FLSA: Salaried

Payscale Salary Range: UNIV-Band 0: Commensurate with experience.

Job Summary: Post-doctoral position to work full-time on oral cancer biology research at the intersection of drug resistance, metastasis, and drug discovery in a collaborative project on oral cancer between Dr. Pandruvada and Dr. Yilmaz laboratories in the department of Oral Health Sciences. The major research theme of the Dr. Pandruvada lab is to identify the mechanisms of host immune response, tumor growth, drug resistance/metastasis and target to overcome resistance/block metastasis. Dr. Yilmaz lab is uniquely dedicated to uncover the complex interplay between host epithelium and periodontopathic bacteria in the induction of microbial dysbiosis and pathophysiology in oral mucosa. Combining our expertise in high-throughput transcriptomics/proteomics approaches, bioinformatics/modeling tools, we focus on identifying novel targets overcoming resistance to state-of-art clinically applied or -tested drugs and preventing metastatic spread of oral cancer. Studies will use a range of complementary methods including biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, single cell transcriptomics/proteomics, functional cell-based assays, and mouse genetic models.

Additional details can be found at the link:

https://education.musc.edu/MUSCApps/facultydirectory/Pandruvada-Subramanya

https://education.musc.edu/MUSCApps/facultydirectory/Yilmaz-Ozlem

Candidates who have received a Ph.D. within the last 2 years and possess experience in cancer biology, in vivo cancer models, cell culture, molecular and cell biology techniques, protein biochemistry and confocal microscopy, and drug discovery are preferred. Salary will be commensurate with experience. Post-doctoral scholars will be part of a recently renewed inter-disciplinary NIDCR T32 research training program (DE 017551). This position is available immediately, and stipend levels follow NIH guidelines (NIH-funded T32 postdoctoral positions are restricted to U.S. citizens and permanent residents only).

Payscale Salary Range: UNIV-Band 0: Commensurate with experience.

Job Duties: 

• 30% - Collaborates with the PI and other lab members involved to design and executes experiments using state-of-the-art mouse models and cells prepared from these models to identify drivers of head and neck cancer growth and relapse. These duties included in vivo experiments, including treatment studies and orthotopic/subcutaneous tumor cell implantation, monitoring for development of disease/tumor growth, necropsies of experimental mice, genotyping of genetically-engineered mice and animal husbandry, and in vitro studies, including preparing cells from the models, cell culture, molecular (cell viability, IF, FACS analyses, immunoblotting, PCR, qPCR, reporter assays, IHC, ChIP), and functional genomic evaluation of gene expression and transcription factor binding to target genes, including standard RNAseq. Bacterial recombinant DNA work and lentiviral production for in vitro transfection and transduction experiments. - (Essential)
• 30% - Collaborates in collecting and analyzing data generated from the experiments. Duties include keeping accurate records daily, identifying and using appropriate software for analysis of data, collaborating with Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Research Shared Resources to ensure quality of the results, interpreting results, and planning new experiments. - (Essential)
• 30% - Collaborates in preparing manuscripts and grants based on the experimental data generated. Duties include keeping current with the literature, preparing figures based on data collected, writing manuscripts and sections of grants with the PI and senior team members, presenting current work in research in progress seminars, attending departmental seminars and participating in journal clubs. - (Essential)
• 10% - Helps with laboratory maintenance and regulatory compliance, e.g., ordering, cleanup of lab areas, maintenance of equipment, helping to prepare IACUC protocols and amendments when appropriate. Ordering of laboratory supplies, maintaining stocks of experimental reagents and solutions, maintaining equipment in good repair, glassware washing and general lab cleanliness. - (Essential)

Preferred Experience & Additional Skills: Strong organizational, record keeping, interpersonal and communication skills required. Must be able to perform complex calculations, to follow complicated experimental procedures and methods and develop independence with tasks and experiments. Preference will be given to candidates with experience with animal husbandry, and colony management. Prior experience in animal models, PCR and recombinant DNA work, RNA and protein analysis are required. Some weekend, holidays and/or evenings may be required. Experience in work with mouse genetic models is desirable.

Eligibility, Minimum Experience and Training Requirements: The candidate should be highly motivated with a recent Ph.D. degree and a solid background and skills in molecular/cell biology/microbiology and biochemistry.

Physical Requirements: Ability to perform job functions in an upright position. (Frequent) Ability to perform job functions in a seated position. (Continuous) Ability to perform job functions while walking/mobile. (Frequent) Ability to climb, using step stool. (Infrequent) Ability to work in temperature extremes (32o F to 100o F) when required due to assignments in cold rooms and/or foreign countries. (Infrequent) Ability to work in confined/cramped spaces. (Continuous) Ability to bend at the waist. (Frequent) Ability to twist at the waist. (Frequent) Ability to fully use both hands/arms. (Continuous) Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders. (Frequent) Ability to fully use both legs. (Frequent) Ability to reach in all directions, stretch, bend, while moving items/materials from both sitting and standing positions. (Frequent) Ability to maintain good olfactory sensory function/distinction. (Continuous) Ability to lift materials up to 20 lbs., unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift and carry 4-liter waste material bottles a distance of 30 feet, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to lift and carry 25-30 lbs. jugs of liquid a distance of 100 feet, unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift file boxes, from floor level to counter tops, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to push/ Ability to lift 40 lbs. centrifuge rotors from floor level to height of 40 inches, then down 20 inches into centrifuge drum, unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift 25 lbs. boxes, from floor level to maximum height of 72 inches, unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to push/pull file boxes from one location to another at floor level. (Frequent) Ability to maneuver heavy equipment on bench tops, 50 lbs. or greater, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements. (Continuous) Ability to maintain 20/20 vision, corrected. (Continuous) Ability to match or discriminate between colors, normally. (Continuous) Ability to hear and recognize various alarms emitting from work area systems. (Continuous) Ability to hear and/or understand conversations. (Continuous) Ability to work in a darkroom for processing film, etc. (Continuous) Ability to be qualified physically for respirator use, initially and annually. (Continuous)