Postdoctoral Researcher

A postdoctoral position is available in 2026 for a highly-motivated, enthusiastic individual in the NIH-funded group of Dr. Weiran Feng in the Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center . The Feng group studies the mechanisms of prostate cancer development and therapy resistance. We leverage state-of-the-art animal and organoid models, genetic engineering, functional genetics and spatial-temporal genomic approaches to investigate the molecular mechanisms driving prostate cancer initiation, progression, and therapy resistance. Our research explores both cancer cell-intrinsic pathways and the cell-cell interactions within the tumor microenvironment. Our overarching goal is to make mechanistic discoveries that drive novel therapy development to improve clinical benefits.

Lab website:

Position highlight

· Outstanding training : Integrate fundamental mechanistic discovery with disease-relevant, translational cancer epigenetics research.

· Advanced models : Leverage cutting-edge mouse genetics, animal- and patient-derived organoid models and xenografts, and patient specimens to enable mechanistic discovery and next-generation therapeutic development.

· Collaborative, interdisciplinary science : Work within a highly interactive team spanning epigenetics, cancer biology, genomics, pathology, and clinical/translational research across Fox Chase and the broader Cancer Epigenetics Institute (CEI) network.

· State-of-the-art resources : Access exceptional core facilities and shared resources, including advanced microscopy, flow cytometry, genomics, bioinformatics, and biobanking support.

· Exciting research environment : Benefit from the Cancer Epigenetics Institute (CEI) at Fox Chase, offering trainees direct exposure to global leaders in epigenetics and regular engagement with industry experts through seminars, symposia, and collaborative opportunities.

· Career development support : Receive structured mentorship and individualized professional development, including guidance on fellowship/grant applications, manuscript and presentation coaching, opportunities to mentor junior trainees, and support for conference travel, networking, and career placement in academia and industry.

Requirement

· Interested applicants should be highly dedicated, enthusiastic and have experience publishing peer reviewed manuscripts.

· Expertise in cancer biology, epigenetics, CRISPR engineering, animal work, molecular biology, and computation biology is preferred.

· Applicants should possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to conduct research both independently and collaboratively.

· Candidates must possess a doctoral level degree in a relevant field.

About the PI

Dr. Weiran Feng received PhD training in molecular and cell biology and genome editing with Dr. Maria Jasin at MSKCC. He then received postdoctoral training in organoid technology and cancer genetics with Dr. Charles Sawyers at MSKCC, with a focus on prostate cancer vulnerabilities. His work: i) developed an efficient approach to CRISPR edit organoids and freshly isolated primary cells for rapid in vivo functional interrogation; ii) discovered a cell context dependency and vulnerabilities of ERG, the most prevalent oncogenic transcription factor in prostate cancer. He co-authored 11 manuscripts, including multiple first-author research papers in top journals (Nat Genet, Nat Commun, PNAS), and received awards including an Olayan Fellowship Award, DoD Early Investigator Research Award, PCF Young Investigator Award, and an NCI-K99/R00 Award.

About Fox Chase Cancer Center

As one of the four original cancer centers to receive comprehensive designation from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Fox Chase has been at the forefront of cancer research for almost 90 years and is home to world-class clinicians, scientists, and research facilities. Moreover, Fox Chase is part of the rich scientific and biotech environment in the Philadelphia region and has a strong record of career placement in academia, industry, as well as other scientific positions.

To apply

Please email a CV, a cover letter briefly describing research interest(s) and goals, and the name of at least three references to Dr. Weiran Feng ([email protected]).

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $67,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Commuter assistance
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Relocation assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person