferentiated, chemo-refractory, and metabolically distinct tumors, and developing novel approaches to intervention for high-risk MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma. Specifically, the lab is focused on the study of how MYCN interacts with specific epigenetic factors - such as CHAF1A - to drive oncogenesis, with particular emphasis on epigenetics, transcriptional regulation, cell differentiation and metabolism (Moreno-Smith et al. Nature Communications 2021; Tao et al. Advanced Science 2021; Tao et al. Nature Communications 2022). The candidate will use a combination of various cell and molecular biology approaches (including CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, ChIP-seq, RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, metabolomics and metabolic tracing), as well as different tumors models (transgenic, xenograft/PDX and syngeneic) and neural crest models to elucidate the epigenetic changes induced by MYCN and CHAF1A during neuroblastoma initiation and progression.

 

Job Duties

  • Designs and performs experimental studies that directly answer the above research questions, using both in vitro systems and animal models.
  • Collects and analyzes data to present at national/international meetings.
  • Prepares manuscripts for publication.
  • Applies for external fellowships.
  • Mentors junior lab members.

Minimum Qualifications

  • MD or Ph.D. in Basic Science, Health Science, or a related field.
  • No experience required.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Prior first author publications.
  • Strong background in cancer biology, epigenetics, cell and molecular biology, mouse models of cancer, and cancer cell metabolism.
  • Candidates should be highly motivated to pursue an independent career in biomedical research.

 

 

Baylor College of Medicine requires employees to be fully vaccinated -subject to approved exemptions-against vaccine-preventable diseases including, but not limited to, COVID-19 and influenza.

 

Baylor College of Medicine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Equal Access Employer.

 12575

PD; CA; SN 



Baylor College of Medicine fosters diversity among its students, trainees, faculty and staff as a prerequisite to accomplishing our institutional mission, and setting standards for excellence in training healthcare providers and biomedical scientists, promoting scientific innovation, and providing patient-centered care. - Diversity, respect, and inclusiveness create an environment that is conducive to academic excellence, and strengthens our institution by increasing talent, encouraging creativity, and ensuring a broader perspective. - Diversity helps position Baylor to reduce disparities in health and healthcare access and to better address the needs of the community we serve. - Baylor is committed to recruiting and retaining outstanding students, trainees, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds by providing a welcoming, supportive learning environment for all members of the Baylor community.