Staff Scientist - Oncology and Epigenetics

Summary

A staff scientist (research) position is immediately available in the Barbieri laboratory to study the molecular mechanisms regulating tumor initiation and progression in neuroblastoma, a pediatric cancer arising from sympatho-adrenal neural crest cells. The lab aims at understanding how MYCN drives undifferentiated, chemo-refractory, and metabolically distinct tumors, and developing novel approaches to intervention for high-risk MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma. Specifically, the lab is focused on the study of how MYCN interacts with specific epigenetic factors - such as CHAF1A - to drive oncogenesis, with particular emphasis on epigenetics, transcriptional regulation, cell differentiation and metabolism (Moreno-Smith et al. Nature Communications 2021; Tao et al. Advanced Science 2021; Tao et al. Nature Communications 2022). The Staff Scientist will use a combination of various cell and molecular biology approaches (including CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, ChIP-seq, RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, metabolomics and metabolic tracing), as well as different tumors models (transgenic, xenograft/PDX and syngeneic) and neural crest models to elucidate the epigenetic changes induced by MYCN and CHAF1A during neuroblastoma initiation and progression.

Job Duties

• Design and perform experimental studies that directly answer the above research questions, using both in vitro systems and animal models
• Collect and analyze data and presenting at national/international meetings
• Prepare manuscripts for publication
• Apply for external fellowships
• Mentor junior lab members

Minimum Qualifications

• Doctoral Degree. Experience may not be substituted in lieu of degree.
• Three years of post doctoral research experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior first author publications.
• Strong background in cancer biology, epigenetics, cell and molecular biology, and mouse models of cancer.
• Should be highly motivated to pursue an independent career in biomedical research.
• Background in cancer cell metabolism.

Baylor College of Medicine requires employees to be fully vaccinated -subject to approved exemptions-against vaccine-preventable diseases including, but not limited to, COVID-19 and influenza.

Baylor College of Medicine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Equal Access Employer.

12407

CA; CH; SN