Postdoctoral Scholar

The Knight Cancer Precision Biofabrication Hub is recruiting a postdoctoral researcher to support NIH-funded studies focused on engineering complex cancer-bone microphysiologic systems. The successful candidate will develop and apply vascularized, mineralized, and multicellular bone-on-chip platforms to investigate mechanisms of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) bone invasion and prostate cancer metastasis to bone. This position will involve 3D tissue engineering, organ-on-chip and microfluidic culture, hydrogel and matrix-based model development, advanced microscopy, quantitative image analysis, and molecular characterization of tumor-bone interactions.

Strong preference will be given to candidates with experience engineering complex 3D tissue models, organ-on-chip systems, cancer microenvironment models, bone biology, or biofabrication. Additional preferred expertise includes immune cell incorporation into engineered tissues, macrophage/osteoclast biology, mouse-derived immune or tumor models, neurobiology, neuron co-culture, innervated tissue models, and/or spatial omics.

An ideal candidate will have a strong record of publications, a proven record of independence, and the ability to work effectively with the principal investigator, collaborators, staff scientists, and trainees. The candidate should be highly organized, adaptable, detail-oriented, collaborative, and able to independently solve problems while helping advance multiple projects in parallel.

Duties include:

Perform experiments utilizing appropriate bioengineering, cell culture, imaging, and molecular techniques with proficiency; evaluate results; troubleshoot experiments; determine next steps; and present data.

Duties include developing and optimizing vascularized, mineralized, and multicellular bone-on-chip models; performing OSCC bone invasion studies with osteoblast/osteocyte/osteoclast components; performing prostate cancer bone metastasis studies involving vascularized and potentially innervated bone-on-chip systems; designing experiments evaluating tumor invasion, vascular association, osteoclastogenesis, bone remodeling, tumor phenotype, and microenvironmental crosstalk; incorporating immune or neural components into engineered tissues as appropriate; performing confocal/live imaging and quantitative image analysis;

conducting immunostaining, qPCR, ELISA/Luminex, single cell spatial transcriptomics and related assays; staying current with relevant literature; and building new skills to maximize project potential.

• M.D., M.D./Ph.D., or Ph.D.
• Minimum of 3 years as a graduate student
• Specialty:
  Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Tissue Engineering, Cancer Biology, Bone Biology, or related field
• Experience with mammalian cell culture and/or engineered tissue systems
• Experience with mammalian cell culture and 3D culture systems
• Experience developing or using engineered tissue models, organ-on-chip/microfluidic systems, hydrogels, biomaterials, or 3D bioprinting
• Experience with fluorescence/confocal microscopy and quantitative image analysis
• Familiarity with immunostaining and molecular/cellular assays such as qPCR, ELISA/Luminex, Western blotting, or related methods
• Experience with data analysis and statistical methods
• Excellent communication, analytical, and organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative multidisciplinary team
• Ability to synthesize one’s own results and others’ findings to formulate hypotheses
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and coordinate multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to use tact and diplomacy to maintain effective working relationships

• Experience working across interdisciplinary teams involving engineering, cancer biology, bone biology, clinicians, or computational collaborators
• Strong publication record and evidence of independent scientific thinking
• Experience with organ-on-chip or microphysiologic systems
• Experience with vascularized tissue models, endothelial/pericyte co-culture, perfusable microfluidic systems, or advanced 3D imaging
• Experience with bone biology, osteoblasts, osteocytes, osteoclasts, mineralized matrices, or bone remodeling assays
• Experience with…