Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Cancer Genetics/Epigenetics

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit organization providing adult cancer treatment and groundbreaking research focused on cancer and infectious diseases. Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington.

With a track record of global leadership in bone marrow transplantation, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunotherapy and COVID-19 vaccines, Fred Hutch has earned a reputation as one of the world’s leading cancer, infectious disease and biomedical research centers. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services, and network affiliations with hospitals in five states. Together, our fully integrated research and clinical care teams seek to discover new cures to the world’s deadliest diseases and make life beyond cancer a reality.

At Fred Hutch we value collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity and respect. These values are grounded in and expressed through the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our mission is directly tied to the humanity, dignity and inherent value of each employee, patient, community member and supporter. Our commitment to learning across our differences and similarities make us stronger. We seek employees who bring different and innovative ways of seeing the world and solving problems. Fred Hutch is in pursuit of becoming an anti-racist organization. We are committed to ensuring that all candidates hired share our commitment to diversity, anti-racism and inclusion.

 

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The laboratory of Dr. Gavin Ha (https://gavinhalab.org) has a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow position open in the Computational Biology Program of the Public Health Sciences and Human Biology Divisions. We are seeking a highly motivated individual who is interested in developing and implementing innovative computational and analytical approaches to study the genetics and epigenetics of cancer from tumor and liquid biopsies. Candidates who are excited about large/complex ‘omics’ data analysis of cancer genomes, computational methods development, and liquid biopsy research are encouraged to apply. The position has a competitive salary and great benefits. 

 

Dr. Ha is a recipient of an NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, an NCI Transition Career Development Award, a Prostate Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Award, and a V Foundation Scholar Grant. His laboratory develops computational approaches to study cancer genomes from tumors and liquid biopsies, such as circulating tumor DNA. Their goals are to uncover mechanisms of treatment resistance, to identify blood-based genetic biomarkers, and to translate these findings to help improve clinical applications. 

 

 

We work in an interdisciplinary team environment with many local and external experts. All of our projects involve partnering with investigators who have diverse expertise in molecular and experimental biology, cancer biology, and clinical research. Key projects available for this position include exciting collaborations

• Study the genomic signatures associated with risk of breast cancer recurrence in collaboration with Dr. Christopher Li (https://www.fredhutch.org/en/faculty-lab-directory/li-christopher.html)
• Apply machine learning approaches to study the association between genomic features and cell morphology in advanced prostate cancer in collaboration with Dr. Michael Haffner (https://www.fredhutch.org/en/faculty-lab-directory/haffner-michael.html)
• Study tumor evolution and heterogeneity in bladder cancer through multi-omic profiling of tumors from rapid autopsies in collaboration with Dr. Andrew Hsieh (https://www.fredhutch.org/en/faculty-lab-directory/hsieh-andrew.html)
• Development of methods to study resistance phenotypes in prostate cancer using circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and to develop biomarkers to predict treatment resistance in collaboration with Dr. Peter Nelson (https://www.fredhutch.org/en/faculty-lab-directory/nelson-peter.html)
• Study tumor phenotype changes during treatment in lung, breast, prostate, and pediatric cancers.
   

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work on transformative and leading-edge research problems in cancer research: 

• Cancer Genome Analysis – study tumor evolution, non-coding genome alterations, genome rearrangements and chromatin organization, cell plasticity, metastatic disease
• Multi-omic Data Integration – study of breast cancer subtypes and metastatic prostate cancer using genome, transcriptome, methylome, and chromatin/epigenetic data modalities.
• Liquid Biopsy Analysis and Methods Development – develop new computational methodologies for exploiting liquid biopsies to study cancer and to advance precision oncology
• For examples of recent studies, see PMID:29909985, PMID:29109393, PMID:25060187, doi:10.1101/2022.06.21.496879, doi:10.1101/2021.08.31.21262867
• See the lab website for more details: https://GavinHaLab.org/

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• PhD and/or MD (or equivalent) with training in one of these disciplines: Computational biology, bioinformatics, computer science, data science, statistics, computer/electrical engineering, physics, or other related fields.
• Experience with cancer data analysis

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• A demonstrated publication track record
• Work well in team environments, have strong communication/organization skills and is detail-oriented
• Highly motivated individual who think independently but also enjoy working in a dynamic, collaborative, multidisciplinary team
• Strong programming experience (R, Python, Matlab, Java, C/C++, Perl or other languages for research)
• A background in cancer biology is considered a strong asset
• Experience with analyzing sequencing data is considered a strong asset
• Experience with high performance computing environments and cloud computing environments is a plus
• Candidates with strong interest and/or expertise in any of these research areas are highly encouraged to apply: 
  • Cancer genomics, liquid biopsies, tumor evolution/heterogeneity
  • Application of statistical modeling, algorithm design, machine learning to study cancer and genetics
  • Analysis of large, complex genome, epigenome, and transcriptome data 

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center has a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine requirement, with exceptions only for approved medical or religious accommodations. As a condition of employment, newly hired employees must, prior to their first day of employment:
Provide proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 ; OR
Initiate the accommodations process to request a religious or medical accommodation (medical accommodations require a healthcare provider’s certification).

 

To apply, please submit your application with the following: 

• Cover letter with a statement of research accomplishments and interests
• Curriculum vitae
• Names and email addresses of three references
• Two representative publications or preprints (if available)

A statement describing your commitment and contributions toward greater diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism in your career or that will be made through your work at Fred Hutch is requested of all finalists.

 

The annual base salary range for this position is from $65,484.00 to $100,000.00 and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications.  

 

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center offers employees a comprehensive benefits package designed to enhance health, well-being, and financial security. Benefits include medical/vision, dental, flexible spending accounts, life, disability, retirement, family life support, employee assistance program, onsite health clinic, income-based child care subsidy, tuition reimbursement, paid vacation (22 days per year), paid sick leave (up to 30 calendar days per occurrence of a qualifying reason), paid holidays (13 days per year), and paid parental leave (up to 4 weeks). 

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) Employer. We are committed to cultivating a workplace in which diverse perspectives and experiences are welcomed and respected. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, disability (physical or mental), marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, political ideology, or membership in any other legally protected class. We are an Affirmative Action employer. We encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds to apply and desire priority referrals of protected veterans. If due to a disability you need assistance/and or a reasonable accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to our Employee Services Center at hrops@fredhutch.org or by calling 206-667-4700.