Postdoctoral Research Scholar - Oncology

Essential Job Duties:

The Postdoctoral Research Scholar will work under the direct guidance of Dr. Mike Nolan, a veterinary radiation oncologist whose research includes both comparative oncology and cancer neurosciences. Specifically, the Nolan Lab engages in two types of research:

• Veterinary Clinical Trials: the purpose is to develop novel therapies for pet dogs and cats with cancer; recent endeavors have included nanoparticle-based therapies, small molecule inhibitors that act as radiosensitizers, and immune checkpoint inhibitors.
• Laboratory-Based Translational Research: the lab uses conventional animal modeling and benchtop approaches in cell and molecular biology to study both mechanisms of cancer treatment induced pain, and crosstalk between pain signaling pathways and cancer behavior.

The Lab is situated within the Department of Clinical Sciences, at North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM). The CVM is a dynamic community whose members are dedicated to preparing veterinarians and veterinary scientists while advancing animal and human health from the cellular level through entire ecosystems.

The candidate will work with other members of the lab team, including two research technicians, a veterinarian who is pursuing a PhD, PhD-level postdoctoral scientists, and several veterinary and undergraduate student researchers. The team also interacts daily with technicians and clinical trial coordinators that work for the College's Clinical Studies Core. Close on-site faculty collaborators include Dr. Duncan Lascelles (a translational pain researcher, veterinarian, and specialist in small animal surgery with advanced fellowship training in oncologic surgery), and Dr. Santosh Mishra (neurobiologist and itch researcher with particular expertise in mouse modeling), plus a large number of collaborating clinical faculty on the medical, radiation, and surgical oncology services.

The purpose of this position is to provide the Postdoctoral Research Scholar with training in clinical research including hypothesis generation and testing, data collection, basic statistical analysis, scientific writing and presentation and review of the literature. The position is designed to embed the individual in a large animal (canine/feline) translational and clinical research program, allowing them to acquire skills related to cancer management (diagnosis, treatment, follow-up) and cancer research.

Duties and Responsibilities:

With supervision and support from the PI, lab manager and research team, the candidate will learn to execute previously planned/funded canine and feline clinical studies. This will include clinical activities (e.g., physical examinations, prescribing supportive care, providing care to hospitalized patients, interacting with technicians and support staff, medical record keeping, client communication), laboratory activities (not limited to but may include things such as PBMC isolation, cell culture), and documentation of research outcomes (in paper and electronic format). The candidate will learn to organize and analyze data. The candidate will learn to make written and oral presentations of their research, and they will (with help from the team) work to publish research results. Daily, they will interact with faculty, postdoctoral associates, and graduate students within NC State, and at collaborating institutions.

Preferred Experience, Skills, Training/Education:

• Proficiency in small animal (canine/feline) veterinary practice (e.g., physical examinations, minor surgical procedures such as biopsies, interpretation of bloodwork)
• Excellent communication skills (especially written and verbal English)
• Ability to work with others in a collegial team atmosphere.
• Computer literacy: working knowledge of common word processing, spreadsheet, and document editing skills
• Demonstrable enthusiasm and interest in clinical research (e.g., previous work/experience, publications).

Necessary Licenses or Certifications:

Candidates must meet requirements for a North Carolina Faculty License, or regular North Carolina veterinary licensure.