Henry M. Jackson Foundation

Overview

Join the HJF Team!

The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing military medicine. We serve military, medical, academic and government clients by administering, managing and supporting preeminent scientific programs that benefit members of the armed forces and civilians alike. Since its founding in 1983, HJF has served as a vital link between the military medical community and its federal and private partners. HJF's support and administrative capabilities allow military medical researchers and clinicians to maintain their scientific focus and accomplish their research goals.

A postdoctoral fellow position is immediately available within the laboratory of Dr. Ayesha Shafi who is seeking a highly motivated person to fill the position of Postdoctoral Fellow. This position provides excellent opportunities for continued scientific development and contributions at the interface between research and administration in a dynamic laboratory environment and larger interdisciplinary setting. The Shafi laboratory interests include the characterization of comprehensive molecular signatures, survival pathways and associated rational therapeutic targets in lethal prostate cancers, with a specific focus on circadian dysfunction, DNA repair, nuclear receptor function, environmental exposure, and their role in disease progression and therapeutic resistance. To achieve this, we generate and utilize novel genetically engineered in vitro and ex vivo models including human cells lines, human explant tissue, and human & mouse 3D organoid cultures, therapeutics, functional genomics, and molecular and genomic approaches (including next generation sequencing platforms, and CRISPR/Cas9 technology).

The Postdoctoral Fellow will be responsible for initiating and carrying out research projects in collaboration with a research team consisting of scientific and clinical investigators. Candidates should have a working knowledge of molecular biology, DNA damage repair, biochemistry, 3D organoid and in vitro modeling and basic knowledge of bulk omics and desire to learn spatial profiling. Important to the Shafi Lab mission is to translate scientific discovery to first in human clinical trials.

Career building opportunities include development of scientific presentation and writing skills, development of leadership skills in collaborative research, fellowship submissions, as well as paper presentation at national and international meetings.

This position will be in support of Murtha Cancer Center Research Program's (MCCRP) Center for Prostate Disease Research (CPDR).

About CPDR:

CPDR is an interdisciplinary translational prostate cancer research program of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) Department of Surgery and the John P. Murtha Cancer Center Research Program at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Established in 1992 (Public Law 102-172), CPDR's mission is fulfilled primarily through its three principal programs: (1) the Clinical Translational Research Center; (2) the Basic Science Research Program, and (3) the Multicenter National Prostate Cancer Database to encompass its clinical research work with participating military medical centers. 

Please click here to learn more about CPDR.

Responsibilities

• Assists in designing, developing, executing, and implementing scientific research and/or development.
• Investigates the feasibility of applying a wide variety of scientific principles and theories to potential inventions and products.
• Performs specialized laboratory research utilizing experimental protocols which involves specialized procedures.
• Collects and handles samples and keeps detailed records of experiments.
• Assists with the preparation of data for presentations at scientific meetings and for publication in journals.
• May perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned or directed by the supervisor. This may include attendance of and participation in required training for role.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Performs duties as assigned by the Principal Investigator including experimental design.
• Ability to analyze data and interpret results.
• Candidate should have knowledge of relevant molecular & cellular biology skills/techniques, cancer signaling pathways, and cell culture work.
• The laboratory works with large-scale omic data explore cancer networks. Background in cancer cell biology/models, molecular biology, biochemistry, epigenetics, and human/mouse models.
• Experience or willingness to learn basic bioinformatic analyses is desirable.

Physical Capabilities

• Lifting: Requires lifting materials up to 25 lbs.
• Ability to stand or sit at a computer for prolonged periods.

Qualifications

Work Environment

• This position will take place primarily in a laboratory setting.

Education and Experience

• Doctoral Degree required.
• Minimum of 0-5 years experience required.

All HJF employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination or an approved religious or medical accommodation will be required.

Employment with HJF is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, which may include, but is not limited to, contacting your professional references, verification of previous employment, education and credentials, a criminal background check, and a department of motor vehicle (DMV) check if applicable. Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer. 

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.