Postdoctoral Research Associate - Computational Sciences

The project aims to discover the unique features of tumor immune microenvironment in childhood cancer and secondary neoplasms in adult survivors of childhood cancer. By leveraging the publicly available single-cell sequencing data generated from patient samples and mouse models, we will enhance and apply machine-learning based algorithms to deconvolute bulk tumor RNA-seq samples to distinct immune cell populations which may involve targeted validation by working with a collaborator. Bulk tumor samples will include those of fresh-frozen material of pediatric cancer patients and archive FFPE RNA-seq samples of secondary neoplasms (breast and thyroid cancers). The resulting findings may inspire developing new immunotherapy approaches to overcome existing bottleneck due to tumor microenvironment of pediatric cancer patients and discover the impact of therapeutic exposure on development of secondary neoplasms in adult survivors.

Position Responsibilities:

• Evaluate bulk-tumor deconvolution algorithms to select the best performer for this study. This may involve re-training of existing models to ensure the features are appropriate for pediatric cancers and incorporation of publicly available single-cell RNA-seq data for testing and validation.
  
• Perform data analysis on large-scale RNA-seq data in pediatric cancer. This may involve the analysis of both scRNA-seq, bulk RNA-seq as well as new single-cell full-length RNA-seq data generated from PacBio platform.
  
• Presentation of findings to external collaborators (immunotherapy and possibly surgery) at the joint meetings.
  
• Development of K99/R00 grant will be highly encouraged and supported.
  

Minimum Education and/or Training:

• Requires a PhD degree in biomedical research and bioinformatics data analysis training
  

Special Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

• Experience of genomic data analysis, mammalian genomics and software development are required. Prior experience in machine-learning/AI and cancer research are preferred. Candidates who are self-motivated, require limited supervision and high-level of independence are highly desirable.
  

About the lab and St. Jude:

Our lab focuses on computational methods development and large-scale genomic/genetic analysis on cancer and other disease samples. Postdoctoral fellows will be mentored for the state-of-art genomic analysis skills, in particular how to distinguish true findings from artifacts due to a multitude of confounding factors, with opportunities for participating activities for academic career development. Trainees are encouraged to develop and explore their own ideas under the PI's guidance, which is accompanied by rigorous training on project management skills. They will have access to state-of-the-art computing for high-throughput data analysis and molecular profiling technology. Our lab has a great track record of having 12 former trainees/staffs becoming independent investigators at the rank from assistant to full professors in prominent biomedical research institutes and multiple alumni holding director-level positions in industry.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is a world-class research institution dedicated to pediatric cancer and other catastrophic diseases of childhood. The first and only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Our 300-faculty work across the spectrum of basic, translational, clinical, and population science in a highly collaborative multidisciplinary environment that includes a Nobel laureate and members of the National Academy of Science and the National Academy of Medicine. St. Jude is ranked on Fortune Magazine's "Best Workplaces in Health Care & Biopharma" and Glassdoor's "Best Places to Work," and is located in the heart of Memphis, Tennessee, a vibrant and friendly city at the historic American crossroads of music, trade, food and culture.

We are in pursuit of the brightest minds in biomedical sciences, individuals poised to contribute to our research progress. Other than access to top-quality scientists and mentors, as a postdoctoral trainee at St. Jude, you will have:

A Blend of Academic Freedom and Industrial Efficiency : Access to shared resources and facilities led by expert scientists, coupled with cutting-edge technology, accelerates research productivity.

Customized Professional and Career Growth: Experience specifically designed programs to enhance professional growth and career readiness empowering postdocs for success beyond their training. This includes access to grant writing workshops, individual development plans, teaching and mentoring opportunities, non-research career advancement programs, professional development allowance, and so much more.

Competitive Compensation: Embark on your journey with a competitive salary starting at $72,500 a year, comprehensive benefits and generous relocation assistance, reflecting our commitment to recognize and invest in talent.

A Sense of Community: St. Jude fosters a vibrant postdoc community that supports a well-balanced life. A dynamic environment promotes connections and camaraderie among postdocs from all backgrounds.

St. Jude is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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