Postdoctoral Fellow on Gene- and Metabolism-Targeting Therapeutics

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Memphis (TN); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow to study gene- and metabolism-targeting therapeutics in pediatric blood cancers. The role focuses on genetic, epigenetic, and metabolic regulatory mechanisms using cutting-edge omics and preclinical models.

The successful candidate will work in the Center for Leukemia Studies under Dr. Jian Xu, employing high-throughput technologies, in-house LC-MS/GC-MS platforms, and collaboration across disciplines

Qualifications

• PhD and/or MD required with strong background in hematology/oncology, metabolism, biochemistry or molecular biology.
• Record of scientific productivity and independence is preferred.
• Experience with omics and preclinical models is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Identify metabolic and epigenetic vulnerabilities in blood cancers and therapy response.
• Develop non-coding RNA-based nucleic acid therapeutics for inherited blood disorders.
• Develop AI/ML tools for integrating metabolomics, transcriptomics and genomics data.
• Collaborate in a multidisciplinary team across pathology, CELS, and leukemia studies.

Skills

Hematology/Oncology background

Metabolism research

Biochemistry

Molecular biology

Computational biology

Education

PhD or MD

Tools

LC-MS

GS-MS

Illumina sequencing

10x Genomics

Job description

Postdoctoral Fellow on Gene- and Metabolism-Targeting Therapeutics

Location

Memphis, TN

Category

Postdoc

Department

Center for Leukemia Studies

Shift

Weekday Day

Position Type

Full Time

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

JR7793

Job Description

Postdoctoral positions are available in the lab of Dr. Jian Xu at Department of Pathology and Center of Excellence for Leukemia Studies (CELS) at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to study the genetic, epigenetic and metabolic processes that control stem cell development, blood disorders, and childhood cancers. We employ high-throughput epigenomics, metabolomics, single-cell multiomics, (epi)genome editing, and preclinical models to define disease-associated epigenetic and metabolic programs that control stem cell development, and how these processes go awry in cancer progression.

Our lab is equipped with cutting-edge genomics, metabolomics, molecular biology, and bioinformatics platforms, including in-house LC-MS and GS-MS-based metabolomic platforms, illumina sequencer, 10xGenomics single-cell technologies, and flow cytometry. Our team brings together enthusiastic scientists with diverse backgrounds and provides a wide range of perspectives in a multi-disciplinary and collaborative team setting. Since establishing the laboratory, our team has published a series of impactful papers including:

• Development of CRISPR CAPTURE for in situ analysis of chromatin interactions (Cell 170:1028)
• Loss of EZH2 reprograms BCAA metabolism to drive leukemic transformation (Cancer Discovery 9:1228)
• Epigenetic silencing of LINE-1 retrotransposons is an AML-selective dependency (Nature Genetics 53:672)
• Mechanisms driving resistance to IDH-targeting therapies in myeloid leukemia (Cancer Discovery 13:170)
• A glutamine metabolic switch controls normal and pathological erythropoiesis (Science 386:eadh9215)

Potential research projects:

• Identify and target metabolic and epigenetic vulnerabilities in blood cancers and therapy response
• Develop non-coding RNA-based nucleic acid therapeutics for inherited blood disoders
• Target disease-associated metabolic processes using pharmacologic and genetic approaches
• Develop AI/ML tools for integrating metabolomics, transcriptomics, and genomics datasets across development and disease

Candidates must hold a Ph.D. and/or M.D. degree with a strong background in hematology/oncology, metabolism research, biochemistry, molecular biology, and/or a related field. The ideal candidate will exhibit independence, flexibility and creativity with a record of scientific productivity. Previous experience in metabolomics, computational biology, and/or hematology-oncology is strongly preferred.

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