Dormancy is a critical step in the metastatic cascade. Dormant cancer cells can survive dissemination in a non-proliferative state and get reactivated to give rise to metastatic disease often years after disease remission. As such, dormancy represents a major clinical obstacle in breast cancer patient care.
Despite this, our knowledge of the biology of dormant cancer cells as well as the mechanisms that wire the dormant state is cripplingly limited. Research in the Gomes Lab at the Moffitt Cancer Center has discovered a mechanism of epigenetic regulation that wires the entrance and exit from dormancy.
Current research lines in the lab are aimed at understanding how the different aspects of the patient physiology (age, race, stress, BMI, etc) regulate this epigenetic switch and thereby contribute to recurrent disease in the metastatic setting, as well as identifying novel therapeutic targets and liabilities of the dormant state to enable irradiation of disease and prevent recurrence.
To learn more about the Gomes lab visit our lab website at http://lab.moffitt.org/gomes or check our X (former Twitter) account @lab_gomes.
Position Highlights:
- Joining a new field of research with many opportunities to grow within the growing field of tumor dormancy and its interactions with host physiology
- Utilizing cutting-edge technologies (e.g., single cell analysis, metabolomic/proteomics, intravital imaging) as platforms of discovery
- Working within a multidisciplinary team with plenty of room to learn new skills
- Working closely with Dr. Gomes on the postdoctoral fellow’s career development (e.g., grant/manuscript writing, scientific presentations, networking)
- Working closely with clinicians at Moffitt as well as already established collaborations with world leaders in the development of cutting-edge microscopy techniques
- Moffitt integrates excellent patient care with cutting-edge clinical and basic research. Having a cancer hospital on-site provides unique opportunities for translational research
- Outstanding mentorship from expert faculty with wide-ranging funded research programs including T32 Training Grants.
The Ideal Candidate:
- Independent and highly motivated with a proven track record of scientific productivity
- Excellent communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in a team
- Experience with animal models of cancer, dietary changes and complex animal procedures is highly desirable
Responsibilities:
- Work independently and collaboratively for the mission of the lab
- Design and execute experiments; analyze and interpret data
- Regularly present findings to the lab and to the Moffitt community
- Attend and present findings to the scientific community at conferences
- Mentor and train graduate and undergraduate students
- Lead established collaborations with other laboratories
- Write manuscripts, postdoctoral fellowships and assist with other funding applications
Credentials and Qualifications:
- MD or PhD in relevant field is required, preferably not received more than two years ago.
How to Apply:
Interested applicants should apply online and additionally send a single PDF file that includes a cover letter summarizing their research training and accomplishments, scientific interests and career goals, current CV with publication record, and contact information for three references to Dr. Ana Gomes at ana.dasilvagomes@moffitt.org
