Post Doc - Open Rank - Ruscetti Lab

University of Massachusetts Medical School; Worcester (MA); On-site; USD 62,232 - 75,564; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health coverage

Paid time off

Participation in retirement plan

Job summary

A prestigious medical school in Worcester, MA, is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher to work on projects related to immune suppression and metastasis in cancer. Ideal candidates will have a recent Ph.D. or M.D. in Biology and a strong motivation for groundbreaking research. Responsibilities include developing mouse models of prostate cancer and investigating tumor progression. The position offers competitive salary and a dynamic research environment with multiple core facilities and a vibrant academic community.

Qualifications

• Candidates should have a recent Ph.D. and/or M.D. in Biology or a related field.
• Excitement and motivation to conduct cutting-edge research are essential.
• Background in cancer biology or immunology is highly desired.

Responsibilities

• Develop innovative mouse models of prostate cancer.
• Uncover senescent cell types and niches promoting tumor progression.

Skills

self-motivation

collaboration

communication skills

technical expertise in cell culture

molecular biology

cloning

Education

Ph.D. or M.D. in Biology or related field

Tools

genome-editing technologies

histology

microscopy

flow cytometry

high-throughput sequencing

Job description

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When you join the UMass Chan Medical School team, you join us in advancing together to improve the health and well-being of our diverse communities throughout Massachusetts and across the US and the world. Together, we lead in education, research, health care delivery, and public service. Your life’s work is more than a career. It’s an expression of your passion, intellect, skill, and drive. UMass Chan's commitment to excellence, innovation, competitive benefits, and work-life integration will allow you to build a professionally rewarding career as we work together to better or improve the health of people around the globe.

Position

• Job title: Post Doc - Open Rank - Ruscetti Lab
• Job Number: 2026-49528
• Category: Research
• Location: Worcester, MA
• Shift: Day
• Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt
• Business Unit: UMass Chan Medical School
• Department: School - Molecular Cell & Cancer Biology - W495000
• Job Type: Full-Time
• Union Code: Non Union Position-W63-Residents/Post Docs
• Num. Openings: 1
• Post Date: March 22, 2026
• Work Location: 100% Onsite
• Salary Minimum: USD $62,232.00/Yr.
• Salary Maximum: USD $75,564.00/Yr.

Mechanisms and models of immune suppression and metastasis in cancer

A postdoctoral research position supported by long-term federal funding is available in the laboratory of Marcus Ruscetti, Ph.D. to work on projects to:

• Develop innovative mouse models of prostate cancer to determine genetic determinants of immune suppression and metastasis.
• Uncover heterogeneous senescent cell types and niches that promote tumor progression using single cell and spatial approaches.

These projects, and my laboratory, lie at the intersection of cancer genetics and tumor immunology, and at the interface of basic science and translational medicine. Our long-term goals will be to translate our basic understanding of how genetic alterations and senescence biology regulate critical tumor-immune interactions into the development of small molecules and other therapeutic strategies to treat patients with deadly pancreatic and prostate cancers.

Our lab is part of the Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology (MCCB) at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (UMCMS) in Worcester, MA, giving us access to a multitude of state-of-the-art core facilities, shared equipment, and a highly stimulating and interactive intellectual environment. UMCMS is a vibrant and exciting research community, with ~3,000 faculty, including ~320 basic science principal investigators and ~2,500 clinical faculty. The UMCMS faculty includes members of the National Academy of Sciences, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. UMCMS faculty have won several major awards, including the Keck Award, the Lasker Prize, and the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, among others.

Qualifications

Candidates should have a recent Ph.D. and/or M.D. degree in Biology, or a related field, and be excited and highly motivated to conduct new, cutting-edge research. Those with a background in cancer biology and/or immunology are highly desired. Candidates with the following qualifications are encouraged to apply:

• strong self-motivation
• first author publications in peer-reviewed scholarly journals
• ability to collaborate within and outside the laboratory
• ability to plan, organize and meet deadlines
• excellent communication skills
• Technical expertise in cell culture, molecular biology, and cloning is required
• Experience in mouse colony management and surgery, genome-editing technologies, histology, microscopy, immunology, flow cytometry, and high-throughput sequencing preferred but not required

To apply, please send your cover letter (1-page limit) explaining your most significant accomplishments and how they relate to our work and CV. Please have 3 letters of reference sent directly from your references to Dr. Marcus Ruscetti.

Posting Disclaimer

This job posting outlines the primary responsibilities and qualifications for the role but is not intended to be an exhaustive list. Duties and expectations may evolve in response to the needs of the department and the broader institution.

In alignment with our commitment to pay transparency, the base salary range for this position is listed above (exclusive of benefits and retirement). At UMass Chan Medical School, final base salary offers are determined based on a combination of factors, including your skills, education, and relevant experience. We also consider internal equity to ensure fair and consistent compensation across our teams.

Please note that the range provided reflects the full base salary range for this position. Offers are typically made within the midrange to allow for future growth and development within the role.

In addition to base pay, UMass Chan offers a comprehensive Total Rewards package, which includes paid time off, medical, dental, and vision coverage, and participation in a 401(a)-retirement plan, with the option to contribute to a voluntary 403(b) plan.

UMass Chan welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.