Postdoctoral Associate

Summary

The Verma Lab in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Baylor College of Medicine is recruiting for a postdoctoral research associate with specialization in immunology, cancer biology and/or radiation biology. The successful candidate will work alongside a multidisciplinary team leveraging CRISPR screening, antibody discovery and protein engineering methodologies to design novel combination immunotherapy and radiation treatments with the goal of enhancing clinical outcomes for patients diagnosed with metastatic cancer.

Job Duties

• Performs in-vitro immune cell killing assays of cancer cells to evaluate the efficacy of combination immunotherapy and radiation treatments.
• Performs in-vivo studies using metastatic cancer mouse models to evaluate the efficacy of combination immunotherapy and radiation treatments.
• Designs and performs in-vitro CRISPR screens of regulators of homology-directed-repair of cancer cells following radiation treatment.
• Designs and performs in-vitro and in-vivo CRISPR screens interrogating the downstream effects of cGAS-STING pathway activation following radiation treatment.
• Organizes overall research plan and design, execute, and troubleshoot individual experiments.
• Maintains an organized and complete laboratory notebook detailing all experiments in electronic format utilizing Lab Archives.
• Meets with PI regularly and inform PI of all important positive and negative results.
• Follows operating instructions, troubleshoot breakdowns, maintain supplies, perform preventive maintenance, and call for repairs to keep equipment operating.
• Maintains a safe and healthy work environment by complying with regulations and following standards and procedures.
• Prepares manuscripts for scientific publication with PI supervision.
• Assists with the preparation of grant applications.
• Protects the organization's value by keeping research information confidential.
• Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities, networking and presenting at local, national, and international meetings, and reading current primary literature.
• Provides a friendly working environment and be available to teach laboratory techniques and scientific methodology to research technicians and other trainees. 

Minimum Qualifications

• MD or Ph.D. in Basic Science, Health Science, or a related field.
• No experience required.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in cancer biology and/or immunology.
• Previous work experience using CRISPR genome engineering technologies.
• Previous work experience with antibody design, production and purification.
• Experience with protein engineering approaches for the generation of bispecific and multi-specific antibodies will be an advantage.
• Experience with the generation and testing of CAR-T will be an advantage.
• A background in radiation oncology or radiation biology will be an advantage.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 

Baylor College of Medicine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Equal Access Employer.