Overview

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit organization providing adult cancer treatment and groundbreaking research focused on cancer and infectious diseases. Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington.

With a track record of global leadership in bone marrow transplantation, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunotherapy and COVID-19 vaccines, Fred Hutch has earned a reputation as one of the world's leading cancer, infectious disease and biomedical research centers. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services, and network affiliations with hospitals in five states. Together, our fully integrated research and clinical care teams seek to discover new cures to the world's deadliest diseases and make life beyond cancer a reality.

At Fred Hutch we value collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity and respect. Our mission is directly tied to the humanity, dignity and inherent value of each employee, patient, community member and supporter. Our commitment to learning across our differences and similarities make us stronger. We seek employees who bring different and innovative ways of seeing the world and solving problems.

A Post-Doctoral Research Fellow position is immediately available in the Mayers Lab in the Human Biology Division at Fred Hutch. The core focus of the Mayers lab is to decode the metabolism of microbes in vivo and determine how these metabolic behaviors contribute to disease. Our work has implications for antibiotic resistant infections, structural lung diseases like COPD, and cancer development.

Fred Hutch has more than 200 postdoctoral fellows working in labs across all seven research divisions. We provide postdocs with the opportunity to work on the cutting edge of biomedical research in a supportive, collaborative environment with faculty and staff who are dedicated to helping their trainees achieve their career goals. In addition, both the Student/Postdoc Advisory Committee and the Office of Scientific Career Development offer diverse mentoring and career development opportunities.

Responsibilities

The Post-Doctoral Research Fellow will initially join ongoing projects focusing on the identification of microbial metabolic features in diseases including infections and cancer, but will ultimately be expected to independently develop, guide, and complete an independent research project building from one of the core strengths of the lab.

The applicant will utilize approaches including preclinical mouse models, bacterial culture, mass spectrometry metabolomics, RNA and DNA sequencing, genetics, chemical biology, protein biochemistry, and standard molecular biology techniques to study the two key parts of metabolic reactions, the small molecule metabolites (nutrients) and the enzymes that make them. Applicants should be interested in basic science discovery as well as its application towards problems faced by patients with infections and/or cancer.

Scope of Responsibilities:

Applicant will design, conduct, analyze and report original experiments probing the metabolic requirements and alterations in cancer cells. This position is funded for at least 2 years with the possibility of additional years, depending on success in obtaining independent funding.

Job Duties:

• Design, conduct, and interpret experiments focusing on understanding the metabolism of microbes in vivo in infection and/or cancer.
• Experiments require work with BSL2 agents, so must be able to work carefully and comply with biosafety regulations.
• Experiments also require work with mouse models of disease, so must either have experience in this area or be comfortable obtaining this training and carrying out these experiments.
• Participate in group meetings including presenting data several times each year to local and national meetings.
• Prepare publications results from the experiments.
• Assist in maintaining general operations of the laboratory.
• Aid in mentoring junior scientists.
• Apply for postdoctoral grants.

What can we provide to you?

• Scientific training to broaden your technical and professional skillsets.
• A supportive learning environment to foster personal and professional growth.
• The opportunity to learn from researchers with diverse scientific expertise and training backgrounds.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• A recent PhD and/or MD (or equivalent degree) in Biomedical Sciences.
• A strong mechanism-focused research background with experience in molecular biology, biochemistry, computational biology, microbiology, or mouse models.
• A strong interest in research in microbial, mammalian, and/or whole-body metabolism.
• Evidence of productivity appropriate to a postdoctoral fellow as measured by publications and presentations, abstracts and posters at conferences.
• Well-organized with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to think critically and independently design and perform experiments without day-to-day supervision will be required after training.
• Ability to work as part of a team and to participate in multiple projects in collaboration with different lab members and collaborations with outside labs.
• Excellent verbal and written English communication skills.

To Apply:

• A Cover Letter describing your research accomplishments as well as detailing your interest and suitability for this position.
• A CV summarizing your education and work experience so far
• A brief statement of research interests.
• The names and email addresses of three (or more) references.

The annual base salary range for this position is from $77,976 to $95,014 and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center offers employees a comprehensive benefits package designed to enhance health, well-being, and financial security. Benefits include medical/vision, dental, flexible spending accounts, life, disability, retirement, family life support, employee assistance program, onsite health clinic, income-based child care subsidy, tuition reimbursement, paid vacation (22 days per year), paid sick leave (up to 30 calendar days per occurrence of a qualifying reason), paid holidays (13 days per year), and paid parental leave (up to 4 weeks).

Additional Information