Postdoctoral Fellow PhD - Neuroscience & Epigenetics

Summary

The Postdoctoral Fellow position is immediately available in the Barbieri laboratory to study the molecular mechanisms regulating tumor initiation and differentiation in neuroblastoma, a pediatric cancer arising from sympatho‑adrenal neural crest cells. The lab aims at understanding how the epigenetic regulator CHAF1A drives undifferentiated, chemo‑refractory, and metabolically distinct tumors, and developing novel approaches to intervention for high‑risk neuroblastoma. Specifically, the lab is focused on understanding how the epigenetic changes induced by CHAF1A drive neuroblastoma oncogene sis, with particular emphasis on studies at the intersection of epigenetics, cell differentiation, and cell metabolism (Front Cell Dev Biol 2026;
Trends Mol Med 2026, Cancer Discovery 2024; Nature Communications 2022, Nature Communications 2021; Advanced Science 2021). The Postdoctoral Fellow will use a combination of various cell and molecular biology approaches (including CRISPR‑Cas9 gene editing, ChIP‑seq, Co‑IP, RNA‑seq, ATAC‑seq, metabolomics, metabolic tracing and differentiation assays), as well as different tumor models (transgenic, xenograft/PDX and syngeneic) and neural crest models to elucidate the epigenetic changes induced by CHAF1A during neuroblastoma initiation and progression.

• Designs and performs experimental studies that directly answer the above research questions, using both in vitro systems and animal models.
• Collects and analyzes data and presenting at national/international meetings.
• Prepares manuscripts for publication.
• Applies for external fellowships.
• Mentors junior lab members.
• Performs other job‑related duties as assigned.

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

• Postdoctoral Fellow less than 4 years from date of Ph.D. conferral date.
• Experience in cancer biology, epigenetics, cell and molecular biology, and mouse models of cancer is desired.
• Experience in cancer cell metabolism is a plus.
• Be highly motivated to pursue an independent career in biomedical research.
• Prior first author publications.