Postdoctoral positions are available in the Park Lab at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles of the University of Southern California. The Park lab conducts basic and translational research of cancer, including pediatric solid tumors such as rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma, and medulloblastoma. The lab focuses on understanding the effect of extracellular matrix (ECM) in tumor microenvironment (TME) on tumor development through multi-disciplinary approaches such as the application of nanofabrication to design in vitro model of reorganized ECM in TME. Specifically, the lab will investigate 1) how reorganized ECM with distinctive topographical features regulates the interaction between cancer cells and other cells in TME causing tumor development, and 2) identify signaling molecules that control cancer cell-ECM interaction and consequently stimulate metastatic cancer cell phenotypes through phenotypic filtering. For detailed research interests and recent publications, please follow this link:

http://parklabchla.org.

The positions are available for highly motivated candidates with a Ph.D. in any related field to cancer research including biomedical, chemical, and mechanical engineering. The main tasks are carrying out in vitro cell-based experiments for investigating/quantifying cancer-related phenotypes, e.g., invasiveness or their interaction with other cells in TME such as immune cells to evaluate the effect of the genetic or environmental modification related to cancer treatment. The anticipated starting date is April, 2020.

Followings are preferred, but not required

- Experience in cloning and genetic modification to generate knock-down/out cells through viral transfection

- Experience in organoid or cytotoxic T cell research

- Experience in the application of shRNA or CRISPR library technique

- Knowledge in tumor metastasis and tumor immunotherapy

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Keck school of Medicine of USC have excellent research community, and offer employees satisfactory benefits. Los Angeles and surrounding areas provide quality living environment.

For further information, please contact Dr. JinSeok Park, bbackjin@gmail.com, jpark@chla.usc.edu
(from April, 2020) and visit our webpage, http://parklabchla.org