Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Weeks Lab

Overview

The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute seeks a POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW under the Weeks Lab to work on an exciting project related to predicting the risk of therapy-related blood cancers in patients who received chemotherapy and radiation. The Weeks laboratory is a highly collaborative environment that utilizes multidisciplinary approaches focused on the early identification and risk stratification of blood cancers such as myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Housed within the Division of Population Sciences at Dana-Farber our work involves diverse scientists from various scientific domains and collaborations with division faculty members who are experts in human genetics, modeling cancer risk, risk mitigation, early detection, prevention, and cancer care delivery. The primary project will be a part of the Clonal Hematopoiesis Chemotherapy and Radiation Effects (CH CARE Study ), a longitudinal effort launched by the Weeks lab in 2024 to predict and prevent therapy-related MDS/AML survivors of solid tumors.

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.

Responsibilities

The postdoctoral fellowship work will focus on analysis of sequencing data from primary blood samples of cancer patients enrolled in the CH CARE Study before, during and after chemotherapy. Experience and interest in mutation calling from targeted next generation sequencing, whole genome sequencing, and whole exome sequencing approaches is preferred for this position. Interest in clinical algorithm development and dexterity with biostatistical coding in R or Python is a plus.

The primary goal of this aspect of the CH CARE Study is to combine serially obtained somatic and germline genetic data with clinical and demographic data to develop ML tools that predict the clonal hematopoiesis associated outcomes in patients receiving cytotoxic anti-cancer therapy. During the postdoctoral position, the candidate will evaluate and integrate existing tools and databases into high throughput pipelines and facilitate the display and the distribution of processed data. The data generated may provide support for novel clinical decision-making methods, identify novel biomarkers for rational drug discovery, and provide novel insights into hematopoietic biology through innovative analyses.

The person hired for this position will be expected to take the lead in the write-up of abstracts, manuscripts, and grants stemming from their research efforts. Participation in bi-weekly laboratory meetings and collaboration with other lab members at various stages of training are critical to success in this position.

The primary project is a collaborative effort between investigators at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and The Broad Institute with funding provided by the Edward P Evans Foundation for MDS . Motivated and productive candidates will find a wealth of opportunities to develop additional collaborative projects involving the analysis of human genetic data, human proteomics data, and clinical-genomic data sets.

Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in bioinformatics, genetics, statistics, mathematics, physical, or computer science, or MD with comparable research experience
• Considerable experience in computer programming and computational biological applications.
• A strong background in statistics and biology. Experience managing and curating large datasets and with machine learning techniques preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to perform both self-directed and guided research are required.
  • Candidates must submit a writing sample of 700-800 words in English describing a recent research project.
  • Candidates may be requested to present a 30-minute presentation to members of the lab on their research.
• Must demonstrate outstanding personal initiative and the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Must have the ability to meet deadlines and efficiently multitask.
• An ability to effectively collaborate across a range of individuals of varied experience levels, including formal and informal oral and written communication skills.
• An ability to seek out mentorship and assistance as needed, while also being a mentor to other members of the community.
• Willingness to work in multi-disciplinary teams.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

• Cancer biology background and/or strong interest
• Experience in Python and/or R is preferred.
• Experience with cloud computing is a plus.
• Willingness to learn new languages and tools as the field grows.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position may involve co-mentoring of students and other trainees joining the group, with opportunities for growth in developing multi-disciplinary teams that are project oriented.

Funding and support:

This is a fully funded position that will provide up to 2 years of postdoctoral salary with benefits. The person hired will supported in the process of applying for career development funding applications, including NIH K-level funding or comparable foundation awards. However, candidate support for the 2-year period is contingent upon performance and not the receipt of external funding.

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.

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.