Welcome page Returning Candidate? Log back in! Postdoctoral Scholar Job Locations US-OR-Portland Requisition ID 2024-29010 Position Category Postdoctoral Position Type Regular Full-Time Job Type Postdoctoral Department CEDAR - Knight Cancer Institute Salary Range DOE FTE 1.00 Schedule Monday through Friday Hours 8:30am to 5:00pm plus occasional nights and weekends HR Mission School of Medicine Drug Testable No Department Overview

Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research (CEDAR) center is a collaborative institution within the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. The Knight Cancer Institute, known as one of the pioneers in personalized cancer medicine, is an international leader in research and cancer treatment. At CEDAR our mission is to detect and stop lethal cancers at the earliest stage because early detection saves lives. This is an ambitious goal, one that requires novelty, creativity, and innovation. We are composed of biologists, chemists, biomedical engineers, computational biologists, and clinicians conducting groundbreaking translational cancer research to help people maintain a high quality of life and reduce cancer mortality, to create a global early detection community, and to have a positive impact on the Oregon economy.

 

CEDAR is committed to increasing the diversity of the campus community. We at CEDAR are dedicated to promoting inclusion and multiculturalism to build a successful organization by having outstanding researchers of diverse backgrounds work together on multiple projects. We encourage high-risk, high-reward research projects because defeating cancer requires unproven, out-of-the-box thinking. Our research is milestone driven to ensure that each project is fulfilling its stated goals.

 

Every Knight Cancer employee is expected to embody our guiding principles:

We act BOLDLY—Breakthroughs require pushing the boundaries of science, exploring new frontiers, and thinking differentlyWe SUPPORT each other—Respect leads to trust, which leads to excellenceWe work as a CONNECTED team—We must leverage our collective brain power to conquer cancer because no one individual can do it alone Function/Duties of Position

The Eksi Lab at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) is seeking a highly motivated and creative postdoctoral fellow with expertise in cancer biology, neurobiology, or neuroimmunology. Our research focuses on how sympathetic nerve signaling remodels the tumor microenvironment to drive cancer progression, with emphasis on prostate and pancreatic cancers. We are particularly interested in the bidirectional communication between tumor-innervating neurons, cancer cells, and immune populations such as mast cells.

 

Our lab integrates spatial proteomics, single-cell transcriptomics, and epigenomics, and advanced 3D ex vivo and in vivo mouse models to dissect neural regulation of cancer. We are specifically seeking candidates with a strong background in ex vivo and in vivo cancer models, including experience in mammalian cell culture, imaging techniques, and a deep interest in uncovering cancer-nerve interactions, whether from a neuroscience or cancer biology perspective. Scientific curiosity and the ability to work across disciplines are essential.

 

Select references:

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10555-025-10241-xhttps://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(24)01893-5https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-27615-8https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(24)17240-4https://www.eu-focus.europeanurology.com/article/S2405-4569(23)00077-9/fulltexthttps://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2025/lc/d5lc00134jhttps://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.12.06.626879v2 (accepted to Cell Reports Methods) Required Qualifications M.D., M.D./Ph.D., or Ph.D.Minimum of 3 years as a graduate studentSpecialty: Molecular Biology, cell biology, genome sciences, epigenomics, or related field Excellent communication, analytical and organizational skillsAbility to work independently and as part of a team while being collaborative in resolving problemsPassion for science and inquiryAbility to synthesize one’s own results and others to formulate hypothesesAbility to prioritize multiple tasks at one timeMust possess energy and drive to coordinate multiple projects simultaneouslyAbility to use tact and diplomacy to maintain effective working relationships Preferred Qualifications Ability to synthesize scientific projects and communicate science to diverse audiencesExperience with cell cultureExperience with microscopyExperience with NGSExperience with data analysisExperience with patient sample processing Additional Details

Apply online. Please be sure to upload a Cover Letter and Resume/CV.

 

We offer a variety of benefits on top of joining a thriving organization:

Medical, dental and vision coverage at no or low cost to employeesCovered 100% for full-time employees and 88% for dependentsSeveral retirement plans to choose from with contributions from OHSU80 hours of vacation time per year96 hours of sick leave a year (prorated for part-time employees)Commuter subsidiesTuition reimbursementAccess to group life insurance, disability insurance and other supplemental benefitsAnnual RaisesGrowth/Development OpportunitiesEmployee discounts to local and major businesses

#linkedin #indeed #knightcancerjobs #knightpostdocjobs

All are welcome Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.