Postdoctoral Fellow

Working at Moffitt is both a career and a mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.

As the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center based in Florida, Moffitt employs some of the best and brightest minds from around the world. Join a dedicated team of nearly 11,000 who are shaping the future we envision. Moffitt has been recognized as a Best and Brightest Company to Work For in the Nation and is continually named one of the Tampa Bay Times’ Top Workplaces.

Summary

Postdoctoral Fellow – Nguyen Lab

Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute is Florida’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. We strive to be a leader in understanding the complexity of cancer through team science and translating scientific discoveries into meaningful advances for patients.

Summary of the Lab and Research

The laboratory of Dr. Duy T. Nguyen in the Department of BioEngineering at Moffitt Cancer Center is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow to lead experimental research at the interface of cancer biology, tumor microenvironment, and bioengineering.

We aim to develop advanced in vitro and ex vivo tumor models to investigate how the tumor microenvironment regulates cancer progression, treatment response, and therapeutic resistance. A major emphasis of this project is to integrate bioengineered 3D tumor models with advanced microscopy and systems biology approaches to investigate cancer through a physical sciences lens.

The successful candidate will take a leading role in the design, execution, and analysis of a collaborative cancer research project. The position is ideal for a cancer researcher seeking to develop greater scientific independence in a multidisciplinary, collaborative environment.

Position Highlights

• Lead a multidisciplinary research project involving experimental cancer biology, bioengineered tumor models, and/or patient-derived tumor specimens.
• Design and execute experiments and contribute intellectually to the overall scientific direction of the project.
• Gain experience with advanced three-dimensional tumor models, patient-derived microtumors, quantitative microscopy, and other technologies developed within the laboratory.
• Work in the highly collaborative and translational environment of an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, providing opportunities to interact with cancer biologists, engineers, physician-scientists, and other collaborators.
• Develop scientific leadership through mentoring junior laboratory members and coordinating experimental activities across collaborative teams.
• Present research findings at departmental seminars, scientific symposia, and national and international conferences.
• Prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals and contribute to grant applications and future research proposals.
• Receive mentorship and support for career development, including opportunities to pursue postdoctoral fellowships, training grants, and other independent funding mechanisms.

The Ideal Candidate

• Have passion and research experience in cancer biology, tumor microenvironment, cancer therapeutics, treatment resistance, or related areas.
• Have demonstrated scientific productivity through peer-reviewed publications, including first-author research articles.
• Are highly organized and detail-oriented, with demonstrated ability to plan experiments, coordinate multiple research activities, prioritize tasks, maintain accurate records, and consistently meet project milestones and deadlines.
• Are capable of independently managing a research project from experimental planning through data analysis, interpretation, and dissemination.
• Have strong quantitative and analytical skills and can critically evaluate experimental results and determine appropriate next steps.
• Have demonstrated ability to prepare clear and accurate scientific figures, including effective organization and visualization of complex experimental datasets.
• Possess strong scientific writing skills, with the ability to clearly communicate experimental rationale, methods, results, and conclusions.
• Have strong oral communication skills and can effectively present and discuss research findings with multidisciplinary scientific teams.
• Have experience with relevant cancer research techniques, which may include mammalian cell culture, 3D culture, patient-derived models, flow cytometry, fluorescence/confocal microscopy, immunofluorescence, western blotting, qPCR, molecular biology, and/or functional drug-response assays.
• Demonstrate initiative, scientific curiosity, professionalism, and the ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively.
• Have experience mentoring students, research staff, or junior trainees, or have a strong interest in developing these skills.
• Experience preparing manuscripts, abstracts, scientific reports, and/or grant applications is highly desirable.
• Experience with bioengineering approaches, biomaterials, quantitative imaging, spatial biology, or patient-derived tumor models is desirable but not required.

Responsibilities

The Postdoctoral Fellow will:

• Lead the day-to-day experimental design, planning, and execution of the research project and ensure progress toward defined project objectives and milestones.
• Develop experimental plans, establish appropriate controls, optimize and troubleshoot protocols, and ensure rigor and reproducibility of experimental studies.
• Perform and/or oversee experiments using appropriate in vitro, three-dimensional, and ex vivo experimental systems.
• Collect, analyze, interpret, and organize experimental data and communicate findings to the PI and collaborating investigators.
• Maintain comprehensive experimental documentation and contribute to the preparation of project reports, presentations, manuscripts, and other research deliverables.
• Work closely with the PI in overall scientific and operational coordination of the project.
• Mentor laboratory staff, graduate and undergraduate students, and other trainees participating in the project.
• Help coordinate laboratory operations necessary for the successful execution of the research, including experimental scheduling, reagent and supply management, inventory, and maintenance of research resources.
• Actively participate in laboratory meetings and joint research meetings with internal and external collaborators.
• Prepare figures, analyze datasets, and contribute to manuscripts
• Present research findings at departmental seminars, institutional symposiums, and national and international scientific conferences.
• Contribute to the development of grant proposals and future research directions arising from the project.
• Collaborate effectively with investigators from cancer biology, bioengineering, clinical research, and other disciplines.

Credentials and Qualifications

• Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Cancer Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Pharmacology, or another closely related discipline.
• Strong research background in cancer or tumor biology.
• Demonstrated publication record, preferably including at least two first-author peer-reviewed research publications.
• Demonstrated ability to independently plan, execute, analyze, and troubleshoot experiments.
• Strong written and oral scientific communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary and collaborative research environment.

Moffitt Postdocs are provided with Medical (Moffitt covers premium for team member) effective upon start date and eligible for Dental, Vision, Paid Time Off, Retirement, Parental Leave and more. You may be eligible for relocation assistance per policy. Reasons to relocate, aside from the sunshine, beaches and year-round outdoor recreation associated with the Gulf Coast of Florida, Tampa is a thriving metropolitan city, which has become a hub for ground-breaking research, welcoming individuals from around the globe. This diverse city is engulfed with rich culture, year-round activities for all, beautiful beaches, amazing cuisine and so much more. We strive for work/life balance.

If you have the vision, passion, and dedication to contribute to our mission,

then we have a place for you.

How to Apply: Interested applicants should apply online and include a single PDF file with a cover letter summarizing their research training and accomplishments, a personal statement of scientific interests and goals, a current CV with recent publications, and contact information for three references to Dr. Duy T. Nguyen (duy.nguyen@moffitt.org)

Salary Range

$66,654.00 - $93,315.60

Salary ranges posted for this position represent the expected base pay range for the role. Actual compensation may vary based on location and a variety of job-related factors, including experience, skills, education, and internal equity among Team Members in similar positions.

We are committed to maintaining fair and equitable pay practices and regularly review compensation to ensure alignment across our workforce.

Moffitt Career Site

If you have the vision, passion, and dedication to contribute to our mission,

then we have a place for you!

1. Equal Employment Opportunity

Moffitt Cancer Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, or protected veteran or disabled status. We seek candidates whose skills, and personal and professional experience, have prepared them to contribute to our commitment to diversity and excellence.

2. Reasonable Accommodation

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Why Work at Moffitt?

Careers

Working at Moffitt is both a career and a mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.

As the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center based in Florida, Moffitt employs some of the best and brightest minds from around the world. Join a dedicated team of nearly 11,000 who are shaping the future we envision. Moffitt has been recognized as a Best and Brightest Company to Work For in the Nation and is continually named one of the Tampa Bay Times’ Top Workplaces.