Job Description

Postdoctoral positions are available in the laboratory of Helen Piwnica-Worms, Ph.D., at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The Piwnica-Worms Laboratory focuses on identifying alterations with functional significance to the development and progression of breast cancer and translating results from basic, omic and preclinical studies into improved clinical interventions for cancer patients. Recognizing that a key challenge facing cancer researchers today is the lack of good preclinical models for studying human breast cancer the lab generates and works with primary human breast tumors obtained directly from patients with triple negative breast cancer. These tumors are being propagated in the humanized mammary fat pads of immune compromised mice for discovery, omic and preclinical studies. Potential projects include (1) identifying drivers of breast cancer metastasis, (2) identifying, characterizing and targeting tumor cells present in treatment naïve TNBC that are resistant to front line therapy; (3) defining features that enable indolent breast cancer to advance to aggressive disease.

Requirements:


Applicants must have a recent Ph.D. (or equivalent) with experience in cancer genomics, cell biology, biochemistry, genetics or related fields. Applicants must have at least one first author publication in a high quality journal as well as a high level of written and oral communication skills in English. Experience working with mice is preferred.

Application Process: Interested applicants should submit a cover letter specifying past accomplishments, a curriculum vitae, and the contact information of three references to to Helen Piwnica-Worms, Ph.D., at
hpiwnica-worms@mdanderson.org.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until positions are filled.