Title of the Position:
Postdoctoral Associate – Cancer biology and genomics (Aitken Lab)
Department and School:
The Center of Molecular and Cellular Oncology (CMCO) and Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine
Anticipated Appointment Date:
Spring/summer 2025
Email/Website:
https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/sarah-aitken/
Description:
Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Associate to join the research group of Dr Sarah Aitken (MBChB PhD) in the Center of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Yale Cancer Center investigating the causes and consequences of mutational processes in human health and disease. We are an interdisciplinary team of experimental, computational, and clinician scientists allowing us to generate and analyse complex data from emerging genomic pathology approaches, including CRISPR, single cell sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and image analysis to address biologically- and clinically-driven questions. Our overall aim is to investigate mechanisms of cellular damage, and to understand their consequences for human health and disease.
We wish to recruit a motivated postdoc to lead projects which aim to understand genome stability and acquired DNA alterations in normal cells and in cancer development. The successful applicant will work independently, perform experiments, develop and optimise assays, and analyse, interpret, and present data. In addition, they will contribute to other Aitken lab projects (Yale and University of Cambridge, UK), and interact with collaborators in the US and Europe.
The ideal candidate will have expertise cell and molecular biology in human cell models, cancer biology, and genomics. Experience in genomic instability, DNA damage/repair, and mutagenesis is beneficial. Computational experience is highly desirable but not required. We are also interested in candidates with experience working with human tissue, spatial transcriptomics/genomics, laser capture microdissection, and/or image analysis. The role holder must have excellent communication skills with a proven track record of interacting effectively within interdisciplinary teams (biologists, clinicians, computer scientists, etc), as well as creativity, curiosity, problem-solving skills.
We think the best career opportunities for postdocs come in an environment where you lead major projects, contribute to other projects, and actively help to build positive lab culture. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to develop their career through cutting-edge research, close mentorship, and interactions with great collaborators in the UK, Europe and the USA.
Responsibilities include:
- Design, execute, and interpret experiments and analyses.
- Supervision and training of students and staff members.
- Participation in group meetings, journal clubs, and CMCO seminars.
- Prepare manuscripts and contribute to grant proposals.
- Present work at internal and external scientific meetings.
- Participate in lab organisation, housekeeping, shared tasks.
- Work with (and establish new) local and international collaborations.
Qualifications:
- PhD or MD-PhD in molecular biology, genetics, biomedicine, bioinformatics, or a related field.
- Track record of research productivity, supported by first-author publication(s) in peer-reviewed journals (or preprints).
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to work productively both independently and within collaborative teams.
Recent publications:
1. Aitken et al. Genetic background sets the trajectory of cancer evolution. bioRxiv (2025) https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.01.13.632787v1
2. Anderson et al. Strand-resolved mutagenicity of DNA damage and repair. Nature (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07490-1 PMID: 38867042
3. Ng et al. Convergent somatic mutations in metabolism genes in chronic liver disease. Nature (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03974-6 PMID: 34646017
4. Aitken et al. Pervasive lesion segregation shapes cancer genome evolution. Nature (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2435-1 PMID: 32581361;
5. Brunner et al. Somatic mutations and clonal dynamics in healthy and cirrhotic human liver. Nature (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1670-9 PMID: 31645727
Values:
We are committed to building a community where each of us can feel a sense of belonging, and where we can develop our own potential and the potential of our scholarship, research, and practice. Yale is committed to an environment of diversity, civility, and intellectual discovery in which everyone can thrive. Yale does not tolerate harassment or any other act of discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.
Location:
The Aitken lab is split between Yale University and the University of Cambridge, UK which provides a valuable opportunity for transatlantic collaboration with colleagues in Europe.
This position is based at Yale, where we are located at in the Center of Molecular and Cellular Oncology (CMCO), Yale Cancer Center, and part of the Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine. CMCO fosters and mentors physician-scientists to advance laboratory-based research programs to bridge fundamental cancer biology with clinical investigation for the translation of basic discoveries into better therapeutics, treatments, or diagnoses.
Compensation:
Compensation for postdoctoral researchers starts at $68,000. Information about additional benefits is available on the Office for Postdoctoral Affairs: https://postdocs.yale.edu/policies/postdoc-compensation
Application process:
Candidates should email Dr Sarah Aitken with the following:
1. Cover letter: brief statement of research experience and interests, your motivation to join the Aitken lab, and future career goals.
2. CV
3. Contact information (including email address and phone number) for three referees, one of whom should be your most recent line manager.
Please include “Postdoctoral Associate (Experimental), Your full name” in the subject line.
Closing date: We will review applications on a rolling basis.