Post-Doctoral Fellow- Internal Medicine​/Hematology, Oncology & Palliative Care

At VCU, we take pride in our deep commitment to our postdoctoral community. In 2026, the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) named VCU as one of only 12 recipients of its inaugural Institutional Policy Awards, in recognition of our transformative efforts to elevate quality of life and workplace equity for postdocs.

VCU postdocs are Virginia state employees, with benefits mirroring 12-month faculty. We adhere closely to the NPA’s guidelines for best practices in postdoc training. We work closely with our local NPA chapter, the VCU Postdoc Association, to make this a welcoming and productive place to complete your training

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care and education. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity employer.

School Of Medicine MBU

Internal Medicine

The Division of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care is a specialized group of physicians, healthcare providers, researchers and professors that provides for the unique medical and supportive care needs of patients in the greater Richmond area and throughout the state of Virginia. As part of VCU Massey Cancer Center, a NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, division members are also involved in developing the latest cancer treatments by conducting research and translating their discoveries into cutting-edge patient care.

And as part of the VCU School of Medicine, division faculty, each member of our diverse faculty contributes his or her expertise and experience to our patient care, research and teaching missions. A collaborative environment among division faculty, and with other specialists from multiple disciplines, provides a comprehensive approach to patient care and physician training.

A Postdoctoral Fellowship position under the mentorship of Venkata Lokesh Battula, Ph.D., is available to study Breast Cancer. The laboratory is studying the role of cancer stem cells in breast cancer progression. We are interested in investigating the role of GD3 synthase in regulating mammary tumorigenesis. We will use transgenic mice models and GD3S knockout mice to determine the role of GD3 synthase in regulation of tumor growth.

Postdoctoral Fellows are responsible for managing the transgenic and knockout mice colonies as well in vivo tumor growth studies.

Candidates must have a doctoral degree with 0-2 years of postdoctoral experience. Preference will be given to candidates with previous experience with animal handling, breeding, genotyping, cell-based cytotoxicity assays including flow cytometry, Incu Cyte, cancer and immune cell biology, basic cell culture, and imaging skills. Candidates are expected to be self-motivated and have excellent writing and communication skills.

Please see below for other information about the position:

• Salary based on NIH scale for postdoctoral stipends.
• The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment.
• Collaborative and inclusive research environment
• Access to state-of-the-art facilities and resource
• Opportunities for professional development and career advancement
• Located in the vibrant city of Richmond, Virginia

The potential candidate is expected to have experience in various tissue culture techniques, immune cell assays, and molecular assays including qRT-PCR, western blotting, ELISA that we routinely use in our laboratory. Also, we have several animal models including patient-derived xenografts that need to be maintained and used for translational research. A thorough understanding of cancer biology, drug development, and immunobiology is appreciated.

The candidate will be responsible for maintaining and characterizing transgenic mice colonies.

• Candidates should be self-motivated, career oriented, and should be capable of troubleshooting animal handling, molecular, cellular, ex vivo, and in vivo studies. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, multiple publications, and strong reference letters are required.
• Ph.D. degree in a life science (cellular or molecular biology) within the last three years of matriculation.
• Research experience and an excellent knowledge base in biochemical, metabolic, and signaling process as they relate to cancer.
• The…