Indiana University School of Medicine | Department of Urology | Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center

Position Overview

The El-Kenawi Laboratory at Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center (NCI-designated) is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to investigate metabolic mechanisms of immune suppression in the prostate tumor microenvironment. Our research focuses on understanding how cancer cells exploit metabolic symbiosis with neighboring cells to drive therapeutic resistance, with particular emphasis on cholesterol metabolism and its role in hormonal therapy resistance.

This position offers exceptional training opportunities in cutting-edge metabolomics (Orbitrap LC-MS), cancer immunology, and translational cancer research in a collaborative, well-funded environment.

Research Focus

• Metabolic interactions in the tumor microenvironment
• Cancer immunometabolism and immune cell suppression
• Cholesterol metabolism in therapeutic resistance
• Nutrient scavenging mechanisms in cancer progression

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute independent research projects on cancer metabolism and immune cell function
• Perform advanced metabolomics using LC-MS (Orbitrap) and integrate multi-omic datasets
• Conduct molecular biology, flow cytometry, and functional immunology assays
• Work with preclinical mouse models of prostate cancer and clinical samples.
• Prepare manuscripts, present at conferences, and contribute to grant applications
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Cancer Biology, Immunology, Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, Computational Biology, or related field
• Strong publication record and demonstrated productivity
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with metabolomics (LC-MS, GC-MS) and metabolic pathway analysis
• Computational skills for multi-omic data analysis (R, Python) is a plus.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary following NIH guidelines with comprehensive benefits
• Access to state-of-the-art metabolomics core (Orbitrap LC-MS) and NCI-designated cancer center facilities
• Collaborative research environment with leading cancer researchers
• Professional development opportunities including grant writing training and career mentorship
• Support for conference presentations and networking
• Affordable cost of living in Indianapolis with excellent quality of life

How to Apply

Please submit the following materials in a single PDF:

• Cover letter (1-2 pages) describing research interests, experience, and career goals
• Curriculum vitae with publication list
• Brief summary of prior research (1 page)
• Contact information for three references

Contact:

Dr. Asmaa El-Kenawi
Email: asmaa.elkenawi@cancerimmunometabolism.com
Website: https://cancerimmunometabolism.com

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Early application is encouraged.

About IU School of Medicine

Indiana University School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the United States and home to the Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center providing outstanding research infrastructure and collaborative opportunities.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a culturally diverse intellectual community and strongly encourages applications from women and underrepresented groups.