Postdoctoral Research Associate

Overview

WashU Puram Lab seeks passionate and enthusiastic post-docs interested in tumor heterogeneity and cancer

A Postdoctoral Research Associate position is now open in the Puram Lab (PI: Sid Puram, MD, PhD) at WashU Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, integrated into the Departments of Genetics and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

Our research is dedicated to describing and investigating the mechanisms underlying tumor heterogeneity in head and neck cancers (squamous cell carcinoma, salivary gland cancers, and other tumors). We have advanced the application of single cell sequencing technologies to pursue this research, with our work providing a detailed atlas of an epithelial tumor through studies of head and neck cancer patients (Puram et al.,

Cell, 2017). Since then we have advanced the field with ongoing single cell and mechanistic work, with recent studies published in Nature Genetics, Nature Communications, Cell Reports Medicine, and Journal of Immuno Therapy of Cancer, among others.

WashU Medicine offers a highly interactive and stimulating environment for scientists in training. Post-doctoral candidates benefit from collaborative environments within the Departments of Genetics and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, as well as the Couch Biomedical Research Building. Career and professional development training for postdoctoral researchers is provided through the Career Center, Teaching Center, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, and campus groups. WashU is located in the Central West End in St.

Louis, adjacent to major restaurants and Forest Park. The position offers a competitive salary and benefits consistent with NIH guidelines.

• Perform and oversee 2-3 major research projects related to tumor heterogeneity and cancer biology, with opportunities to collaborate on additional projects as needed.
• Investigate mechanisms underlying tumor heterogeneity, including dysregulated signaling, metastasis, treatment resistance, and recurrence.
• Explore expression and epigenetic heterogeneity in head and neck cancers in contexts such as metastasis, recurrence, or treatment failure.
• Dissect pathways and mechanisms underlying changes in cell states (e.g., partial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition).
• Establish models of human tumors (e.g., patient-derived xenografts, PDX) and compare them to patient samples to advance mechanistic studies and translational relevance.
• Study the roles of immune cells and malignant cells in driving tumor immune responses.
• Utilize tissue culture, genome editing, invasion/proliferation assays, genomics, animal studies, and biochemical approaches (e.g., western blot, co-IP) as core techniques.

• PhD in a related field with relevant research experience in cancer biology and a strong track record of prior success and first-author (or co-first) publications.
• Excellent collaborative skills, communication, and independent scientific thinking.
• Skills in molecular biology, tumor sample processing, functional assays, and genomics are highly relevant.
• Experience with bioinformatics is valued.

Interested candidates should submit their CV, a cover letter describing their interest and qualifications, and a list of references to Dr. Sid Puram (sidpuram).