Post Doctoral Research Fellow

University of Colorado Anschutz Department:
Radiation Oncology

Job Title:

Post Doctoral Research Fellow Position # – Requisition #40450 Job Summary

The Jacob Houghton Lab is recruiting a postdoctoral associate for a funded position focused on developing and evaluating next‑generation radiopharmaceuticals for cancer imaging and targeted radionuclide therapy. This position will support translational research at the interface of radiochemistry, molecular imaging, bioconjugation, cancer biology, and preclinical therapy studies. The postdoc will contribute to projects involving radio labeled antibodies, antibody fragments, peptides, small molecules, or pre‑targeted imaging and therapy platforms, with applications in PET/SPECT imaging, biodistribution, dosimetry, and targeted alpha‑ or beta‑particle therapy.

• Design and conduct preclinical radiopharmaceutical research studies across multiple stages of development.
• Perform radiolabeling procedures and quality control testing to ensure compound integrity and performance.
• Execute bioconjugation and in vitro characterization studies to evaluate radiopharmaceutical properties.
• Develop and maintain mammalian cell cultures and tumor models for experimental research.
• Conduct PET/SPECT imaging, biodistribution, dosimetry, and therapeutic efficacy studies.
• Analyze tissues and investigate biological mechanisms underlying treatment response.
• Contribute to translational molecular imaging, radiopharmaceutical development, and cancer therapy research, leveraging prior radiochemistry or radiopharmaceutical therapy experience to build an independent research program.

Training in the Houghton Lab supports postdocs pursuing academic, industry, clinical translational, or regulatory‑oriented careers in radiopharmaceutical science, molecular imaging, cancer biology, and drug development. Scholars will have access to tailored professional development, including:

• Training in translational radiopharmaceutical development, including study design, radiochemistry workflows, imaging and biodistribution studies, dosimetry, therapy response assessment, and regulatory‑style documentation.
• Opportunities to contribute to the development of new research directions, including independent project ideas aligned with the candidate's long‑term career goals.
• Mentorship in manuscript preparation, grant writing, fellowship applications, and career development awards.
• Opportunities to mentor graduate students, technicians, summer students, and other trainees.
• Opportunities to collaborate with clinicians, radio chemists, imaging scientists, cancer biologists, medical physicists, and industry partners.
• Funding and support to attend and present at national scientific meetings.

Onsite – this role is expected to work onsite and is located in Aurora, CO.

• PhD, MD/PhD, PharmD/PhD, or equivalent doctoral degree in chemistry, radiochemistry, chemical biology, chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, molecular imaging, cancer biology, molecular biology, or a related biomedical sciences field.
• Prior hands‑on experience with radiochemistry, radiolabeling, radioactive material handling, radiopharmaceutical therapy, radiotracer development, or closely related radiopharmaceutical research.
• A strong interest in cancer imaging, targeted radionuclide therapy, radiopharmaceutical development, or translational oncology.

• Experience with alpha‑ or beta‑particle radiopharmaceutical therapy.
• Experience with radio labeled antibodies, antibody fragments, peptides, nanoparticles, small molecules, or pretargeted imaging/therapy systems.
• Experience with PET, SPECT, biodistribution studies, dosimetry, or quantitative imaging analysis.
• Experience with in vivo tumor models, including xenograft, orthotopic, metastatic, or patient‑derived models.
• Experience with in vitro cancer biology assays, including 2D or 3D cell culture, organoids, viability assays, receptor‑binding/internalization assays, clonogenic survival, DNA damage assays, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, Western blotting, or IHC.
• Experience…