Instructor - Massey

All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes: comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefit, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more. Learn more about VCU’s benefits here.

Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center Mission

To improve the lives of all Virginians by delivering cutting-edge cancer care through patient-centered prevention and treatment; high-impact, innovative research; community input and engagement; and education and training of the next generation of researchers and healthcare professionals.

VCU is committed to hiring veterans! VCU will include a veteran’s period(s) of military service in the calculation of their annual leave accrual rate. This may provide veterans with an increased leave accrual!

The university and the region

VCU is a public research university unlike any other, dedicated to serving the needs of students and patients. Inclusion is our heartbeat and it drives us to tackle difficult challenges others can’t or won’t. We’re home to creativity, teaching, discovery and healing. Our location in the heart of downtown Richmond, Virginia, means the nonstop energy of our city ignites our innovation and provides unlimited opportunities for our students.

About Virginia Commonwealth University

We are the university for Virginia. We know that the unique backgrounds and life experiences of the VCU community are what drive the university forward. Together, we’re forging a future that is built by us. Here, artists and engineers, doctors and designers come together to reimagine the human experience and tackle the problems of tomorrow.

VCU dates to 1838 with the formation of the Medical Department of Hampden-Sydney College, whose mission was to educate physicians in central Virginia and which was later renamed Medical College of Virginia. In 1968, Richmond Professional Institute merged with the Medical College of Virginia to become what is now known as Virginia Commonwealth University.

Located in downtown Richmond, the state capital of Virginia, VCU enrolls more than 28,000 students in more than 200 degree and certificate programs across its urban campuses: the downtown Monroe Park and MCV campuses in Richmond; the Rice Rivers Center in Charles City, Virginia; satellite locations in Fairfax, Virginia, and Abingdon, Virginia; and a campus in Doha, Qatar, for the School of the Arts.

Ignited by the energy of the city, we’re ready to lead industries — or disrupt them. We seek out the unexpected, the experimental, the never-been-tried. VCU is designated as a research university with very high research activity by the Carnegie Foundation, garnering more than $500 million in sponsored research from federal and other agencies in FY2024. The National Science Foundation ranked VCU among the top 50 public research universities in the country, and we are one of only 69 public universities nationwide to be designated by the Carnegie Foundation as “Community Engaged” with “Very High Research Activity.”

This research enterprise, and the influence of having one of the nation’s top-ranked public graduate arts schools, ensures students receive unique educational experiences that equip them with a creative mindset that sets them apart.

VCU’s contributions in talent, innovation and entrepreneurialism, regional stewardship and local culture shape the economic impact and overall quality of life in the region. VCU as a whole generates more than $9 billion in economic activity. It is the largest employer in Richmond with more than 26,000 employees at VCU and VCU Health, and it supports approximately 58,000 jobs in Virginia. In addition, Virginia classifies VCU with a Tier III status — the highest possible status for universities and colleges — allowing VCU more flexibility in managing its operations to implement best practices and streamline processes. To learn about VCU’s finances, visit about.finance.vcu.edu.

VCU’s unwavering commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity and student success is why INSIGHT into Diversity magazine has named us a Diversity Champion six times in a row as part of its annual Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Awards. And many students say that the best thing about VCU is its diversity.

VCU’s mission, under the leadership of President Michael Rao, Ph.D., is to serve as one national urban public research institution dedicated to the success and well-being of our students, patients, faculty, staff and community through:

●       Real-world learning that furthers civic engagement, inquiry, discovery and innovation.

●       Research that expands the boundaries of new knowledge and creative expression and promotes translational applications to improve the quality of human life.

●       Interdisciplinary collaborations and community partnerships that advance innovation, enhance cultural and economic vitality, and solve society’s most complex challenges.

●       Health sciences that preserve and restore health for all people, seek the cause and cure of diseases through groundbreaking research and educate those who serve humanity.

●       Deeply ingrained core values of diversity, inclusion and equity that provide a safe, trusting and supportive environment to explore, create, learn and serve.

Welcome to VCU. A world unlike any other.

Benefits At a Glance

·        Continuing education and professional development for undergraduate and graduate tuition in addition to mandatory fees (except the transition student fee) for a maximum of six credits per semester;

·        28 University Leave Days, 12 State Holidays, and 2 Enhanced Community Service Leave Days;

·        Medical, Dental and Vision Health Benefits to meet the needs of employees and their eligible family members from the Commonwealth of Virginia as well as optional FSA; 

·        Participation in the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) and other retirement saving options;

·        Parental and Caregiver Leave, Short Term Disability (STD), Disability Insurance, Voluntary Long Term Care Insurance, and Employee Assistance Program;

·        Professional development opportunities encouraged and offered for employees as part of annual career development, e.g. certifications, seminars, courses, annual conferences, mentorship, etc.

Position Primary Purpose and General Responsibilities

Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center at Virginia Commonwealth University is seeking an Instructor in the Academic Support Staff to support cutting-edge translational cancer research in conjunction with Dr. Esha Madan’s laboratory. Madan Lab specializes in cell competitive biology, studying how cancer cells obtain a competitive edge over their surroundings and the intricate competitive relationships between tumor and host cells. The lab also investigates tumor-host interactions, cell fitness signaling, treatment development, and biomarker discovery for translational biomedical research.

This position requires a highly motivated and detail-oriented individual with extensive expertise in cell competition and cancer biology. The candidate must have a Doctor of Philosophy or equivalent doctoral degree and 5 to 7 years of postdoctoral experience. The ideal candidate should have deep knowledge of various protocols designed to develop translational research, as well as an ability to establish and maintain internal and external collaborations.

The successful applicant will have the opportunity to develop individual training experiences in research skills and teaching while advancing their academic career.

Other job duties include but are not limited to:

·        Coordinate project meetings and retreats.

·        Conduct day-to-day project-related operations.

·        Oversee and maintain IRB and IACUC protocols.

·        Assist with grant and project budgeting.

·        Oversee and coordinate the preparation of progress reports.

Minimum Hiring Standards:

·        Doctor of Philosophy or equivalent doctoral degree.

·        5 to 7 years of postdoctoral experience.

·        Extensive expertise in cell competition and cancer biology.

·        Strong understanding of translational research protocols.

·        Proven ability to design, execute, and troubleshoot experiments independently.

·        Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain collaborations.

·        At least one high-impact publication as first author in a peer-reviewed journal.

·        Strong communication and organizational skills.

·        A commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive research environment.

Preferred Hiring Standards:

·        Prior research experience in tumor-host interactions, cell fitness signaling, and biomarker discovery.

·        Hands-on expertise with translational biomedical research techniques.

·        Familiarity with grant writing and academic budgeting.

·        Experience coordinating multi-disciplinary research projects.

Technical Skills:

·        Proficiency in advanced cell biology techniques, particularly related to cell competition and cancer biology.

·        Strong expertise in translational research methodologies.

·        Familiarity with laboratory compliance protocols, including IRB and IACUC.

Problem-Solving & Analytical Skills:

·        Ability to analyze complex biological datasets and interpret research findings.

·        Strong troubleshooting skills in experimental design and protocol development.

·        Demonstrated capability to develop novel experimental approaches.

Personal Attributes:

·        High levels of initiative, resourcefulness, and meticulous attention to detail.

·        Self-starter capable of working independently with minimal supervision.

·        Strong discretion in handling sensitive and confidential information.

This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking translational research in cancer biology. We seek candidates with a passion for discovery, a strong publication track record, and expertise in cell competition and cancer research. If you have the skills and experience required, we encourage you to apply and become part of our innovative research team at Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center.

About Richmond, Virginia

As the commonwealth’s capital, Richmond, Virginia, offers a vibrant mix of history, diverse culture and real-world opportunities. Distinct neighborhoods, cozy restaurants and cafes and quaint local markets give the city an intimate feel, but theaters, galleries, music festivals, sports attractions and a steady stream of annual events bring RVA — as locals call the region — to life. Established in 1780, its rich history can be seen in the architecture, the Capitol grounds and the cobblestone streets around the city. With the historic James River and 600 acres of parks bordering it, bike trails, wineries, breweries, a flourishing arts, entertainment and restaurant scene (Food and Wine called Richmond a “culinary powerhouse”) and affordable suburbs, this small city punches well above its weight in terms of attractions and buzz. In fact, Travel Leisure named Richmond the best place to live in Virginia in 2023 and Southern Living named Richmond one of the 20 best cities to live in the South in 2024.

Richmond’s location in the middle of the state allows for day or weekend trips to the beach, the Blue Ridge Mountains or Virginia’s many wineries. It’s within a two-hour drive of Washington, D.C., and a multitude of excellent institutions of higher education. The Richmond metropolitan area is also home to several Fortune 500 companies, a broad base of financial companies, hospitals and media firms, high-tech manufacturing companies and state and local government agencies. Entrepreneurs and artists put down roots in Richmond, and Thrillist named it one of the best U.S. cities for creatives in 2022.

Beyond Richmond, CNBC has named Virginia as the No. 1 state in the country to do business six times since the study began in 2007. It has accomplished this by bringing in billions in capital investment and thousands of new jobs; investing in education; expanding access to quality health care for all; making sure everyone has access to opportunity; and more. Business Facilities magazine named Virginia the 2024 State of the Year. Suffice to say, Virginia is full of growth and opportunity, making it the perfect location for a university determined to erase barriers and provide students with robust learning experiences that will make them unstoppable.

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or disability.

Please note VCU is not able to provide ongoing visa sponsorship for this position.

Massey Cancer Center
Masseyhr@vcu.edu