Job Description

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

The Beltran Lab in Dana-Farber Cancer Institute fosters a supportive environment offering excellent scope for professional growth. We provide robust mentorship for those on an academic track to pursue higher education. We also have numerous collaborations with pharmaceutical companies which provides networking opportunities and the ability to gain transferable skillsets for industry positions.

The Beltran Lab is focused on understanding mechanisms of treatment resistance in advanced prostate cancer through integration of clinical and molecular features of patients combined with preclinical modeling. We have used genomics and epigenomics to elucidate the molecular mechanisms driving lineage plasticity and evolution towards an androgen indifferent state. We are developing tissue and circulating biomarkers and novel therapeutic strategies for clinical translation. Our mission is to make discoveries that improve the way we manage and treat patients with advanced prostate cancer:   

We utilize a variety of molecular biology and genomic and epigenomic approaches to understand prostate cancer disease progression, therapy resistance, and tumor heterogeneity both in patients and in preclinical models. We are particularly focused on the emerging subset of advanced prostate cancers that lose androgen receptor dependence as a mechanism of treatment resistance, associated with lineage plasticity and a change in clinical and pathologic characteristics towards a small cell/neuroendocrine phenotype.  Current projects include: 1) Defining and validating the essential genes during neuroendocrine prostate cancer progression using genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9 screening approaches to identify novel therapeutic targets; 2) Understanding the genetic, epigenetic, and phenotypic changes that drive cancer progression through bulk and single cell molecular analyses of tumor biopsies and patient-derived models; 3) Elucidating the mechanism, timing, and cooperation of identified drivers including MYCN, AURKA, EZH2, RB1, and others; 4)  Characterization and preclinical testing of novel epigenetic and immune -based therapeutic approaches and combination strategies to treat, revert, or prevent non-AR driven resistance.  Research in the laboratory ranges from basic mechanistic investigation of cancer gene function to highly translational genomic and functional studies of patient-derived tissues from clinical trials. Team members work in a highly collaborative environment that includes laboratory investigators, clinical investigators, and computational biologists. We are seeking an enthusiastic, dedicated, and hardworking post-doctoral scientist to join our team. The successful candidate will have a strong interest in cancer biology and therapeutics with experience in molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics/genomics or biochemistry.

• Performing cell and molecular biology research including but not limited to 2D and 3D cell culture, genetic manipulation through shRNA/CRISPR, protein/RNA/DNA analyses including Western blotting, RNA-seq, IP-MS, and ChIP-seq.
• Lentiviral transduction techniques for ORF-overexpression experiments or RNAi and CRISPR-Cas9 knockdown/knockout experiments.
• Performing a variety of basic cancer biology assays, including in vitro proliferation or apoptosis assays, drug sensitivity assays, soft agar assays and in vivo xenograft experiments.
• Working with a team of experimental and computational biologists to analyze and interpret sequencing data as well as gain- and loss-of-function genetic or pharmacologic screening data. 
• Performing detailed characterization and cellular mechanism of action studies of genetic or pharmacologic screening hits.
• Performing preclinical translational studies in mouse models of cancer.
• Effectively work with research technicians and cross-functional project teams
• Maintaining accurate records, writing reports, and preparing/giving presentations.

At Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we work every day to create an innovative, caring, and inclusive environment where every patient, family, and staff member feels they belong.  As relentless as we are in our mission to reduce the burden of cancer for all, we are equally committed to diversifying our faculty and staff.  Cancer knows no boundaries and when it comes to hiring the most dedicated and diverse professionals, neither do we. If working in this kind of organization inspires you, we encourage you to apply. 

• MD, PhD or MD/PhD in biological sciences or equivalent
• Strong work ethic, positive attitude, and team-centered mentality
• A strong background in molecular and/or cell biology, biochemistry, genomics, or cancer biology.
• Experience with genomics, functional genetic screens or mouse models of cancer (xenografts, PDXs, GEMMs) and/or computational skills including computer programming are of interest.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• The ability to perform both self-directed and guided research is required. 
• Must demonstrate outstanding ability to work effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team of scientists.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

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About Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute brings together world renowned clinicians, innovative researchers and dedicated professionals, allies in the common mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS and related diseases. Combining extremely talented people with the best technologies in a genuinely positive environment, we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all ages; we conduct research that advances treatment; we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers; we reach out to under-served members of our community; and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

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