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The Department of Systems Biology seeks an Associate Research Scientist to be appointed as an Irving Cancer Early Scholar of Computational Cancer Research.

VISION: The National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC) of Columbia University Irving Medical Center invites applications for brilliant early career scientists to join a new program for Irving Cancer Early Scholars of Computational Cancer Research. Initial appointments as Associate Research Scientists will be in the Department of Systems Biology for 3 years, after which Irving Cancer Early Scholars may seek tenure-track faculty positions at Columbia or other institutions. All assistant professor tenure track appointments require a national search and there will be no waiver from the Columbia University standard search process for individuals based on participation in this program. The HICCC hosts a vibrant community of highly-interactive investigators with interests in key areas of computational cancer research, including systems biology and mathematical genomics. We are now seeking new PhDs, MDs or MD/PhDs to serve as Principal Investigators and fast-track to faculty rank without the need to undertake a traditional postdoctoral fellowship. These Scholars will pursue creative computational approaches to cancer research in the basic, translational, clinical and/or population sciences. 

GOALS/OBJECTIVES: Irving Cancer Early Scholars will establish their independent program within a supporting laboratory and will be provided with all the resources necessary for success, including a dedicated mentorship committee of Columbia faculty, opportunities for pilot funding, collaboration with a wide range of Columbia scientists, and guidance in the preparation of grant applications as Principal Investigator. The recruitment package will include funds for salary and fringe benefits, research support and relocation costs. Housing support may also be available. As HICCC members, the Scholars will have access to superb HICCC Shared Resources and will join a vibrant community of clinicians and scientists across Columbia University and its affiliated institutions, including those working in cancer as well as in other areas.

The Scholars will have demonstrated success (e.g. first/senior authored publications, awards, grants). Scholars will be expected to obtain grants from the NIH (e.g. DP4/DP5 through the Director's office), foundations (e.g. Pew, Keck, Rita Allen, Buroughs-Welcome, Searle, etc) or other entities.

SUMMARY: We seek to identify the best and brightest and "fast" track them to faculty. While similar programs exist at MIT Whitehead, the Broad Institute, UC-Berkeley, ours will be the first dedicated to the intersection of cancer biology and computational biology and also leverage engineering, physics, chemistry and mathematics.

-For questions about research areas of interest and computational cancer research at Columbia and the HICCC, contact Dr. Raul Rabadan (rr2579@cumc.columbia.edu).

-For questions about eligibility and the application process, contact Dr. Emer Smyth (es3551@cumc.columbia.edu).

-PhD, MD or MD/PhD (or equivalent).

-Qualified PhD, MD or MD/PhD (or equivalent) investigators should have demonstrated scientific productivity, evidenced by high impact publications, and research momentum in computational biology with a vision to make an impactful contribution to cancer biology and cancer medicine.

-Interdisciplinary training (in quantitative sciences and/or medical sciences) is favored.

-Applicants should have recently completed their PhD or be in very early stages of postdoctoral research training. Doctoral students who are

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