Career Center

Department Overview

The primary mission of the Division of Oncological Sciences at OHSU's Knight Cancer Institute is to better understand cancer through basic, translational and population-based research that improves cancer prevention, detection and treatments for all. Our community of faculty, trainees and staff brings together scientists from a broad range of disciplines and works collaboratively to advance innovation and translate discoveries from the lab into meaningful impacts for cancer patients and our community.

Centered on team science, our research is organized around four areas: Precision Systems Oncology, Cancer Data Science (includes Computational Biology, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics), Chemical Biology and Experimental Therapeutics, and Cancer Data Science. A foremost priority is to better understand cell plasticity by gaining the ability to experimentally decipher transitions from normal to cancer, cancer to metastasis and metastasis to resistance.

An exciting opportunity is open for an experienced researcher to join the Dr. Anupriya Agarwal Laboratory at the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute as an Assistant Staff Scientist in Portland, OR. Our laboratory focuses on identifying novel intrinsic- and extrinsic signaling pathways that are requisite for leukemia progression, clonal evolution, and drug resistance. The work will concentrate on the discovery and validation of new therapeutic targets in hematologic malignancies and the molecular characterization of signaling pathways involved in disease pathogenesis.

Every Knight Cancer employee is expected to embody our guiding principles:

• We act BOLDLY--Breakthroughs require pushing the boundaries of science, exploring new frontiers, and thinking differently
• We SUPPORT each other--Respect leads to trust, which leads to excellence
• We work as a CONNECTED team -- We must leverage our collective brain power to conquer cancer because no one individual can do it alone

Function/Duties of Position

The position is in an interdisciplinary, collaborative, and highly translational environment in the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute and the Division of Oncological Sciences in the OHSU School of Medicine. Highly-motivated candidates with expertise in molecular biology, cell signaling/ epigenetics, computational biology, and in vivo models who are interested in a career in oncology basic/translational research will be most competitive for this position. Additional responsibilities include, but are not limited to: maintaining a high level of professional expertise in the field; designing and executing experiments; and establishing laboratory procedures and maintain a high level of organization in the lab. The individual should have demonstrated distinguished record of scientific and technical accomplishments.

Assistant Staff Scientists have at least 3 years of post-graduate research experience in the relevant field. They are likely to have deep expertise in a singular area of focus but may also have worked as boundary spanners across multiple fields. Specifically, candidate will be able to perform hybrid work between wet lab and computational disciplines, with the dedicated mentorship in both areas be available as needed. Achieving this position requires that the researcher has demonstrated a satisfactory track record of scholarly activity including high-quality peer-reviewed publications. This individual should have the potential to lead the projects in the Agarwal lab. In order to maintain successful track record and show potential of growth, the individual must be actively engaged in publishing high-quality manuscripts, the development and submission of grant/funding proposals and leading projects that are aligned with the lab's focus area.

Relevant publications for the position are below:

Required Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in relevant field and 3+ years of relevant post-doctoral work experience.
• Proficient with computers specifically MS Office (which includes, Excel, Access, Word and PowerPoint) and statistical analysis software.
• Strong publication record
• Experience handling chemical and biologically hazardous materials.
• Knowledge of policy and regulations applicable to the laboratory, including but not limited to safety, animal and radiation.
• Technical proficiency, scientific creativity collaborative ability, and independent thinker
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with a high performing work group
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks at one time
• Must have excellent communication, analytical and organizational skills: both written and verbal
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team while being collaborative in resolving problems
• Demonstrated ability to learn new and innovative processed quickly
• Must possess energy and drive to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to use tact and diplomacy to maintain effective working relationships
• Ability to operate complex scientific equipment and develop and troubleshoot complex experimental protocols
• Demonstrated ability to build productive cross functional collaborations both internally and externally
• Ability to analyze short and long term project needs.
• Ability to schedule, manage and coordinate multiple projects and priorities simultaneously

Preferred Qualifications

• Expertise in cancer biology, molecular/hematopoiesis, and genomics
• Five or more years in a research position, including at least 4 years of supervisory and project management experience
• Experience with murine leukemia models is strongly preferred.
• Experience in hematopoiesis
• Experience in FACS based methods, biochemistry, and molecular biology
• Experience in analyzing the RNAseq /methylation/ pathway analyses or experience with large dataset analysis is preferred.

Additional Details

All are welcome