Assistant Professor in the Basser Center for BRCA in partnership with the Department of Cancer Biology

Description

The Department of Cancer Biology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in collaboration with the Basser Center for BRCA seek candidates for an Assistant Professor position in the tenure track. Applicants must have a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. degree.

Responsibilities

• Teaching: May include focused classroom teaching in an existing area of expertise as well as mentoring graduate and undergraduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and other research trainees.
• Research or Scholarship: May include establishment and maintenance of an externally funded, independent research program that leads to impactful publications focused on breast, ovarian, prostate, or pancreas cancer, or other cancers associated with inherited mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. degree
• Demonstrated high-quality scholarship through publication in peer-reviewed journals and independent research funding
• Either achieved success in areas broadly related to BRCA-associated cancers, or have an established focus on the biology of breast, ovarian, pancreas or prostate cancers accompanied by future research plans to investigate the role of BRCA1/2 in these cancers

Areas of Particular Interest

• Investigation of the haploinsufficient state and how this leads to cancer
• Tissue specificity related to BRCA1 and BRCA2 (why cancers emerge from breast, ovarian, prostate and pancreas when all cells in affected individuals are heterozygous)
• Hormonal influences on DNA repair and tumorigenesis
• Early detection of cancer
• Models of cancer initiation and interception

Application Requirements

Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis, but to ensure full consideration applicants are encouraged to apply by September 1.

Required documents:

• Cover letter (1 page max): Highlight past and proposed research and its synergies with Penn Cancer Biology, Basser Center, and the University
• Curriculum vitae: Highlight 3 to 5 impactful publications using several sentences to provide context about the specific advances for the field and the candidate's role in these studies
• Anonymized Executive Summary (1 page max): Provide brief, anonymized responses to: 1) your two most important research contributions to date; 2) your vision for your independent research program, including "big picture" questions you plan to address; 3) how your work will contribute to the mission of the Basser Center; 4) any contributions to teaching, mentoring, and scientific community
• Statement of significant research contributions and plans for an independent research program (2-3 pages): Briefly describe past research accomplishments (research questions, intellectual contributions, findings and significance) and future research plan as well as opportunities for integration and collaboration with Penn Cancer Biology, the Basser Center and the University
• Statement of Teaching, Mentoring, and Community (1 page): Focus on contributions and commitment to the advancement of collaborative research, mentoring, teaching, and inclusion in science. Describe prior or future actions towards research collaborations, teaching and mentoring of trainees in the lab and classroom, service to the scientific and/or broader community
• Reference Letters (3 minimum)

About the Basser Center

The Basser Center for BRCA was established at Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center in 2012 as the first comprehensive center for the research, treatment, and prevention of BRCA-related cancers. More information on the Basser Center for BRCA can be found at www.basser.org.

Culture and Support

The Basser Center and the Department of Cancer Biology value a supportive, cohesive, and collaborative culture. Growth of junior faculty is fostered by providing tailored mentoring and faculty development from appointment through tenure and all major career milestones.