Postdoctoral Research Associate - Surgery

Position Summary

SAINT LOUIS, MO 63110

The Cao Lab aims to better understand why certain cancers are increasing among younger adults by identifying the external and internal factors that shape cancer risk and investigating how these factors converge across life stages to influence cancer development and progression. By integrating population science, mechanistic biology, and implementation science, and leveraging computational innovation, the lab examines these relationships across exposures, tissue types, life stages, and populations to identify opportunities for prevention and early intervention.

We are looking for passionate, curious, and collaborative rising leaders with training in molecular epidemiology, data science and informatics, cancer biology, or environmental sciences, who are excited to work across disciplines and help advance this emerging field.

For further details please visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

Information on being a postdoc at WashU in St. Louis can be found at .

• Lead interdisciplinary research integrating large-scale population and clinical data with multi-omics, biology, and AI to investigate the causes and biomarkers of early-onset cancers and identify opportunities for precision prevention.
• Develop and execute studies from literature review and hypothesis formulation through study design, protocol development, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination.
• Apply rigorous and reproducible methods to complex population, clinical, and molecular data using R, Python, SAS, or related tools, with well-documented code and analytic workflows.
• Collaborate and communicate effectively with cohort leaders, data providers, clinicians, biostatisticians, bioinformaticians, data scientists, and basic scientists on multisite and multidisciplinary projects.
• Coordinate scientific activities across projects, including data acquisition, harmonization, analysis, and communication among internal and external collaborators.
• Lead and contribute to original and review manuscripts, scientific presentations, and grant applications, and present findings at internal meetings and scientific conferences.
• Mentor graduate students, research assistants, and other trainees.
• Conscientious discharge of their research responsibilities in terms of protocols, reports, presentations, and manuscripts.
• Maintain conformity with ethical standards in research and continuous knowledge development in Responsible Conduct of Research.
• Maintain compliance with good laboratory practice including the maintenance of adequate research records.
• Engage in open and timely discussion with their mentor regarding possession or distribution of material, reagents, or records belonging to their laboratory and any proposed disclosure of findings or techniques privately or in publications.
• Collegial conduct towards mentors, co-trainees, staff members and members of the research group.
• Adherence to all applicable University policies, procedures and regulations. All data, research records and materials and other intellectual property generated in University laboratories remain the property of the University. Additional caution in handling data from external collaborators ensuring data safety and security measures.

This position works in a laboratory environment with potential exposure to biological and chemical hazards. The individual must be physically able to wear protective equipment and to provide standard care to research animals.

Base pay is commensurate with experience.

Required Qualifications:

Ph.D., M.D. Or Equivalent Terminal Or Doctoral Degree.

No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.

No specific work experience is required for this position.

Not Applicable

A driver's license is not required for this position.

• Have a 5-year term limit that includes previous experience.

No additional education unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

No additional work experience unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Collaboration, Data Analysis, Data Interpretations,…