Postdoctoral Fellow - Epigenetics & Molecular Carcinogenesis

The Zhe Laboratory, led by Dr. Zheqi (Vaciry) Li, in the Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, is seeking highly motivated and creative postdoctoral fellows to join an interdisciplinary research program aimed at elucidating core principles at the intersection of metabolism and epigenetics that govern breast cancer initiation and progression.

The postdoctoral fellow will lead hypothesis-driven research projects using a combination of molecular and cellular biology, functional genomics, genome engineering, computational biology, advanced imaging, single-cell and spatial multi-omics, and advanced breast cancer models. The fellow will be expected to work independently, develop innovative research questions, design and execute rigorous experiments, analyze and interpret complex datasets, apply computational and statistical approaches when appropriate, and drive projects toward high-impact publications.

A major research direction in our laboratory is to understand how environmental and dietary factors, particularly obesity, reshape the cancer epigenome and influence tumor evolution, therapeutic resistance, and immune evasion. Ultimately, we aim to identify novel therapeutic and preventive strategies to improve breast cancer outcomes in individuals with obesity. Within this broader focus on cancer epigenetics, we place particular emphasis on unconventional mechanisms of epigenetic regulation, especially histone proteolytic cleavage, and their biological and clinical significance in human cancer, building on an established foundation of preliminary findings and research resources.

Our laboratory is committed to conducting rigorous, mechanistic, and innovative research to advance our understanding of cancer biology and uncover discoveries with meaningful clinical implications. Equally important, we strive to foster a healthy, collaborative, and supportive research environment that values work-life balance and the personal and professional growth of every team member.

All duties and responsibilities are carried out in compliance with institutional policies, ethical research standards, and applicable federal and state regulations.

Fellows will have opportunities to strengthen their scientific communication, writing, and presentation skills through regular laboratory meetings, departmental seminars, scientific forums, contributions to review articles, and participation in national and international conferences. They will also be encouraged to develop an independent scientific vision and prepare for future careers as independent investigators through opportunities to write and submit grant applications and mentor junior research assistants and graduate students.

Qualified candidates should have:

• A Ph.D. (or equivalent) in biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, computational biology, or a related discipline.
• A strong record of scientific productivity, demonstrated by high-quality publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• A collaborative and curious mindset, with enthusiasm for exploring novel scientific hypotheses and tackling challenging research questions.
• Expertise in one or more of the following areas: breast cancer biology and epigenetics (particularly chromatin and histone biology). Additional expertise in cancer metabolism, immunology, or cancer evolution is preferred.
• Experience in one or more of the following areas: molecular and cellular biology, functional genomics, genome engineering, or animal cancer modeling (experience with mouse and rat models is particularly desirable).
• Experience in multi-omics data analysis is encouraged but not required. Hands-on training will be provided, and candidates should demonstrate a willingness and enthusiasm to develop computational and data analysis skills.

We are particularly interested in candidates who are enthusiastic about refining experimental models and addressing technically challenging questions through innovative approaches, genomic engineering, and advanced cancer modeling.

We invite applications from researchers with a strong interest in epigenetics and breast cancer. Highly motivated fellows will have the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in a dynamic and collaborative environment, with access to extensive computational, genomic, and translational research resources. We are particularly interested in candidates who are intellectually curious,…