Postdoctoral Associate in Spatial Cancer Biology and Computational Biology (Varn Lab) The Jackson Laboratory in United States

The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) is seeking a Postdoctoral Associate to join the Varn Lab in Farmington, CT, focusing on spatial cancer biology and computational biology. This position is ideal for a highly motivated computational biologist with a strong interest in the tumor microenvironment and spatial biology, particularly in the context of glioblastoma research. The Varn Lab has generated a large, high-quality multiplex immunofluorescence dataset from rare brain tumor samples, offering a unique opportunity to extract novel biological insights and define new principles of tumor-microenvironment interactions in the brain.

The successful candidate will take intellectual leadership on this dataset, working closely with Dr. Frederick Varn to produce a high-impact first-author manuscript within the first year. The role also provides substantial freedom to develop new skillsets, expand collaborative networks, and pursue independent research directions, positioning the postdoc for future faculty or industry research roles. Access to state-of-the-art cancer modeling and computational resources at JAX, as well as primary tissue samples through collaborations, will support the research.

Key responsibilities include applying and developing computational methods to analyze cell-cell interactions using bulk, single-cell, and spatial datasets; managing human tissue samples and metadata; employing critical and creative thinking to solve scientific problems; synthesizing scientific literature into new project ideas; collaborating with other labs to integrate new techniques; writing manuscripts; applying for independent funding; and presenting results at meetings and conferences.

Applicants must have a PhD in Genetics, Computational Biology, or a related field, with at least one first-author publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Experience in R, Python, or a related language is required, along with strong organizational skills, initiative, a growth mindset, collaborative and mentoring abilities, and excellent communication skills.

The position is fully funded, with a competitive salary starting at $65,589 for year 0-1 and increasing annually up to $75,569 for year 5-6. Additional support includes institutional workshops, scientific writing services, and intramural funding opportunities. The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution with a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and a mission to discover precise genomic solutions for disease. For more information, visit www.jax.org.

To apply, send your CV (including three references) and a cover letter to Dr. Frederick Varn at [email protected]. Review the full position details on the JAX careers page and prepare to demonstrate your research experience and computational skills.