Res Post Doc Fellow

A Brief Overview

Assume responsibility for an on-going, innovative research project as a Postdoctoral Fellow at CHOP. Our postdoc experience will broaden your skillset, scientific background, and research capabilities.

CHOP's Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
CHOP is committed to building an inclusive culture where employees feel a sense of belonging, connection, and community within their workplace. We are a team dedicated to fostering an environment that allows for all to be their authentic selves. We are focused on attracting, cultivating, and retaining diverse talent who can help us deliver on our mission to be a world leader in the advancement of healthcare for children.

We strongly encourage all candidates of diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.

About the Laboratory

A Postdoctoral Fellowship is available in the laboratory of Dr. Kathrin Bernt at the Center for Childhood Cancer Research at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the University of Pennsylvania (UPENN). This position is part of a research program to understand the molecular mechanisms of acute leukemia as a means to develop new therapeutic approaches. The laboratory uses syngeneic and patient derived mouse models as well as cell lines and patient samples to recapitulate the human disease. We are particularly interested in the contribution of epigenetic and transcriptional mechanisms to leukemogenesis. Epigenetic mechanisms play a crucial role in regulating stemness and differentiation, and numerous epigenetic modifiers have been found mutated in cancer. In addition, epigenetic modifiers and modifications - in contrast to DNA sequence abnormalities - are potential targets for small molecule inhibitors. We study the role of chromatin in hematologic malignancies using conditional genetic inactivation of epigenetic modifiers combined with epigeneomic (ChIP-Seq, DNA accessibility, chromatin conformation capture) bulk and single cell genomic/transcriptomic and proteomic analysis. Studies using patient material use cutting edge platform such as spectral flowcytometry and single cell sequencing technologies.

Strong experimental skill in basic molecular biology techniques are a prerequisite (DNA, RNA, protein analysis, cloning, cell culture of leukemia cell lines and primary cells, multi-parameter flow cytometry, cytotoxicity, apoptosis and cell cycle assays)

Strong preference will be given to candidates with the at least two or more of following specific skills:

• Experience in research in chromatin based mechanisms of gene regulation. Key techniques include ChIP-qPCR and ChIP-Seq (including assay development for hard-to-ChIP targets), ATAC-Seq, and/or chromatin conformation capture.
• Experience in mouse hematopoiesis and leukemia models, including genetic and viral models of leukemogenesis, murine bone marrow transplantation models and leukemia xenografts.
• Experience in genetically engineered models of cancer, including breeding and colony maintenance of models with multiple genetically modified alleles.
• Experience in research involving primary patient material including regulatory aspects of this type of research and interaction with other researches/groups within collaborative projects.
• Bioinformatic skills including the analysis of bulk and/or single cell RNA-Seq, ATAC-Seq and ChIP-Seq.

The successful candidate will:

• Plan, conduct, and manage research projects within the federal and institutional regulations and policies
• Assist the PI in the conduct of research of significant value in the basic and/or translational science area
• Collaborates with researchers, external agencies and institutions to develop cooperative research initiatives around the analysis of patient samples
• Oversees and performs ordering of research supplies, responsible for appropriate use of research funds
• Trains technical staff, students, fellows & physicians in lab procedures. May supervises some staff and students
• Reviews manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals
• Assist in composing/developing applications for grants/contracts for funding of research projects
• Promotes free discussion, research progress, and overall morale

Responsibilities

• Participate in project planning, recording, and evaluation of data.

• Conduct independent scholarly research, developing new methods and protocols under the guidance of a mentor (principal investigator).

• Acquire technical, lab management, and grant writing skills.

• Participate in seminars, lectures, poster sessions, national presentations, and professional workshops.

• Supervise junior lab members.

• Assist with other research projects as needed.

Education

• Required: Doctorate