Career Center

Department Overview

The Brody lab focuses on many molecular aspects of pancreatic cancer, including developing ways to target a novel pro-survival network in pancreatic cancer cells and optimizing current targeted therapies used in the clinic (i.e., an interest in personalizing therapy for pancreatic cancer patients, PanCAN, RAN grant PI). Specifically, his lab is focused on an RNA binding protein, HuR, that is a involved in regulating a pro-survival network in various microenvironment settings involved with pancreatic cancer and targeting the DNA repair pathway (i.e., BRCAness) in pancreatic cancer. We study these and other pathways using different cutting-edged models of cancer (i.e., xenograft, orthotopic and genetically engineered mouse models; in vitro cell culture, CRISPR, siRNAs, etc).

Function/Duties of Position

The Department of Surgery at Oregon Health & Science University is seeking a senior scientist who can lead the basic science efforts in the lab. The successful candidate will join Dr. Jonathan Brody's lab with the goal of understanding the molecular aspects of pancreatic cancer, how tumor cells adapt to microenvironmental stimuli, and to develop and optimize targeted, personalized therapies for this disease. Currently, the lab is funded to study post-transcriptional gene regulation driven by the RNA-binding protein, HuR. Dr. Brody's work has demonstrated that tumor cells exploit HuR function to stabilize and enhance expression of genes pivotal for adaptation to the tumor microenvironment (i.e., low glucose, hypoxia, and chemotherapeutic exposure). Typical laboratory techniques require expertise with cellular and molecular biology techniques (PCR, qPCR, RNAseq), protein extraction and western blotting, cell culturing, microscopy, and mouse work. The laboratory is always interested in incorporating new techniques and strategies (including using an -omic approach to complement bench work).

The Research Associate will be responsible for most of the planning, implementation, and data interpretation associated with their own research. Additionally, the successful candidate is expected to interact with graduate students and be actively involved in their scientific supervision and in the general research directions of the lab (both technically and intellectually). A critical aspect of this position is to establish and maintain collaborations by taking full advantage of the terrific network of labs offered within OHSU, including the Brenden Colson Center for Pancreatic Care and the Dept. of Surgery (for which Dr. Brody is Associate Director for Translational Studies and Vice Chair for Research, respectively), as well as the Knight Cancer Institute. This is an ideal position for the ambitious candidate who wants to bring their scientific career to the next level, and has tremendous potential for establishing a strong long-term scientific program.

Required Qualifications

Education:

• Doctorate degree in relevant field OR

• Master's degree in relevant field and 5 years of relevant work experience, OR

• Bachelors degree 9 years of relevant work experience

Experience:

• Demonstrable experience with molecular biology, cellular biology and animal studies related to cancer research.
• Experience with animal pre-clinical models of disease.

• Experience in tissue staining, imaging and analysis.

Job Related Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Competencies):

• Must be able to work independently with little supervision.
• Must interact with graduate student and other learners.
• Demonstrable experience with some or all of the following techniques: molecular biology techniques (PCR, qPCR, RNAseq), protein extraction and western blotting, cell culturing, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, microscopy, and mouse work.
• Planning, implementation, and data interpretation experience.
• Organizational and time management skills that maintain timeliness of work and accurate prioritization.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; ability to engage with collaborators within the lab, and internally or externally to OHSU.

• Ability to conduct research in a multidisciplinary, fast-paced research environment, occasionally with tight deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• PhD or MD with research experience or MD PhD in biological sciences with an emphasis on molecular and cell biology.

Experience:

• Past experience with grant writing, lab management, organizational skills.

Job Related Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Competencies):

• Western Blotting, RNA and DNA work, RT-PCR, flow cytometry, and/or immunohistochemistry is highly desired.

All are welcome