Postdoctoral Fellow – Regulation of Cancer Dormancy by Patient Physiology

At Moffitt Cancer Center, we strive to be the leader in understanding the complexity of cancer and applying these insights to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. Our diverse team of over 9,000 are dedicated to serving our patients and creating a workspace where every individual is recognized and appreciated. For this reason, Moffitt has been recognized on the 2023 Forbes list of America’s Best Large Employers and America’s Best Employers for Women, Computerworld magazine’s list of 100 Best Places to Work in Information Technology, DiversityInc Top Hospitals & Health Systems and continually named one of the Tampa Bay Time’s Top Workplace. Additionally, Moffitt is proud to have earned the prestigious Magnet® designation in recognition of its nursing excellence. Moffitt is a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center based in Florida, and the leading cancer hospital in both Florida and the Southeast. We are a top 10 nationally ranked cancer center by Newsweek and have been nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report since 1999.
Working at Moffitt is both a career and a mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. Join our committed team and help shape the future we envision.

Summary

Postdoctoral Fellow – Regulation of Cancer Dormancy by Patient Physiology

Dormancy is a critical step in the metastatic cascade. Dormant cancer cells can survive dissemination in a non-proliferative state and get reactivated to give rise to metastatic disease often years after disease remission. As such, dormancy represents a major clinical obstacle in breast cancer patient care. Despite this, our knowledge of the biology of dormant cancer cells as well as the mechanisms that wire the dormant state is cripplingly limited. Research in the Gomes Lab at the Moffitt Cancer Center has discovered a mechanism of epigenetic regulation that wires the entrance and exit from dormancy. Current research lines in the lab are aimed at understanding how the different aspects of the patient physiology (age, race, stress, BMI, etc) regulate this epigenetic switch and thereby contribute to recurrent disease in the metastatic setting, as well as identifying novel therapeutic targets and liabilities of the dormant state to enable irradiation of disease and prevent recurrence. To learn more about the Gomes lab visit our lab website at http://lab.moffitt.org/gomes or check our X (former Twitter) account @lab_gomes.

Position Highlights:

• Joining a new field of research with many opportunities to grow within the growing field of tumor dormancy and its interactions with host physiology
• Utilizing cutting-edge technologies (e.g., single cell analysis, metabolomic/proteomics, intravital imaging) as platforms of discovery
• Working within a multidisciplinary team with plenty of room to learn new skills
• Working closely with Dr. Gomes on the postdoctoral fellow’s career development (e.g., grant/manuscript writing, scientific presentations, networking)
• Working closely with clinicians at Moffitt as well as already established collaborations with world leaders in the development of cutting-edge microscopy techniques
• Moffitt integrates excellent patient care with cutting-edge clinical and basic research. Having a cancer hospital on-site provides unique opportunities for translational research
• Outstanding mentorship from expert faculty with wide-ranging funded research programs including T32 Training Grants.

The Ideal Candidate:

• Independent and highly motivated with a proven track record of scientific productivity
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in a team
• Experience with animal models of cancer, dietary changes and complex animal procedures is highly desirable 

Responsibilities:

• Work independently and collaboratively for the mission of the lab
• Design and execute experiments; analyze and interpret data
• Regularly present findings to the lab and to the Moffitt community
• Attend and present findings to the scientific community at conferences
• Mentor and train graduate and undergraduate students
• Lead established collaborations with other laboratories
• Write manuscripts, postdoctoral fellowships and assist with other funding applications

Credentials and Qualifications:

• MD or PhD in relevant field is required, preferably not received more than two years ago.

How to Apply:

Interested applicants should apply online and additionally send a single PDF file that includes a cover letter summarizing their research training and accomplishments, scientific interests and career goals, current CV with publication record, and contact information for three references to Dr. Ana Gomes at ana.dasilvagomes@moffitt.org

Moffitt Postdocs are provided with Medical Insurance (Moffitt covers premium for team members) 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.