Postdoctoral Fellow - Thoracic Head & Neck Medical Oncology

The Cascone Lab at the world-renowned University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is seeking one or more highly motivated and ambitious postdoctoral fellows to join a well-funded, dynamic, and question-driven research program focused on advancing the science of lung cancer immunology and immunotherapy.

Under the mentorship of Tina Cascone, M.D., Ph.D., a physician-scientist and Associate Professor with tenure, and Director of Translational Research in the Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, successful candidates will engage in innovative translational research aimed at unraveling the immune-mediated mechanisms of tumor response and resistance to therapy in non-small cell lung cancer.

This fellowship offers a unique and exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge, high-impact projects at the intersection of preclinical discovery and clinical application. Research will involve both state-of-the-art murine models and biospecimens from pioneering clinical trials testing immune checkpoint inhibitors as well as standard-of-care chemoimmunotherapy regimens in patients with surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer.

If you are passionate about translating scientific discovery into therapeutic innovation and thrive in a collaborative, mission-driven research environment, we encourage you to apply.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Key Research Focus

• Mechanistic studies of immune checkpoint blockade in lung cancer
• Analysis of tumor-immune interactions in response and resistance to therapy
• Regulation of systemic and local anti-tumor immunity under therapeutic pressure
• Utilization of syngeneic and genetically engineered mouse models
• Integration of human clinical data with experimental immunology
• Contribution to the development of novel combination strategies and biomarkers

What We Offer

• A collaborative, high-energy environment at a top-ranked cancer center
• Close mentorship from a physician-scientist involved in leading clinical trials
• Access to cutting-edge technologies, including immunogenomics, single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, flow cytometry, and immune profiling
• Opportunities for first-author publications, grant development, and career advancement
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits

All duties and responsibilities are carried out in compliance with institutional policies, ethical research standards, and applicable federal and state regulations.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Required:

• Ph.D., M.D./Ph.D., or equivalent in tumor immunology, molecular biology, cancer biology, or related fields
• Demonstrated experience with immune checkpoint inhibitors, T cell-based therapies, or tumor immunology
• Proficiency in handling and analyzing murine cancer models, particularly syngeneic systems
• Strong experimental, analytical, and communication skills
• Self-motivated, collaborative, and driven to make a scientific impact

Preferred (but not required):

• Familiarity with oncogenic signaling, biomarkers of response/resistance, or cancer metabolism
• Experience with multi-omics approaches, such as immunogenomics or transcriptomics
• Background in evaluating human tumor samples and integrating clinical data

ADDITIONAL APPLICATION INFORMATION

https://www.mdanderson.org/research/departments-labs-institutes/labs/cascone-laboratory.html

POSITION INFORMATION

MD Anderson offers full-time postdoc positions with a salary ranging from $64,000 to $76,000. depending on the number of years of postgraduate experience. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, paid time off, retirement, tuition benefits, educational opportunities, and individual and team recognition.

Offsite work arrangements are subject to approval and may be modified or revoked at any time based on business needs, performance considerations, or regulatory requirements.

This position may be responsible for maintaining the security and integrity of critical infrastructure, as defined in Section 113.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code and therefore may require routine reviews and screening. The ability to satisfy and maintain all requirements necessary to ensure the continued security and integrity of such infrastructure is a condition of hire and continued employment.

It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.html