Postdoctoral Fellow in Spatial Transcriptomics and Metabolomics

We are recruiting postdoctoral fellows interested in developing novel spatial transcriptomic and metabolomic techniques for the study of melanoma metastasis and immunotherapy responses to aggressive skin cancers. The postdoctoral researcher will undertake two projects described below:

Project 1: Studying the spatial distribution, functional status, and cellular composition of the tumor microenvironment as it relates to immunotherapy response in melanoma, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, and Merkel cell carcinoma. The goal is to identify drivers of therapeutic response and ultimately derive novel targets to address immunotherapy resistance.

Project 2: Studying the role of metabolic heterogeneity and cross-talk in melanoma CNS metastases and drug resistance. This project will incorporate both basic and translational research, but the overall aim is to transform the clinical care of late-stage melanoma patients.

Successful candidates will be working at the interface of cancer biology and data science.  The successful candidate will collaborate closely with a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics to develop innovative analysis platforms for spatial transcriptomic and metabolomic techniques for their work. They will also interact with a team of cancer biologists, immunologists, mathematical modeling experts, computational biologists, and clinicians at Moffitt Cancer Center (Tampa, FL) to conduct research in a highly collaborative environment. Ideal candidates have demonstrated expertise in signal transduction, metabolism, drug resistance, metastasis or single-cell analysis studies.

Position highlights:

Studying the functionality of tumor heterogeneity, including metabolic symbiosis Improving our understanding of interactions between the tumor and the TME Developing cutting edge techniques for spatial RNAseq and metabolomics In addition to the research, the position will have a focus on career development including grant writing, scientific writing/presentation, mentorship of junior members of the lab, networking, and building collaborations.   Co-mentorship by two NCI-funded investigators in a collaborative environment as part of a unique multidisciplinary training program bridging cancer biology and data science.

 

Responsibilities:

Working with patient specimens (acquisition, processing, preparation for analysis, biochemical screening), establishing and maintaining tumor cell cultures, cellular signaling and phenotypic assays, establishing in vivo models, metabolic assays, and proteomic analysis. Providing intellectual input on steering the project Developing novel technical approaches Mentoring graduate students and technicians Composing manuscripts and postdoctoral fellowships, assisting with grant applications

 

Credentials and qualifications:

PhD in Cancer Biology, Molecular Biology, or a related field (required) Strong written and oral communication skills and the ability to work independently and with collaborators.

 

Moffitt Postdocs are provided free employee-only Medical and are eligible for Dental, Vision, Paid Time Off, Retirement, Parental Leave and more. With a move to Tampa, you may be eligible for relocation allowance. Reason to relocate, aside from the sunshine, beaches and year-round outdoor recreation associated with the Gulf Coast of Florida, Tampa is a thriving metropolitan city with unique cultural attractions and high quality of life. We strive for work/life balance.

 

How to apply

Candidates should e-mail the following documents to [email protected] and [email protected]

1) A cover letter that describes their motivation to pursue this position, why they would be the perfect fit for these projects and summarizes past research accomplishments. They should also include a summary of what expectations/goals they have for this fellowship.

2) A current CV with recent publications and contact information for three references.