Post-Doctoral Fellow

Posting Description: This position reports directly to the Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Dermatology. NATURE OF WORK: The position is offered in Dr. Mayumi Fujita's laboratory through the Department of Dermatology. The appointment will be for a 2 year period. The main emphasis of this position will be working in the research areas of tumor inflammation and stem cells in human melanoma. A position is available to study the role of inflammation in melanoma at the University of Colorado Denver, School of Medicine. Specifically, the project is focused on the role of IL-1, IL-37, inflammasome (multi-protein complex controlling inflammation) on the invasion of human melanoma cells and human melanoma stem cells in the tumor microenvironment. The candidate will perform the investigation as follows: 1) The role and function of inflammasome and IL-37 on melanoma invasion in the tumor microenvironment (please refer to papers: J Biol Chem 285:6477-88, 2010, Biochem Biophys Res Commun 414: 551-6, 2011; Cancer Lett 314: 24-33, 2012; J Invest Dermatol 133(2): 518-27, 2013) 2) The role of IL-1, IL-37, inflammasome in cancer stem cells of human melanoma (please refer to papers: Stem Cells 30(10): 2100-13, 2012; J Invest Dermatol 132(10); 2440-50, 2012) 3) The role of alpha-1 antitrypsin in melanoma WORKING CONDITIONS: The position requires 100% effort working within the secured research laboratory. The position will require research laboratory bench work skills and handling of research specimens and animals. Immunology and molecular expertise required. Specific duties include: 1) Ability for independent data analysis and processing. 2) Cytokine analysis by ELISA 3) Multi-color flow cytometric analysis. 4) Molecular analysis for proteins including Western blotting and immunoprecipitation. 5) Molecular analysis for RNAs including quantitative RT-PCR. 6) Transfection or knockdown of genes, generation of stable clones. 7) FACS sorting 8) Immunohistological staining of cells or tissues 9) Functional analysis for proliferation/survival and angiogenesis

Minimum Qualifications: * Graduation from an accredited college or university with a PhD in one of these fields of study: Biology, Immunology, Chemistry or other related discipline * Minimum of 2 year(s) experience in Biology * Minimum of 2 year(s) experience in Immunology * Prior successful working experience using a wide range of molecular and cellular biology techniques. * Excellent communication skills using the English language. * The ability to work independently within the research lab. * Computer software, equipment operation, or research technical skills

Required Competencies/Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: * Experience in working with small animal cancer models is required. * Experience in immunology and cancer biology is required.

Desired Qualifications:

Campus: Anschutz Medical Campus