Postdoctoral Research Associate: Cancer Immunology & Microbiome

Posted on: 9/28/2026 - Final date to receive applications:

-

The University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria (UICOMP) seeks candidates forthe position(s) of Postdoc Research Associate in the Medicine Department.

Aboutthe University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria

The University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria (UICOMP) seeks candidates forthe position(s) of Postdoc Research Associate in the Medicine Department.

Aboutthe University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria

The University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria is a regional campus of oneof the largest public medical schools in the United States. We are known forhaving small class sizes and exceptional faculty mentorship. This allows UICOMPstudents to excel under a rigorous curriculum. In collaboration with our hospitals and clinical partners, UICOMP Faculty members provide care to morethan 45,000 patients each year.

In addition, they contribute to medical education and training for more than 260 students, and more than 300 physician residents and fellows annually. UICOMP healthcare partners include Jump Simulation, a world-class leader in healthcare simulation and innovation, alongwith OSF Saint Medical Center, OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois and Carle Hearth Greater Peoria. UICOMP is also part of a R1 research institute withtranslational research focusing on Alzheimer dementia and oncology.

Learnmore about how the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria is helpingto transform healthcare here: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). .

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits . This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

Position Summary

The Postdoctoral Research Associate is a doctoral-level laboratory scientist who participates in the design, execution, and interpretation of translational cancer research under the mentorship of the Principal Investigator (PI). The research program focuses on the role of the microbiota and bacterial extracellular vesicles (bEVs) in shaping anti-tumor immunity and the response to cancer immunotherapy, with particular emphasis on lung cancer.

The incumbent will independently conduct molecular, biochemical, and cellular biology experiments, bacterial and primary cell culture, and in vivo animal studies; will analyze, present, and publish resulting data; and will play a central role in generating the preliminary and supporting data required for the PI's extramural grant applications. Independent scientific judgment, doctoral-level training, rigorous documentation, and effective collaboration within a team-based laboratory environment are required.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Designs and executes in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo experiments investigating the microbiota and bacterial extracellular vesicles in anti-tumor immunity and immunotherapy response, with an emphasis on lung cancer, independently and in collaboration with the PI, other postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, and research staff.
• Performs molecular and biochemical assays (nucleic acid and protein isolation and analysis, qRT-PCR, immunoblotting, ELISA, cloning and vector construction, CRISPR-based gene editing) and cellular assays (primary and tumor cell culture, bacterial culture, co-culture and immune functional assays, flow cytometry, microscopy, histology and immunohistochemistry of tissue specimens).
• Conducts animal studies in accordance with approved IACUC protocols, including tumor model establishment, treatment administration, longitudinal monitoring, tissue collection and processing, and colony management; assists in the preparation, amendment, and renewal of animal and biosafety protocols.
  • Generates, analyzes, and interprets rigorous, reproducible data; maintains complete records and organized raw data files; and prepares publication-quality figures and summaries.
• Contributes substantively to the PI's extramural grant applications by generating preliminary and supporting data on defined timelines, assembling figures, and drafting and editing sections of the research strategy and supporting documents.
• Prepares first-author and co-author manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication and presents laboratory data at internal meetings and external scientific conferences.
• Critically evaluates the current literature and adapts evolving understanding of cancer biology, immunology, microbiome science, and emerging technology to the objectives…