Post-Doctoral Scholar- Medical Oncology

Post-Doctoral Scholar
- Medical Oncology

Dr. Rolfo's laboratory is seeking an exceptional Postdoctoral Scholar to join a highly collaborative and translational research program focused on thoracic oncology. The laboratory integrates mechanistic cancer biology with clinically annotated patient-derived biospecimens to advance liquid biopsy technologies, biomarker discovery, and therapeutic strategies.

This position offers a unique opportunity to work at the interface of discovery and clinical translation, leveraging circulating tumor cells (CTCs), extracellular vesicles (EVs), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), and next-generation sequencing (NGS) to address fundamental and clinically relevant questions in lung cancer biology.

The successful candidate will be expected to lead high-impact projects, drive scientific innovation, and contribute to a research program positioned for publication in top-tier journals and competitive extramural funding.

We are deeply committed to fostering scientific independence and career advancement. Postdoctoral fellows will be supported to:

• Develop independent, hypothesis-driven research programs
• Publish in high-impact journals
• Lead and contribute to competitive grant and fellowship applications (NIH, DOD, AACR)
• Build a strong foundation for independent academic or industry careers
• Work with clinically relevant, well-annotated patient samples, enabling direct translational impact

We seek a highly driven, intellectually rigorous scientist who thrives in a collaborative environment but is equally capable of independent scientific leadership. The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong conceptual thinking and ability to formulate impactful biological questions
• Proven ability to drive projects from conception to publication
• Technical depth with flexibility to adopt new methodologies
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Commitment to mentoring and team development
• High standards of scientific rigor, reproducibility, and organization

Our mission is to transform outcomes for lung cancer patients through innovative and clinically relevant research. By integrating mechanistic insights with patient-derived data, we aim to accelerate the development of next-generation diagnostics and therapeutic strategies.

Applicants must have strong, hands-on experience in:

• Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) isolation and analysis
• Extracellular Vesicle (EV) isolation and characterization
• Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies
• Mammalian cell culture
• Molecular cloning
• Western blotting
• RT-PCR / qPCR
• RNA, DNA, and protein extraction

Preferred experience includes:

• Confocal microscopy and high-content imaging
• Flow cytometry or spectral flow cytometry
• Bioinformatics analysis of sequencing datasets
• Experience with human blood and patient-derived samples

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Strong publication record demonstrating scientific impact
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to balance independence with collaboration
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Commitment to excellence and scientific integrity

Minimum

Required Qualifications –

Education and Experience:

• Ph.D. in Cancer Biology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, or a related field
• Demonstrated track record of productivity (publications, preprints, or equivalent)
• Experience in translational cancer research preferred
• Experience in liquid biopsy technologies strongly preferred

Location:

Biomedical Research Tower (0112)

Position Type:
Term (Fixed Term)

Scheduled

Hours:

40

Shift: First Shift

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. A drug screen or physical may be required during the post offer process.