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.

Postdoctoral Associate Duties (Reitman Lab)

The goal of the Reitman Lab (https://radonc.duke.edu/research/reitman-lab ) is to make discoveries that guide the design of improved treatment strategies for children and adults with brain tumors. We leverage molecular biology techniques, genetically engineered mouse models, and cancer genomic approaches to carry out our work. The Reitman Lab is based in the Department of Radiation Oncology and the team works closely with the faculty and staff in the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke, the Department of Pathology, and the Department of Neurosurgery, and the Duke Cancer Institute.  We are interested in several research themes, including:

 (1) using primary genetically engineered mouse models of pediatric and adult brain tumors to study mechanisms of tumorigenesis, mechanisms of treatment resistance, and candidate therapeutic strategies

(2) identifying new therapeutic dependencies associated with frequent cancer mutations

(3) identifying methods to increase the efficacy and decrease toxicity of radiation therapy for brain tumor patients

(4) using single-cell genomic techniques to understand tumor heterogeneity, to define brain tumor lineage of origin, and to improve diagnosis and treatment for brain tumor patients

The successful candidate will be to take a lead role on a new project to investigate interactions between the immune system and new treatments in mouse models of diffuse midline glioma, a lethal brain tumor that affects children and adults.  The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in molecular biology or a similar field.  An ideal candidate will have experience in with the following skill sets: immunoblot, molecular cloning, PCR, mammalian cell culture, flow cytometry, genetically engineered mouse colony maintenance, immunohistochemistry, light and fluorescence microscopy.  An ideal candidate will be motivated to synthesize the data from the project and work together on manuscripts with the PI.  The candidate will also serve as a leader in the lab, and help mentor other lab staff and trainees in new techniques and critical thinking skills.

The job duties include the following:

·       Organize overall research plan, and design individual experiments.

·       Develop and utilize novel and existing mouse models of brain tumors.

·       Design and perform experiments involving ionizing radiation treatments to mice and cell lines.

·       Design and perform experiments in genetically engineered mouse models of brain tumors, gene editing, molecular cloning, cell biology and biochemistry.

·       Care for laboratory mice.

·       Develop and utilize technology for analyzing signal transduction in vitro and vivo.

·       Prepare manuscripts for scientific publication with PI supervision.

·       Maintain an organized and complete electronic laboratory notebook detailing all experiments in paper and electronic formats.

·       Keep PI informed by pointing out all important positive and negative results.

·       Keep equipment operating by following operating instructions; troubleshooting breakdowns; maintaining supplies; performing preventive maintenance; and calling for repairs.

·       Maintain a safe and healthy work environment by complying with regulations and following standards and procedures.

·       Protect the organization's value by keeping research information confidential.

·       Update job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities, networking and presenting at local, national, and international meetings, and reading current primary literature.

·       Provide a friendly working environment and be available to help teach research technicians and other trainees laboratory techniques and scientific methodology.

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 (5 years with a possible extension for an additional year)

·        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 t o publish the results of their research or scholarship during the period of the appointment.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

See job description for education requirements.

Experience

See job description for requirements.

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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.