Department:

SOM KC Cancer Biology

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Bossmann

Position Title:

Assistant Professor - CanBio

Job Family Group:

Academic

Job Description Summary:

The Department of Cancer Biology at the University of Kansas Medical Center seeks an Assistant Professor to establish an innovative and collaborative research program at the interface of cancer biology, extracellular vesicle biology, liquid biopsy, precision medicine, and therapeutic delivery. The successful candidate will develop an independent research program focused on understanding and exploiting tumor-derived cells, extracellular vesicles, nucleic acids, and other circulating biomarkers to advance cancer detection, disease monitoring, therapeutic stratification, and novel treatment approaches.

The position is particularly suited for a scientist with interdisciplinary expertise spanning cancer biology, bioanalytical chemistry, bioengineering, extracellular vesicles, microfluidics, and molecular diagnostics. The faculty member will be expected to integrate fundamental cancer biology with enabling technologies for the isolation, characterization, and functional analysis of rare cells and extracellular vesicles from complex biological samples. Particular emphasis will be placed on translating these technologies into clinically relevant approaches for precision oncology.

An important component of the research program will be the development of extracellular vesicles as both biomarkers and functional biological systems. Research may include characterization of extracellular-vesicle cargo, investigation of EV-mediated cellular communication, development of EV-based molecular signatures, and engineering of extracellular vesicles or related nanoscale systems for targeted therapeutic delivery. The candidate's existing research portfolio includes EV mRNA profiling, EV isolation and analysis, and a current project investigating extracellular vesicles for drug delivery, providing a strong foundation for development of this area as an independent research direction.

The successful candidate will also develop and apply liquid-biopsy technologies for translational cancer research, including circulating tumor cells, extracellular vesicles, cell-free nucleic acids, and other disease-associated biomarkers. These approaches may be applied to questions such as tumor heterogeneity, minimal residual disease, treatment response, mechanisms of metastasis, and emergence of therapeutic resistance. The candidate has demonstrated experience applying these approaches across multiple cancer types, including pancreatic, colorectal, ovarian, breast, hematologic, and head and neck malignancies.

Job Description:

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

• Establish and maintain an independent, externally funded research program in cancer biology with emphasis on extracellular vesicles, liquid biopsy, precision oncology, and/or therapeutic delivery.
• Develop innovative technologies and functional assays for isolation, characterization, and molecular analysis of extracellular vesicles, circulating tumor cells, nucleic acids, and other cancer-associated biomarkers.·
• Investigate the biological roles of extracellular vesicles and circulating tumor-derived materials in tumor progression, metastasis, treatment response, and resistance.·
• Develop EV-based or complementary nanoscale approaches for targeted drug and nucleic-acid delivery, creating opportunities for collaboration with investigators in cancer therapeutics, drug delivery, and experimental therapeutics.·
• Translate bioanalytical and microfluidic technologies into robust tools for preclinical and clinical cancer research.·
• Pursue independent and collaborative extramural funding from the NIH, NCI, foundations, and other appropriate agencies.·
• Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present results at national and international scientific meetings.·
• Participate in graduate and postdoctoral education and mentor undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers.·
• Contribute to departmental, Cancer Center, and institutional service consistent with academic rank.

 

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. It is only a summary of the typical functions of the job, not an exhaustive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, duties, and assignments. Furthermore, job duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Required Qualifications:

Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in cancer biology, chemistry, bioengineering, biomedical engineering, molecular biology, analytical sciences, or a closely related discipline.

Work Experience:

• Peer-reviewed scholarship and developing an independent research program.
• Experience in one or more of the following areas is particularly desirable: extracellular vesicle biology and engineering; cancer liquid biopsy; circulating tumor cells; molecular diagnostics; microfluidics or nanofluidics; nucleic-acid analysis; precision oncology; biomarker development; or drug-delivery technologies.
• Experience with collaborative and externally supported research, including participation in NIH-funded multidisciplinary programs and leadership or co-leadership of translational research projects.
• The CV documents PI, co-PI, investigator, core-leader, and training/dissemination leadership roles across NIH, Cancer Center, and other funded programs.

This position requires a formal degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure that candidates have the foundational knowledge and skill set required to perform the duties of the position.  The level of degree is based on accreditation requirements, institutional standards of academic and professional excellence, alignment with peer institution benchmarks, and contributes to the credibility and effectiveness of the role within the university community.

Preferred Qualifications:

Work Experience:

• Experience in extracellular vesicle isolation and molecular characterization, liquid-biopsy technologies, microfluidic systems,rare-cell analysis, and translational cancer biomarker development, together with a record of productive collaborations involving cancer researchers and clinical investigators.
• Experience developing technologies that bridge diagnostics and therapeutics is particularly desirable.
• The ideal candidate will complement existing strengths within the Department of Cancer Biology and The University of Kansas Cancer Center while establishing a distinct research niche in extracellular-vesicle biology and engineering for precision cancer medicine and drug delivery.
• 60 peer-reviewed publications and five book chapters, with recent work encompassing extracellular-vesicle molecular profiling, minimal residual disease, circulating tumor cells, cancer metastasis, and micro/nanofluidic analytical technologies.

Required Documents

Resume

Cover Letter

If selected as a final candidate for this position, you may be required to complete the Association of American of Universities Representations and Warranties document and sign a release of records that will allow the University of Kansas Medical Center to conduct a further background check with former employers.  A copy of the Representations and Warranties document can be found here.

Comprehensive Benefits Package:

Coverage begins on day one for health, dental, and vision insurance and includes health expense accounts with generous employer contributions if the employee participates in a qualifying health plan. Employer-paid life insurance, long-term disability insurance, and various additional voluntary insurance plans are available. Paid time off, including vacation and sick, begins accruing upon hire, plus ten paid holidays. One paid discretionary day is available after six months of employment, and paid time off for bereavement, jury duty, military service, and parental leave is available after 12 months of employment. A retirement program with a generous employer contribution and additional voluntary retirement programs (457 or 403b) are available. https://www.kumc.edu/human-resources/benefits.html

Employee Type:

Regular

Time Type:

Full time