Postdoctoral Scholar - Pediatric Oncology Translational Research Lab

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

This is a term position; length of the term will be discussed during the interview process. Continuation past the term length discussed will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.

POSITION SPECIFICS

The Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium at Penn State College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, in Hershey, PA, is seeking an innovative and highly driven Postdoctoral Scholar for the Pediatric Oncology Translational Research Lab (POTRL). This is a full-time on-site position.

The Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium (BCC) is an international clinical research sponsor and acts as a Contract Research Organization (CRO) of a network of 50+ hospitals that participate in BCC's investigator-initiated clinical trials. The Pediatric Oncology Translational Research Lab is the preclinical research team of BCC. This advanced-level postdoctoral position aims at developing cutting-edge research on pediatric oncology with focus on pre-clinical and translational aspects of cancer.

Job Summary

Independent research

• Design, execute, and troubleshoot experiments with minimal faculty oversight, applying expert-level judgment to resolve technical challenges.
• Formulate original hypotheses grounded in the current pediatric oncology literature and develop testable experimental frameworks.
• Maintain rigorous, reproducible laboratory records and uphold data integrity standards across all projects.
• Manage personal project timelines and deliverables, proactively communicating progress and roadblocks to the lead researcher and PI.

High-impact scholarship

• Generate publication-ready datasets and lead the writing, revision, and submission of first-author manuscripts to high-impact journals.
• Critically interpret complex, preclinical, or clinical translational datasets and communicate findings to diverse audiences.
• Present research at national and international conferences; contribute to preparation of abstracts and poster materials.
• Serve as a peer reviewer for relevant scientific journals when invited.

Technology development

• Identify, evaluate, and implement cutting-edge methodologies (e.g., single-cell sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, CRISPR screens, PDX/organoid models) relevant to pediatric cancer biology.
• Establish and validate new protocols, optimizing them for the lab's specific research questions and infrastructure.
• Document new methods thoroughly and train lab personnel on their implementation.

Team collaboration

• Actively participate in lab meetings, journal clubs, and departmental seminars; contribute constructive scientific feedback to peers.
• Foster productive relationships with clinical collaborators, research technicians, bioinformaticians, biostatisticians, and translational teams within and outside the institution.
• Collaborate across multi-PI consortium projects, coordinating experimental contributions and adhering to shared timelines.
• Co-author multi-investigator publications and contribute equitably to collaborative grant applications.

Mentorship & training

• Directly mentor rotation students and graduate students in experimental techniques, scientific reasoning, and professional conduct.
• Provide regular, constructive feedback on mentees' data, presentations, and written work.
• Assist in development of laboratory training materials, SOPs, and onboarding resources.
• Model a culture of rigor, intellectual curiosity, and psychological safety within the team.

Lab stewardship & funding

• Ensure compliance with institutional biosafety, IACUC, and IRB protocols; complete all required training on time.
• Contribute substantially to the writing and revision of grant applications (R01, K99/R00, foundation awards) as a co-investigator or named personnel.
• Identify and independently apply for independent fellowships and career development awards to support the transition to faculty.

This is a limited-term position funded for one year from date of hire, with possibility of refunding. 

The following clearances must be successfully completed for this position: Criminal Background Check  

Minimum Experience:

• PhD
• 8+ years of research experience
• Relevant publications in the field
• Experience with in vitro (organoids), and in vivo (PDX) cancer models
• Demonstrated capacity for grant application
• Preferred areas of interest include, but are not limited to: Pharmacology, Molecular Biology, Pathology, Immunology

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all of its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusive excellence that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusive excellence as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.  

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

BENEFITS

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being.

For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. (Note: For Postdoctoral benefits, please see our Postdoctoral Benefits page.)

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.

Federal Contractors Labor Law Poster

PA State Labor Law Poster

Penn State Policies

Copyright Information

Hotlines