Postdoctoral Fellow - DNA Metabolism in Cancer, Aging & Immunity

About City of Hope

City of Hope's mission is to deliver the cures of tomorrow to the people who need them today. Founded in 1913, City of Hope  has grown into one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the U.S. and one of the leading research centers for diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses. City of Hope research has been the basis for numerous breakthrough cancer medicines , as well as human synthetic insulin and monoclonal antibodies. With an independent, National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center at its core, City of Hope brings a uniquely integrated model to patients spanning cancer care, research and development, academics and training, and innovation initiatives. City of Hope’s growing national system includes its Los Angeles campus, a network of clinical care locations across Southern California, a new cancer center in Orange County, California, and treatment facilities in Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix. City of Hope’s affiliated group of organizations includes Translational Genomics Research Institute  and AccessHopeTM . For more information about City of Hope, follow us on Facebook , Twitter , YouTube , Instagram  and LinkedIn .

City of Hope’s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We believe diversity, equity and inclusion is key in serving our mission to provide compassionate patient care, drive innovative discovery, and advance vital education focused on eliminating cancer and diabetes in all of our communities.  Our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ensures we bring the full range of skills, perspectives, cultural backgrounds and experiences to our work -- and that our teams align with the people we serve in order to build trust and understanding.  We are dedicated to fostering a community that embraces diversity - in ideas, backgrounds and perspectives; this is reflected in our work and represented in our people.

Position Summary and Key Responsibilities:

Postdoctoral positions are now available in the laboratory of Dr. Yilun Liu at the Department of Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope.  Dr. Liu’s research topics include: 

• Dissecting the molecular mechanism by which transcription-associated genomic instability and epigenetic deregulation contribute to developmental abnormalities and cancer.
• Developing pharmaceutical mechanisms for cancer therapy by targeting enzymes important for preventing the formation of DNA breaks arose during accelerated cell growth such as in cancer cells as well as factors important for the BRCA2 and PARP-dependent repair pathways to keep these DNA breaks unrepaired.
• Exploring the role of mitochondrial DNA in cancer pathogenesis and in immune response.
• Targeting SUMOylation of topoisomerase I in chemo- and immuno-therapies.    

Basic education, experience and skills required for consideration:

• A Ph.D. degree in life or biomedical sciences, or a related discipline is required.
• Experience in biochemistry and/or cell biology is preferred.

Additional information:

• Dr. Liu’s research is currently supported by NIH R01 grants from National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Institute of General Medical Science (NIGMS) and a grant from Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. 
• Dr. Liu’s group has published in journals, including Nature Communications, Cell Reports, EMBO Journal and PNAS. A full list of publications can be found at
• My Bibliography or Google Scholar .
• For more information on Dr. Liu’s research please visit, here .
• The estimated pay scale represents the typical [salary/hourly] range City of Hope reasonably expects to pay for this position, with offers determined based on several factors which may include, but not be limited to, the candidate’s experience, expertise, skills, education, job scope, training, internal equity, geography/market, etc.  This pay scale is subject to change from time to time.
• As a condition of employment, City of Hope requires staff to comply with all state and federal vaccination mandates.

City of Hope is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

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