The Durbin Lab in the Division of Molecular Oncology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital studies the fundamental mechanisms that drive children’s cancer. While patient outcomes have improved in some malignancies, pediatric solid tumors in particular continue to be difficult to manage with little improvements over the past decades. For most of these diseases, no targeted therapies are available, and unfortunately, conventional therapies are fraught with toxicities.
With advances in functional genomics, the role of epigenetic enzymes and transcription factor complexes in driving cell lineage and cancer pathogenesis has come to the forefront. These represent new opportunities to control high-risk childhood solid tumors, such as neuroblastoma. These processes are made more complex by the presence of intratumoral heterogeneity – the presence of cells in distinct states, within a complex primary tumor (Cell Reports Medicine 2022). Understanding the basic principles of how these cells interact to control growth of a tumor is critical to the successful design of new therapeutic interventions for childhood cancer
The Durbin lab is interested in a broad, “multi-omics” approach to the epigenetically-coded processes that drive pediatric cancer. Our work has identified key targets in pediatric solid tumors, including rhabdomyosarcoma and neuroblastoma (Nature Genetics 2018; Nature Genetics 2021; Cancer Discovery 2022; Nature Communications 2024; Journal of Experimental Medicine 2026). We have built on these studies to develop first generation molecules suitable for targeting these proteins (Cancer Discovery 2022; Nature Communications 2024). Our goal is to more deeply understand fundamental principles of tumor cellbiology, and use these todevelop new therapies. Using newly developed tools, including advanced genome editing tools, we have developed fundamental insights into how cell state is controlled in childhood solid tumors. We seek to use these tools to understand and control the biological principles that govern cancer cell epigenetics, to improve our ability to control fundamental cancer processes, such as growth, resistance to therapy and metastasis.
We are seeking highly motivated post-doctoral fellows with interest in interrogating cell state and tumor molecular cell biology to identify new ways to control tumor malignant behaviorsThe ideal applicant is a collaborative individual who will learn and use state-of-the-art techniques in genetics, molecular biology, chemical and cell biology to investigatein vitro and in vivo models of human diseases with a particular focus on transcriptional biology and epigenetics.
Minimum Education:
PhD degree in an appropriate scientific field is required Experience in mammalian cell culture is absolutely required, as is prior experience with basic transcriptional and epigenetic biology techniques (molecular cloning, DNA/RNA extraction, flow cytometry, ChIP-seq, CUT&RUN or ATACseq).Experience with command-line analysisfor high throughput omics technologies, and functional genomics screening (CRISPRa, CRISPRi, conventional CRISPR knockout) is preferred but not mandatory.Applicants are welcome from within St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and outside of the Institute equally We welcome individuals from diverse backgrounds.
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St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a global leader in the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other life-threatening diseases of childhood.
Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, St. Jude is the first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. St. Jude has been named a top pediatric cancer hospital on U.S. News & World Report’s annual "Best Hospitals" list and named to Fortune magazine’s "100 Best Companies to Work For" list.
Research and treatments developed at St. Jude are shared to help improve the survival rate for children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases worldwide. St. Jude is recognized as one of the world’s premier pediatric research and treatment institutions with a focus on acute lymphoblastic leukemia, brain tumors and infectious diseases. With eight affiliate clinics across the country, St. Jude treats about 8,600 children each year. Beyond the United States, the institution’s St. Jude Global initiative seeks to improve health care for children with life-threatening disease worldwide.
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