Assistant Professor - CanBio

About the Role

The Department of Cancer Biology at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position. We seek an outstanding and highly motivated scientist who will establish an independent, externally funded research program addressing fundamental mechanisms relevant to cancer development, progression, and therapeutic response.

Research Focus Areas

The successful candidate will have expertise in one or more areas of genome stability, DNA damage response and repair, DNA replication and replication stress, telomere biology, chromatin biology, epigenetics, or gene regulation in cancer. Research programs that investigate how alterations in these fundamental cellular processes contribute to genomic instability, cancer initiation and progression, treatment resistance, or the identification of new therapeutic vulnerabilities are particularly encouraged.

Areas of interest may include, but are not limited to:

• Mechanisms of DNA damage recognition and repair
• Genome stability and chromosomal rearrangements
• DNA replication and replication stress
• Telomere maintenance and alternative mechanisms of telomere lengthening
• Chromatin organization and epigenetic regulation
• Interactions between DNA repair, replication, and chromatin signaling
• Molecular mechanisms underlying cancer development and therapeutic resistance
• Identification and validation of molecular vulnerabilities that may provide opportunities for new cancer therapies

Responsibilities

• Design and perform research focused on relevant research areas in Cancer Biology
• Interpret experimental results and data for use in publications and grants, and determine next steps needed to move the research forward
• Perform routine animal maintenance, surgery, and model generation
• Assist PI with drafting grant proposals and manuscripts
• Develop own research program including writing grant proposals and publication of research
• Train and mentor students, postdoctoral fellows, and research assistants
• Present research aims and findings at department seminars and at scientific meetings
• Write and publish results as first author in abstracts, manuscripts, and posters
• Interact with KU Cancer Center donors and local cancer affiliates
• Attend and maintain compliance on all orientation and training sessions designated by the University and the Cancer Biology Department
• Understand and follow IACUC and biosafety protocols
• Attend departmental seminars and regular lab meetings
• Perform routine lab maintenance and ordering of supplies
• Perform other duties as assigned by faculty mentor, including outreach to prospective minority students
• Participate in successful planning, execution, publication, and presentation of experiments

Qualifications

Required:

• Ph.D. in one of the biological, (bio)chemical, or (bio)engineering sciences
• Three or more years of research experience as a Postdoctoral Scholar or Research Scientist
• Critical thinking, interpersonal relationship, and technical skills
• Communication skills for presenting, grant writing and manuscript submittals

Preferred:

• Three or more years of research experience working in Cancer Biology or a related field
• Experience in managing collaborative research projects
• Advanced animal research experience
• Biochemical and/or biological knowledge
• Expert knowledge in DNA integrity research

Benefits

• Coverage begins on day one for health, dental, and vision insurance
• Health expense accounts with generous employer contributions if the employee participates in a qualifying health plan
• Employer-paid life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Various additional voluntary insurance plans available
• Paid time off, including vacation and sick, begins accruing upon hire
• Ten paid holidays plus one paid discretionary day available after six months of employment
• Paid time off for bereavement, jury duty, military service, and parental leave available after 12 months of employment
• Retirement program with a generous employer contribution
• Additional voluntary retirement programs (457 or 403b) available

Schedule

Full time