Postdoctoral Scholar

Job Summary

The Plattner Lab, within the Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences and Markey Cancer Center at the University of Kentucky is seeking applications for a postdoctoral position in an established cancer research program aimed at understanding how melanoma spreads throughout the body and identifying new treatment regimens to prevent or reverse resistance to conventional therapies. Examples of publications from the laboratory can be found at Nat Comm (2020) 11:5463;

and Cancers (2023)15(3), 954. We are currently searching individuals to research a new avenue in our laboratory, using funding we will receive July, 1, 2026, focused on understanding how pediatric brain cancers (gliomas) develop resistance to BRAF inhibitors.

The successful applicant will work closely with the Principal Investigator, postdoctoral scholars, research scientists, and students in the laboratory. The successful applicant will contribute to study design and will publish 1st author publications. The job will also provide experience in communication including writing portions of manuscripts and presenting data to the group. Some examples of techniques that our laboratory routine performs include proliferation, survival, invasion, and apoptosis assays, kinase assays, ELISAs, qPCR, western blotting, mammalian cell culture, transfection, gene silencing, lentiviral infection for gene silencing and over-expression, and animal studies using xenograft, syngeneic, and PDOX models assessing the effects of drugs on tumor growth, and the contribution of the immune system and tumor microenvironment to drug response.

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

N/A

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? No Preferred Education/Experience

PhD in Biology, Chemistry or related field and related scientific research

Final date to receive applications 07/01/2026 Our University Community

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The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.