Postdoctoral Research Associate – Geeleher Lab (wet lab)

The Geeleher Lab tightly integrates wet-bench and computational approaches to improve outcomes for children with cancer, with a particular focus on neuroblastoma and other high-risk pediatric solid tumors. Our hybrid wet-dry lab has led publications in journals including Nature, Genome Biology, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, and Nature Communications, and is supported by NIH funding, including R01 (NCI renewal recently scored 1st percentile) and R35 awards, as well as institutional funding from ALSAC.

We are closely integrated into the Pediatric Cancer Dependency Map, PedDep, a large multi-institutional collaboration between St. Jude, Dana-Farber, and the Broad Institute. PedDep aims to expand pediatric representation in DepMap and to discover new therapeutic targets, synthetic lethal vulnerabilities, and drug-repurposing opportunities for pediatric cancers.

We are seeking a wet-lab postdoctoral scientist to translate discoveries emerging from PedDep and other large-scale functional-genomic, pharmacologic, genomics profiling (e.g. single-cell, spatial gene expression), datasets into rigorous mechanistic and preclinical studies, ultimately aimed at improving outcomes for children with cancer. The successful candidate will help prioritize, validate, and develop therapeutic hypotheses generated from large cancer datasets, with opportunities to lead projects spanning CRISPR screening, drug-response profiling, molecular biology, cancer genomics, and in vivo preclinical modeling.

Examples of representative recent papers led by wet-lab scientists in our lab (as first author) include:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-26640-x
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-43134-0
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-57185-y

We also routinely publish tightly integrated wet-lab/computational studies, with recent first authorships by Geeleher Lab members, including:

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13059-024-03309-4
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.03.04.709438v2
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-66223-8
https://www.cell.com/cell-genomics/fulltext/S2666-979X(24)00368-9

The candidate will be strongly supported in their career objectives, regardless of whether their goals are academic or industry, and will be supported in writing grants/fellowships if they are interested in the academic faculty path.

This position is located in Memphis, TN (on-site position), and relocation assistance is available. Salary and benefits follow the highly competitive St. Jude postdoctoral compensation scale (www.stjude.org/postdoc).

Position Responsibilities:

• Lead independent wet-bench focused research projects on validating and mechanistically characterizing therapeutic vulnerabilities in pediatric cancers.

• Design, execute, troubleshoot, and interpret wet-lab experiments that advance project goals.

• Develop and implement new assays and experimental workflows as needed based on project direction.

• Analyze experimental data, generate publication-quality figures, and contribute to study design and interpretation.

• Drive projects toward publication, including drafting manuscripts and responding to reviewer comments.

• Present research findings at lab meetings, institutional seminars, and scientific conferences.

• Mentor and support junior lab members, including research technologists, students, and trainees, and contribute to a collaborative lab environment.

Special Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

• Strong background in molecular biology, cell biology, cancer biology, biochemistry, genetics, pharmacology, or a related biomedical field.

• Very strong commitment to rigor and scientific integrity.

• Hands-on experience with standard cell and molecular biology techniques, including mammalian cell culture, PCR/qPCR, DNA and RNA isolation, Western blotting, cloning, and related assays.

• Ability to independently design, perform, troubleshoot, and interpret experiments.

• Ability to rapidly learn, optimize, and implement new or advanced assays as required by the evolving research direction.

• Experience leading or substantially driving a complex research project.

• Scientific writing skills, including experience contributing to or drafting manuscripts.

• Experience with CRISPR-based perturbation approaches, drug-response assays, high-throughput screening, or functional genomics is desirable but not required.

• Experience with animal models of cancer is desirable but not required.

• Experience in pediatric cancer, especially neuroblastoma, is desirable but not required.

• Strong written and spoken English, presentation, and communication skills.

Minimum Education and/or Training:

• Ph.D. degree or equivalent in a relevant biomedical field, such as Molecular Biology, Cancer Biology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Pharmacology, or related discipline.

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