Postdoctoral fellow positions are available in the laboratory of Dr. Xi Chen, Associate Professor and CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research at the Department of Experimental Therapeutics and the James P. Allison Institute at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The Chen laboratory studies how cancer and its immune microenvironment sense and respond to stresses and therapeutic insults to evade immune surveillance and develop drug resistance. We specialize in ER stress, immunology, Unfolded Protein Response (UPR), cancer biology, biochemistry, transgenic and preclinical animal models, and translational research. Our research aims to elucidate the significance and mechanisms of stress responses in therapy resistance and anti-tumor immunity and develop mechanism-based novel therapies to overcome therapy resistance and transform cancer into a manageable chronic disease (Nat Rev Cancer, 2021). Our study published in JCI revealed a critical role of the IRE1a/XBP1 branch of the UPR in mediating chemotherapy resistance and led to the first-in-human clinical trial of IRE1a RNase inhibitor. Our efforts in understanding proteostasis regulation revealed the direct crosstalk between oncogenic signaling and the protein quality control machinery and uncovered the mechanisms that account for the proteostasis rewiring in response to KRAS inhibition, allowing the drug-resistant cells to escape oncogenic KRAS addiction and gain resistance (Science, 2023). Another research area of the Chen laboratory focuses on ER Associated Degradation (ERAD). We discovered the crosstalk between ERAD complex and UPR in maintaining proteostasis and niche interactions (Nat Cell Biol, 2020, eLife, 2021). The highly interdisciplinary and collaborative environment of our group provides unique career development opportunities for the postdoc trainees. Several trainees have gotten independent faculty positions. Please refer to our representative publications for details: Science (PMID: 37676964; Nature Cell Biology (PMID: 32958856); JCI (PMID: 29480818); Nature Reviews Cancer (PMID: 33214692); Nature (PMID: 24670641); Cell (PMID: 18555785); Nature Immunology (PMID: 31086333): Nature Cell Biology (PMID: 30778220).

Job Specific Competencies:

Strong background and working knowledge in immunology, biochemistry, and cancer biology.

Expertise in flow cytometry, biochemistry, and animal models is strongly preferred.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The Postdoctoral Fellow's primary research focus is to help the PI merge mechanistic insights with the translational objectives of experimental therapeutics and the accompanying stratifications of genetic biomarkers to address unmet clinical needs in ovarian cancer. The Postdoctoral Fellow will train, learn, and study design, data analysis, and manuscript writing.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Required Experience:

Candidates with immunology, biochemistry, or molecular biology background and experiences.

Preferred Experience:

Expertise in flow cytometry, biochemistry, and animal models is strongly preferred. A strong sense of curiosity and willingness to explore different avenues.

POSITION INFORMATION

MD Anderson offers full-time postdoc positions with a salary ranging from $64,000 to $76,000 (https://trainees.mdanderson.org/apply/mdaPostdoctoralFellowStipendFY24.pdf) . depending on the number of years of postgraduate experience. MD Anderson trainee compensation also includes:

-Paid medical benefits (zero premium) starting on the first day for trainees who work 30 or more hours per week

-Group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability coverage

-Paid education, vacation, and sick leave

-Paid institutional holidays, wellness leave, childcare leave, and other paid leave programs

-Teachers Retirement System defined-benefit pension plan and two voluntary retirement plans

-Employer-paid life, AD&D, and an illness-related reduced salary pay program

-Health Savings Account and Dependent Care Reimbursement flexible spending accounts

-Fertility benefits

-State of Texas longevity pay

-Extensive wellness, fitness, employee health programs, and employee resource groups