Postdoctoral Fellow: Early Lung Cancer Interception & Immunology

UT MD Anderson Cancer Center; Texas; On-site; USD 64,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Paid vacation and sick leave

Retirement benefits (Teacher RT Texas)

Fitness-center membership

Job summary

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Kadara Laboratory seeks a postdoctoral fellow to explore cellular and ecological mechanisms driving early lung cancer development. The role combines in vivo and ex vivo models, including mouse systems, organoids, and advanced molecular profiling to identify prevention strategies. Ideal candidates have a Ph.D.

or M.D./Ph.D. with strong experimental biology skills, publication records, and a collaborative, multidisciplinary mindset to connect

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. in cancer biology, molecular/cellular biology, immunology, pulmonary biology, genetics, pathology, microbiology, or related field.
• Hands-on experience with mouse models, mammalian cell culture, organoids or primary cells.
• Strong publication record or prepared manuscripts anticipated.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanistic studies on epithelial cell states, injury and oncogenic signaling in early lung cancer.
• Perform in vivo and ex vivo experiments using mouse models and organoid systems.
• Analyze high-dimensional data from single-cell and spatial profiling methods.

Skills

Mouse models

Organoid systems

Flow cytometry

Immunohistochemistry

Immunofluorescence

Genetic manipulation

Single-cell sequencing

Spatial transcriptomics

Education

Ph.D., M.D./Ph.D.

Job description

The Humam Kadara Laboratory in the Department of Translational Molecular Pathology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is seeking talented and highly motivated postdoctoral fellows to investigate the cellular and ecological mechanisms governing the earliest stages of lung cancer development and to identify new strategies for cancer prevention and interception.

Our laboratory studies the evolution of lung adenocarcinoma from normal lung tissue through premalignancy and invasive cancer. Areas of particular interest include injury-induced epithelial plasticity; KRT8-positive alveolar intermediate and progenitor cells; oncogenic KRAS signaling; inflammatory and immune microenvironments; tumor–immune co-evolution; and the contribution of the host microbiome to lung cancer pathogenesis. The laboratory combines human tissues with genetically engineered and carcinogen-associated mouse models, lineage tracing, organoid systems, preclinical intervention studies, and state-of-the-art single-cell and spatial profiling technologies.

Representative publications include Sinjab et al., Cancer Discovery (2021); Rahal et al., Cancer Immunology Research (2024), Han et al., Nature (2024); and Peng et al., Cancer Cell (2026). These studies have defined the spatial and cellular architecture of early lung adenocarcinoma, characterized immune-cell states associated with disease evolution, identified KRT8-positive alveolar intermediate cells as potential precursors of lung adenocarcinoma, and uncovered inflammatory epithelial–immune niches that may be targeted for early cancer interception.

The successful candidate will lead mechanistic studies examining how epithelial cell states, environmental or inflammatory injury, oncogenic signaling, and immune-cell niches interact to initiate and promote lung cancer. The fellow will also investigate how vulnerabilities arising during these early stages can be targeted through mechanism-based prevention and interception strategies.

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

Depending on the candidate’s experience and interests, research activities may include:

• Designing and conducting studies using genetically engineered, lineage-tracing, carcinogen-associated, and other human-relevant mouse models of lung cancer development.
• Establishing and manipulating primary-cell, organoid, and other ex vivo model systems.
• Performing molecular and cellular assays, flow cytometry, tissue processing, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, microscopy, and genetic or pharmacologic perturbation studies.
• Conducting preclinical intervention studies targeting oncogenic, inflammatory, immune, or epithelial-plasticity pathways.
• Interpreting single-cell sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, multiplex imaging, and related multimodal data.
• Working closely with computational scientists, pathologists, immunologists, pulmonary biologists, and clinical investigators to connect experimental findings with human lung tissues and high-dimensional molecular data.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The postdoctoral fellow will:

• Develop advanced expertise in experimental cancer biology, lung epithelial biology, tumor immunology, and cancer prevention and interception.
• Learn and master relevant in vivo, ex vivo, and molecular approaches for investigating lung cancer initiation and progression.
• Develop rigorous skills in experimental design, quantitative data analysis, interpretation, reproducibility, and translational validation.
• Gain experience integrating mechanistic experimental findings with single-cell, spatial, genomic, and immunogenomic data.
• Lead the preparation of manuscripts and scientific presentations and contribute to fellowship and grant applications.
• Develop skills in scientific writing, oral communication, mentoring, networking, career planning, and other areas important for an independent scientific career.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants should have a Ph.D., M.D./Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in cancer biology, molecular or cellular biology, immunology, pulmonary biology, genetics, pathology, microbiology, or a closely related discipline.

Candidates should have:

• A strong foundation in molecular and cellular biology and a demonstrated commitment to mechanistic biomedical research.
• Hands-on experience with relevant experimental approaches, such as mouse models, animal procedures, mammalian cell culture, primary-cell or organoid systems, molecular biology, genetic manipulation, flow cytometry, microscopy, immunohistochemistry, or immunofluorescence.
• The ability to design, execute, troubleshoot, and interpret experiments with increasing independence.
• Evidence of research productivity, including peer-reviewed publications or strong manuscripts in preparation.
• Excellent organizational, collaborative, spoken, and written communication skills.

Experience with mouse models of cancer or tissue injury, lineage tracing, lung biology, tumor immunology, preclinical therapeutic studies is highly desirable. Previous computational expertise is not required, although an interest in interpreting high-dimensional molecular data and collaborating with computational investigators is encouraged.

This appointment is not part of a clinical training program. Individuals holding an M.D. degree or equivalent are not permitted to engage in patient-care activities as part of this position.

All duties and responsibilities will be carried out in compliance with institutional policies, ethical research standards, and applicable federal and state regulations.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Applicants should email the following materials to Humam Kadara, PhD, at [e-mail]:

1. A cover letter describing the applicant’s previous research, relevant experimental expertise, scientific interests, and reasons for pursuing postdoctoral training in the Kadara Laboratory.
2. A current curriculum vitae, including a complete publication list.
3. The names and contact information of three professional references.
4. The applicant’s anticipated availability or preferred start date.

Please use the email subject line: Experimental Postdoctoral Fellow Application – [Applicant Name].

Additional information about the Kadara Laboratory is available on the Kadara Laboratory website. The laboratory provides a collaborative training environment in which fellows interact with multidisciplinary teams of basic scientists, computational scientists, pathologists, physicians, and physician-scientists.

POSITION INFORMATION

This is a full-time, laboratory-based position at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Under MD Anderson’s currently published FY26 stipend scale, postdoctoral compensation ranges from $64,000 to $76,400, depending on years of relevant postgraduate experience. Final compensation will follow the institutional stipend scale in effect at the time of appointment.

Benefits-eligible postdoctoral fellows receive a competitive benefits package that includes medical insurance, paid vacation and sick leave, enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, fitness-center membership, and access to dental, vision, disability, health-care spending, dependent-care spending, and employee-assistance programs.