Postdoctoral Associate - Colorectal Cancer Malignant Transformation and Tumor Immunology

About the Job

Subramanian Laboratory

Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota Medical School

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Position Summary

NIH-funded postdoctoral positions are available in the Subramanian Laboratory at the University of Minnesota Medical School to investigate the mechanisms that drive the malignant transformation of colorectal adenomas into colorectal cancer.

These positions are supported by a recently funded NIH R01. The project addresses an important unresolved question in colorectal cancer biology: what molecular and immune mechanisms allow a benign or premalignant colorectal adenoma to acquire malignant properties and progress toward invasive cancer? Our studies focus on the interaction between tumor-intrinsic signaling and the immune microenvironment during adenoma-to-carcinoma progression.

A major translational component of the program evaluates engineered extracellular vesicles as a potential strategy to restore antitumor immunity and prevent malignant progression.

The postdoctoral fellow will work within this overall program but may develop complementary areas of emphasis depending on expertise and scientific interests. One position may focus more heavily on molecular mechanisms of adenoma transformation and organoid biology, while the second may focus on extracellular vesicles, tumor immunology, and immune-mediated prevention.

Both fellows will have opportunities to work across these areas.

The postdoctoral fellows will participate in studies that:

• Investigate the microRNA regulatory network and other transformation-associated pathways.
• Determine how tumor-derived extracellular vesicles regulate T-cell function and immune surveillance during early colorectal tumorigenesis.
• Generate and manipulate human and mouse colorectal adenoma cells and organoid models.
• Use CRISPR/Cas9, inducible gene-expression systems, miRNA inhibitors, and other genetic approaches to establish mechanistic causality.
• Perform 2D and 3D cell-culture, spheroid, organoid, and tumor-immune co-culture experiments.
• Perform T-cell functional studies, multiparameter flow cytometry, and immune-phenotyping experiments.
• Use orthotopic colorectal tumor models, genetically engineered mouse models, and inflammation-associated adenoma models to study malignant progression in vivo.
• Apply molecular and genomic approaches, immunofluorescence/immunohistochemistry, gene-expression analysis, RNA sequencing, and pathway analysis.

The successful candidate will design and conduct independent experiments within the scope of the NIH-funded project; maintain accurate experimental records and analyze data rigorously; work collaboratively with investigators in cancer biology, pathology, immunology, bioinformatics, and related disciplines; present findings at laboratory meetings and national or international scientific conferences; prepare manuscripts for publication; contribute to development of new research directions and fellowship or grant applications;

and participate in mentoring students and research staff as appropriate.

Postdoctoral fellows will be encouraged to develop a scientifically distinct project within the broader R01 program that can form the basis of independent publications and future career-development applications.

These are full-time postdoctoral positions supported by an NIH R01. Initial appointments will typically be for one year with renewal based on satisfactory progress and continued availability of funding.

Salary and benefits will follow University of Minnesota policies and applicable postdoctoral compensation guidelines.

The positions are based at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Applicants should have:

• A PhD, MD/PhD, MD, or equivalent doctoral degree in cancer biology, molecular biology, cell biology, immunology, genetics, biochemistry, biomedical sciences, or a closely related field.
• Strong training in experimental biomedical research and a demonstrated ability to conduct hypothesis-driven studies.
• Hands-on experience in at least one area relevant to the project, such as cancer biology, molecular biology, cell biology, tumor immunology, genetics, or related experimental disciplines.
• Experience with animal work, mammalian cell culture and standard molecular or cellular biology techniques.
• Ability to analyze experimental data critically, troubleshoot experiments, and maintain rigorous and reproducible research practices.
• Strong written and oral…