POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE

School of Medicine Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation's top medical schools. Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe. Composed of more than 2,500 faculty physicians and researchers, more than 1,300 students, and more than 6,000 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, Duke University Health System and the Private Diagnostic Clinic (PDC) comprise Duke Health. a world-class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.

Occ Summary

A post-doctoral position is available out Tumor Immunobiology Laboratory with the goal of developing novel, safe, and effective immune-based therapies for patients with primary and metastatic brain tumors. Our preclinical and clinical projects are spearheaded by an outstanding complement of graduate students, medical students, research associates, postdoctoral fellows, and junior and senior scientists assembled under the umbrella of the Duke Brain Tumor Center that covers a wide area of research:

https://tischbraintumorcenter.duke.edu/research/basic-translational-research/khasraw-lab

https://tischbraintumorcenter.duke.edu/research/basic-translational-research

A main focus of the program is Immunotherapeutic approaches that include vaccines, biologics such as antibodies, bispecific antibodies, oncolytic viruses, recombinant chemokines/cytokines T cell based and other novel cellular therapies. This position will involve basic and translational research focused on primary and metastatic CNS cancers and their microenvironment cell state and immune interactions and how these change during glioma evolution. We dissect mechanisms of response and resistance to immunotherapy using a hybrid of dry and wet lab approaches allowing us to generate and analyze data from emerging technologies including bulk and single cell genomics and immune assays to better answer our biologically driven questions. The projects we have in the lab fall into three main categories:

Therapeutic strategies are already in clinical trials, and we have biospecimens from patients that have received these therapies that we need to analyze.

Therapies that are yet to be evaluated in vitro or in vivo preclinical models with the ultimate objective to translate the findings to clinical trials in human subjects.

Basic science projects that aim to answer fundamental biological questions.

The postdoctoral research associate will have access to all laboratory equipment and supplies necessary within the Duke Brain Tumor Center.

Candidates will be encouraged to pursue studies and shape their own projects using our available resources, datasets and tools that are available to the lab, at Duke or through our national and international collaborations and from large clinical trials using an extremely sophisticated immunological, computational and technological infrastructure. We have a very rich collaborative network, both institutionally as well as externally with academia, non-profit and pharmaceutical partners with opportunities for involvement and contribution to large and ambitious projects with significant impact on health and disease.

Our institution is well equipped with cutting edge technology. Combined, we offer a supportive environment that is highly conducive to effectively working towards a great future.

If you are a PhD-level or MD-level scientist with first author publications and an interest in cancer genomics, we strongly encourage you to apply! We look for candidates with computational expertise and preferable previous work in cancer.

Qualifications:
•                  MD; or PhD in genetics, computational biology, immunology, molecular/cell biology, or other quantitative science
•                  Prior research experience in the following areas will be preferred: cancer, quantitative biology
•                  Track record of productivity supported by first-author publications in peer-reviewed journals
•                  Outstanding writing and communication skills, with an ability to work both independently and within collaborative teams productively

Candidates should be enthusiastic about collaborative and interdisciplinary research, productive, and highly motivated to develop as independent scientists.

We have a strong track record for successfully transitioning postdoctoral fellows to independent grant funding and faculty positions. Duke University is in the vibrant research environment of the Research Triangle Park in Durham, North Carolina.

Min Degree Requirements:  Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate (e.g. Sc.D., M.D., D.V.M.).  Should be used for post-doctoral fellows if the candidate has completed all of the requirements for a degree, but the degree has not been formally conferred; the candidate may present evidence of completion of the degree requirements, together with a statement documenting the date on which the degree is to be conferred.

Other Credential/Experiential Requirements:  The incumbent must be a true post-doctoral fellow registered with the Post Doc Office and per the following requirements:

• The term of this appointment is limited
• The appointment involves substantially full-time research or scholarship, which may include teaching responsibilities.
• The appointment is viewed as preparatory for a full time academic or research career.
• The appointment is not part of a clinical research training program, unless research training under the supervision of a senior mentor is a primary purpose of the appointment.
• The appointee works under the supervision of a scholar or a department at Duke University.
• The appointee has the freedom, and is expected to publish the results of his or her research or scholarship during the period of the appointment.

Minimum Qualifications
Education

See job description for education requirements.

Experience

See job description for requirements.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.