Position Summary

A postdoctoral position is open immediately in the laboratory of Dr. Kian Lim at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO. The interdisciplinary position will focus on studying cancer biology and immunology with an emphasis on treatment resistance to targeted therapeutics such as RAS, MAPK, PI3K-mTOR and VEGF pathway inhibitors using various pancreatic, gastric, colon and lung cancer patient-derived models. The ultimate goal of these projects is to develop novel therapeutic combinations that can be advanced into the clinic, which is a strength of our GI Oncology group. Required skill set includes typical wet bench assays such as western blots, 2D and organoid cell cultures, various in vitro assays, molecular cloning, RNA interference and CRISPR/Cas9 techniques, flow cytometry, and qPCR. The successful applicant must be able to handle multiple xenograft/cell line models and work collaboratively with other members/groups. Experience and skills in handling experimental mice are required. For more details, please visit Lim Lab website at sites.wustl.edu/limlab/ .

Information on being a postdoc at Washington University in St. Louis can be found at https://postdoc.wustl.edu/prospective-postdocs-2/ .

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Trains under the supervision of a faculty mentor including (but not limited to):

• Manages their own project independently under the guidance of the PI, which should lead to first author publications within a reasonable timeframe.
• Develops expertise in identifying therapeutic combinations based on solid scientific rationale and robust preclinical data.
• Develops proficiency in career skills, including writing, public speaking, networking, and critical evaluation of scientific literature.
• Presents scientific work both inside and outside the University with excellent oral communication skills.
• Assists with grant preparation and reporting.
• Prepares and submits papers on research with excellent writing skills.
• Designs research experiments.
• Evaluates research findings and reports results in a robust and reproducible manner.
• Conscientious discharge of his/her research responsibilities.
• Maintains conformity with ethical standards in research.
• Maintains compliance with good laboratory practice including the maintenance of adequate research records and assigned lab duties.
• Engages in open and timely discussion with his/her mentor regarding possession or distribution of material, reagents, or records belonging to their laboratory and any proposed disclosure of findings or techniques privately or in publications.
• Collegial conduct towards co-trainees, staff members and members of the research group. Adherence to all applicable University policies, procedures and regulations. All data, research records and materials and other intellectual property generated in University laboratories remain the property of the University.

Required Qualifications

Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent terminal or doctoral degree.

Preferred Qualifications

• A strong background in in vivo and in vitro cancer assays, molecular biology and rodent biology are essential.
• Ability to adopt new skills especially immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry is critical.
• Prior experience in informatics/programming (Python, R), analysis or omics data isn’t required, but interest in pursuing these techniques is essential.
• Importantly, successful candidate is expected to have strong motivation, self-discipline and enthusiasm for translational oncology research.

Working Conditions

This position works in a laboratory environment with potential exposure to biological and chemical hazards. The individual must be physically able to wear protective equipment and to provide standard care to research animals.

Salary Range

Base pay is commensurate with experience.

External Applicant Instructions

When you are ready to apply, creating an account only takes a minute. Your account creates a candidate home page which we will use to communicate with you and allows you to apply for jobs and view your application statuses. The first page of the application offers two “Quick Apply” options. Quick Apply allows you to either use a previous application or create a new application using a resume to populate the work experience and education sections of your job application. If using a resume to populate your application, check to ensure the application fields populated accurately. You may skip the “Quick Apply” page by clicking “Next” at the bottom of the page. Documents may be uploaded in the My Experience section of the application. You also have the option to apply with a LinkedIn feature, which allows you to apply by using your LinkedIn profile to populate some of the job application fields.

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu  or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

Pre-Employment Screening
All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to providing a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to our employees. Benefits eligibility is subject to employment status, full-time equivalent (FTE) workload, and weekly standard hours. Please visit our website at https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/ to view a summary of benefits.

EEO/AA Statement
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and especially encourages applications by those from underrepresented groups. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.

Diversity Statement
Washington University is dedicated to building a diverse community of individuals who are committed to contributing to an inclusive environment – fostering respect for all and welcoming individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Individuals with a commitment to these values are encouraged to apply.