Postdoctoral Associate - Chromatin Regulation by Fusion Oncoproteins

Summary

The Eagen Lab at Baylor College of Medicine is recruiting a highly motivated Postdoctoral Associate. The Postdoctoral Associate will lead interdisciplinary research projects on how oncogenic fusion proteins reprogram chromatin and gene regulation in aggressive cancers. The position integrates third-generation, long-read sequencing, epigenomics, and functional genomics to uncover mechanisms of transcriptional control and genome regulation in fusion-driven cancers.

The Postdoctoral Associate will design and execute experiments, develop analytical workflows, and drive projects from conception through publication. This role offers outstanding opportunities to publish high-impact research, present at international conferences, and build a strong professional network within a highly collaborative biomedical environment.

About the Eagen Lab

The Eagen Lab investigates how fusion oncoproteins drive aggressive cancers at the molecular level. A notable discovery from the lab is that the BRD4-NUT fusion oncoprotein dysregulates DNA folding to activate oncogenic transcriptional programs. The lab has published in journals including Molecular Cell, Nature Genetics, Nature Cell Biology, and Cancer Research, and has received recognition from the NIH Director, the National Cancer Institute, the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, and philanthropic organizations.

Baylor College of Medicine is located in the Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest biomedical campus, and provides an exceptionally collaborative research environment. The laboratory emphasizes scientific independence, rigor, and professional development, with dedicated support for developing independent research programs and advancing career goals.

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter describing research interests and career goals, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references in the application. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Baylor College of Medicine typically follows the NIH stipulated stipend guidelines for Postdoctoral Associates.

Job Duties

• Leads independent research projects by designing, executing, troubleshooting, and interpreting experiments in molecular and cellular biology.
• Develops and implements third-generation sequencing approaches that includes long-read PacBio and Oxford Nanopore, with a strong emphasis on single-molecule chromatin fiber profiling (e.g. Fiber-seq).
• Applies and/or develops epigenomic and transcriptomic assays such as CUT&RUN and RNA-seq (including specialized formats as appropriate).
• Analyzes and integrates multi-modal genomic datasets using computational approaches (with access to robust HPC resources).
• Evaluates data to plan subsequent stages of projects and collaborates with team members to refine research strategies.
• Disseminates findings through first-author publications and presentations at national/international conferences.
• Establishes new scientific directions by reading and evaluating scientific literature and integrating new findings into ongoing research projects.
• Contributes to an intellectually collaborative lab culture by making essential contributions to exciting problems while ensuring a high standard of biomedical research.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• MD or Ph.D. in Basic Science, Health Science, or a related field.
• No experience required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with one or more of the following: long-read sequencing, Fiber-seq, CUT&RUN/CUT&Tag, RNA-seq, chromatin profiling, or related genomics approaches.
• Familiarity with computational analysis (e.g., Python, R, Bash) and/or genome-scale data integration.
• Experience with cell culture and functional genomics (e.g., CRISPR/Cas9), cancer models, and/or microscopy.
• Strong track record of first-author peer-reviewed publication(s) demonstrating productivity and scientific independence.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• A record of taking initiative to solve problems and working to high-quality standards demonstrated through previous research projects.
• Ability to multitask, work and learn independently, and be self-motivated in a fast-paced research environment.
• Attention to detail and accurate record keeping.