Jobs and Careers

Staff Scientist - Oncology

Washington University in St. Louis

Steven & Susan Lipstein BJC Institute of Health, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 14 Nov 2024

💰 $86,900/yr($48,000/yr – $86,900/yr)

About the role

Scheduled Hours

Position Summary

As a curiosity-driven cancer biology lab, we are interested in dissecting the mechanisms of novel cancer targets with the overarching goal of improving patient outcome. Currently, a major research theme of the lab is genome integrity maintenance – an important underpinning of chemotherapy efficacy – with specific focus on two multi-functional proteins, i.e., actin-binding factor Profilin-1 and AAA+ ATPase p97/VCP. Both are essential proteins with well-known functions in the cytoplasm, yet play poorly understood roles in the nucleus. Our recent work (Zhu et al, Nat Commun, 2022; Zhu et al, Cell Rep, 2021 and 2020; Wang et al, Cancers, 2021; Wang et al, Front Cell Dev Biol, 2021) linked nuclear Profilin-1 and p97/VCP to fundamentally important cellular processes including DNA replication fork dynamics and stability, transcriptional control, DNA damage repair, and cell cycle checkpoint. In addition to discovering novel nuclear biology of these two proteins, our work also uncovered their clinical relevance to cancer progression and chemotherapy resistance. It is our ultimate goal to leverage mechanistic insights from such studies to unveil or create “Achilles heels” of cancer cells for more effective treatments.

Available projects:

1. Define the role of nuclear profilin-1 in DNA replication fork dynamics and stress response in wild type and BRCA-mutant cells and the causal effect on PARP inhibitor efficacy.
2. Examine the therapeutic effects of nuclear profilin-1, by blocking its nuclear export, on cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, and response to chemotherapies using genetic and patient-derived mouse xenograft models.
3. Define the regulatory mechanisms of p97/VCP and its Ser784 phosphorylation during normal DNA replication and stressed replication fork response to genotoxic chemotherapies.
4. Evaluate the clinical utility of pSer784-VCP as a chemo-predictive biomarker and chemo-sensitizing target.
5. Study the role of DNA repair pathway choices in racial disparity of breast cancer.

Designs research protocols. Assists in developing and conducting research projects, including experiment design, data analysis and documentation of experiment results.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

More information can be found at www.shaolab.org and

https://siteman.wustl.edu/research/center-for-genome-integrity/cgi-members/jieya-shao-phd/.

Following instructions and discussions with the principal investigator, designs research protocols, including developing procedures for the collection, verification and management of data.
Assists with grant preparation and reporting.
Performs complex statistical analysis of data collected and writes interpretative reports. Verifies the correctness of the data submitted and makes recommendations based on these analyses.
Documents research topics and prepares and submits papers based on research work to publications and committees for publication or presentation to peers.
Solves practical problems relating to difficulties with equipment or test subjects. Suggests technical or procedural improvements in testing methods.
Conducts literature searches related to research project.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions:

Works in a laboratory environment with potential exposure to biological and chemical hazards.
Must be physically able to wear protective equipment and to provide standard care to research animals.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.