Postdoctoral Fellow - Translational Molecular Pathology

EXPERIMENTAL LUNG CANCER BIOLOGY, IMMUNOLOGY, AND INTERCEPTION

The Humam Kadara Laboratory in the Department of Translational Molecular Pathology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is seeking talented and highly motivated postdoctoral fellows to investigate the cellular and ecological mechanisms governing the earliest stages of lung cancer development and to identify new strategies for cancer prevention and interception.

Our laboratory studies the evolution of lung adenocarcinoma from normal lung tissue through premalignancy and invasive cancer. Areas of particular interest include injury-induced epithelial plasticity; KRT8-positive alveolar intermediate and progenitor cells; oncogenic KRAS signaling; inflammatory and immune microenvironments; tumor-immune co-evolution; and the contribution of the host microbiome to lung cancer pathogenesis. The laboratory combines human tissues with genetically engineered and carcinogen-associated mouse models, lineage tracing, organoid systems, preclinical intervention studies, and state-of-the-art single-cell and spatial profiling technologies.

The successful candidate will lead mechanistic studies examining how epithelial cell states, environmental or inflammatory injury, oncogenic signaling, and immune-cell niches interact to initiate and promote lung cancer. The fellow will also investigate how vulnerabilities arising during these early stages can be targeted through mechanism-based prevention and interception strategies.

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

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The postdoctoral fellow will:

• Develop advanced expertise in experimental cancer biology, lung epithelial biology, tumor immunology, and cancer prevention and interception.
• Learn and master relevant in vivo, ex vivo, and molecular approaches for investigating lung cancer initiation and progression.
• Develop rigorous skills in experimental design, quantitative data analysis, interpretation, reproducibility, and translational validation.
• Gain experience integrating mechanistic experimental findings with single-cell, spatial, genomic, and immunogenomic data.
• Lead the preparation of manuscripts and scientific presentations and contribute to fellowship and grant applications.
• Develop skills in scientific writing, oral communication, mentoring, networking, career planning, and other areas important for an independent scientific career.

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

Depending on the candidate's experience and interests, research activities may include:

• Designing and conducting studies using genetically engineered, lineage-tracing, carcinogen-associated, and other human-relevant mouse models of lung cancer development.
• Establishing and manipulating primary-cell, organoid, and other ex vivo model systems.
• Performing molecular and cellular assays, flow cytometry, tissue processing, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, microscopy, and genetic or pharmacologic perturbation studies.
• Conducting preclinical intervention studies targeting oncogenic, inflammatory, immune, or epithelial-plasticity pathways.
• Interpreting single-cell sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, multiplex imaging, and related multimodal data.
• Working closely with computational scientists, pathologists, immunologists, pulmonary biologists, and clinical investigators to connect experimental findings with human lung tissues and high-dimensional molecular data.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants should have a Ph.D., M.D./Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in cancer biology, molecular or cellular biology, immunology, pulmonary biology, genetics, pathology, microbiology, or a closely related discipline.

Candidates should have:

• A strong foundation in molecular and cellular biology and a demonstrated commitment to mechanistic biomedical research.
• Hands-on experience with relevant experimental approaches, such as mouse models, animal procedures, mammalian cell culture, primary-cell or organoid systems, molecular biology, genetic manipulation, flow cytometry, microscopy, immunohistochemistry, or immunofluorescence.
• The ability to design, execute, troubleshoot, and interpret experiments with increasing independence.
• Evidence of research productivity, including peer-reviewed publications or strong manuscripts in preparation.
• Excellent organizational, collaborative, spoken, and written communication skills.

Experience with mouse models of cancer or tissue injury, lineage tracing, lung biology, tumor immunology, preclinical therapeutic studies are highly desirable. Previous computational expertise is not required, although an interest in interpreting high-dimensional molecular data and collaborating with computational investigators is encouraged.

This appointment is not part of a clinical training program. Individuals holding an M.D. degree or equivalent are not permitted to engage in patient-care activities as part of this position.

ADDITIONAL APPLICATION INFORMATION

Applicants should email the following materials to Humam Kadara, Ph.D., at hkadara@mdanderson.org:

1. A cover letter describing the applicant's previous research, relevant experimental expertise, scientific interests, and reasons for pursuing postdoctoral training in the Kadara Laboratory.

2. A current curriculum vitae, including a complete publication list.

3. The names and contact information of three professional references.

4. The applicant's anticipated availability or preferred start date.

Please use the email subject line: Experimental Postdoctoral Fellow Application - [Applicant Name].

Additional information about the Kadara Laboratory is available on the Kadara Laboratory website: https://www.mdanderson.org/research/departments-labs-institutes/labs/kadara-laboratory.html. The laboratory provides a collaborative training environment in which fellows interact with multidisciplinary teams of basic scientists, computational scientists, pathologists, physicians, and physician-scientists.

Representative publications include Sinjab et al., Cancer Discovery (2021); Rahal et al., Cancer Immunology Research (2024), Han et al., Nature (2024); and Peng et al., Cancer Cell (2026). These studies have defined the spatial and cellular architecture of early lung adenocarcinoma, characterized immune-cell states associated with disease evolution, identified KRT8-positive alveolar intermediate cells as potential precursors of lung adenocarcinoma, and uncovered inflammatory epithelial-immune niches that may be targeted for early cancer interception.

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

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