Postdoctoral Position: Red Blood Cell Immunobiology
Description
The Mangalmurti Laboratory, in the Department of Medicine's Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care, invites applications for a postdoctoral position focused on evaluating red blood cells (RBCs) as a novel liquid biopsy platform for cancer detection and disease monitoring. This industry-sponsored project will investigate the biological basis, analytical performance, and translational potential of RBC-associated tumor DNA (rtDNA) as a new substrate for precision oncology applications.
The laboratory recently discovered that RBCs rapidly acquire and retain tumor-derived DNA, revealing an unexpected role for RBCs in cancer biology and liquid biopsy. Emerging data suggest that RBC-associated tumor DNA may provide a sensitive and complementary source of tumor-derived genetic material that can overcome some of the limitations of conventional plasma-based approaches.
Responsibilities
- Lead studies integrating in vitro tumor–RBC co-culture systems, preclinical cancer models, and clinical specimens from patients with cancer to define the mechanisms of rtDNA acquisition, persistence, and detection.
- Develop and optimize molecular assays for mutation detection.
- Evaluate analytical sensitivity and specificity.
- Assess the feasibility of RBC-based liquid biopsy approaches across multiple oncology indications.
Qualifications
- Hold a Ph.D., M.D., or M.D./Ph.D. in cancer biology, molecular biology, genomics, bioengineering, hematology, immunology, or a related discipline.
- Strong record of scientific accomplishment and demonstrated interest in translational cancer research, biomarker development, liquid biopsy technologies, or precision oncology.
- Experience with molecular and cellular biology techniques, including PCR, digital PCR, next-generation sequencing, circulating biomarker analysis, flow cytometry, or related methodologies is desirable.