The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to join a collaborative, co-mentored research program between the laboratories of Dr. Cyrus Vaziri and Dr. Jessica Bowser. The successful candidate will investigate fundamental mechanisms of the DNA damage response ( DDR), cell cycle regulation, and their implications for genome stability, cancer biology, and therapeutic response For recent related publications please see: Nat Commun. 2025 Aug 5;16(1):7214. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-62368-8. PMID 40764480; Cell Rep. 2025 Jan 28;44(1):115104. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.115104. Epub 2024 Dec 20. PMID 39708320; Nat Commun. 2024 Mar 4;15(1):1957. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-45979-5. PMID 38438348. This position offers the unique benefit of dual academic mentorship, along with industry-relevant experience through collaborations with the Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery ( UNC) and the Metabolomics and Exposome Laboratory ( UNC). These collaborations will provide the candidate with access to complementary expertise, resources, and scientific perspectives across multiple disciplines.

Experience in DNA damage and cell cycle fields.

Knowledge
Subject-specific knowledge: A strong base of knowledge in signal transduction, genome maintenance, DNA replication, cell cycle, and how these processes impact carcinogenesis and cancer therapy.

Research methods: Independence and expertise in designing experiments, collecting data, and performing necessary techniques.
Responsible conduct of research: Familiarity with ethical guidelines, regulations, and policies governing research.
Funding and publishing: Understanding the processes for securing grants and publishing findings in scientific journals.

Skills
Communication: Ability to communicate effectively through writing (manuscripts) and speaking (seminars, presentations) to both specialized and broad audiences.
Data analysis and statistics: Proficiency with statistical software (e.g., GraphPad Prism) and strong analytical skills, ability to generate high-resolution publication-quality figures (e.g. using Adobe Illustrator).
Technical skills: Demonstrated expertise in state-of-the-art molecular biology, cell biology, genetic, and biochemical approaches required to study mechanisms of genome maintenance. This includes cell culture, DNA cloning, mutagenesis, expressing proteins in mammalian and bacterial cells, gene editing, protein biochemistry, imaging, flow cytometry. Ability to learn new techniques quickly and efficiently. Ability to troubleshoot.
Project management: Ability to multi-task, manage time, projects, and resources effectively.
Scientific writing: Ability to write manuscripts and generate high-quality figures.

Abilities
Adaptability and resilience: The capacity to adapt to new research directions, technologies, and work environments.
Independent work: The ability to work independently, formulate and test hypotheses, and drive your own research.
Problem-solving and critical thinking: Analytical ability to identify problems and find effective solutions.
Collaboration: Working effectively in interdisciplinary and collaborative teams.
Leadership and management: Interpersonal skills necessary to manage a project, collaborate with others, and facilitate teamwork.
Professionalism: reliable, accountable, considerate, honest.
Goal-orientation and professional maturity: Understanding that this position strictly requires achieving research milestones and deliverables (manuscripts) that benefit the entire lab while facilitating your own professional goals. The PIs (Vaziri and Bowser) will be committed to your success: they will develop an individual training plan ( IDP) that is tailored to your specific needs and will ensure that you attain your scientific and career goals.

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Minimum lab attendance is 9:00-6:00 M-F. Occasional late evenings and weekend days will also be necessary to ensure continuity of experiments. Administrative work (e.g. online trainings and certificates required by UNC) and data management and analysis will be done outside of these hours.