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Postdoctoral fellow position is available to highly motivated candidates with a background in cancer research, molecular or cellular biology, immunology, or tumor microenvironment studies. Projects will focus on prostate cancer genetics and biology, with a special interest in crosstalk between cancer cells and immune components in the tumor microenvironment and metastatic niche.

The Principal Investigator of our laboratory is Dr. Di Zhao, Assistant Professor in the Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center. Her highly productive doctoral and postdoctoral research led to several first-author research articles in Cancer Cell (2013), JCI (2014), Nature (2017), and Cancer Discovery (2020). In 2019, Dr. Zhao started her independent laboratory at MD Anderson. Combining state-of-the-art genetically engineered mouse modeling systems and single-cell multi-omics, her team has successfully characterized several genetic and epigenetic determinants that drive prostate cancer progression, tumor microenvironment remodeling, and resistance to therapies, which were published in Nature Cancer (2025), Nature Communications (2025), Science Translational Medicine (2023), and Cancer Research (2022). Dr. Zhao has received numerous awards and grants, including the K99/R00 Award, CPRIT Recruitment Award, NIH/NCI R01s, Prostate Cancer Foundation Challenge Award, and DoD Prostate Cancer Idea Development Award, among others. Most recently, Dr. Zhao was selected as a NextGen Star for the AACR Annual Meeting 2025.

Please send CV, a cover letter stating research interests and career goals, and names and contact information of three references to:

Di Zhao, PhD

Email: [email protected]

Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

6565 MD Anderson Blvd Unit 1052, Houston, TX 77030

*LEARNING OBJECTIVES*

Will perform research projects focus on prostate cancer genetics and biology, with a special interest in understanding crosstalk between cancer cells and immune components in the tumor microenvironment and metastatic niche. The research directions include 1) characterizing the genetic events that drive prostate cancer development, metastatic progression, and therapy resistance; 2) identifying genetic determinants that reshape the tumor microenvironment and metastatic niche; 3) developing biomarker-driven immunotherapies and combinatorial strategies for precision cancer medicine.

*ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS*

A Ph.D. degree in Cancer Biology, Molecular Biology, Immunology, or equivalent is required. Applicants with a strong publication record and relevant research experience in oncogenic signaling, tumor microenvironment, immunology, and computational biology are preferred. We highly value hard work, curiosity, innovation, teamwork, and professional development, all of which are combined with a healthy work-life balance. The postdoc candidate is expected to join the lab in 2025.

*ADDITIONAL APPLICATION INFORMATION*

Dr. Zhao's faculty profile page: https://faculty.mdanderson.org/profiles/di\_zhao.html

Zhao Lab Website: https://www.mdanderson.org/research/departments-labs-institutes/labs/zhao-laboratory.html

*POSITION INFORMATION*

MD Anderson offers full-time postdoc positions with a [salary ranging from $64,000 to $76,000](https://trainees.mdanderson.org/apply/mdaPostdoctoralFellowStipendFY24.pdf). depending on the number of years of postgraduate experience. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center offers excellent [benefits](https://www.utsystem.edu/offices/employee-benefits/insurance-0/eligibility), including medical, dental, [paid time off](https://www.mdanderson.org/about-md-anderson/employee-resources/leave.html), [retirement](https://www.utsystem.edu/offices/employee-benefits/ut-retirement-program/voluntary-retirement-programs), tuition benefits, educational opportunities, and individual and team recognition08/31/2025