Mid-Atlantic HERC

The people of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) are united by a singular mission: ending cancer for life. Our specialized care teams provide personalized, compassionate, expert care to patients of all ages. Informed by basic research done at our Sloan Kettering Institute, scientists across MSK collaborate to conduct innovative translational and clinical research that is driving a revolution in our understanding of cancer as a disease and improving the ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat it. MSK is dedicated to training the next generation of scientists and clinicians, who go on to pursue our mission at MSK and around the globe.

Exciting Opportunity at MSK: Postdoctoral Research Fellow- Translational Cancer Genomics & Health Disparities
We are seeking a highly talented and motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join the Balogun-Chakravarty Laboratory for Gastrointestinal Cancer Disparities at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. This is a joint position bridging the GI Oncology Service (Department of Medicine) and the Molecular Diagnostics Service (Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine), under the mentorship of Drs. Fiyinfolu Balogun and Debyani Chakravarty. Our laboratory investigates how community factors and socioeconomic status shape the genetics and biology of gastrointestinal cancers, integrating large-scale genomic datasets with real-world clinical data to advance precision oncology and health equity. We collaborate closely with clinicians across Memorial Hospital, community hospital partners, and MSK core facilities to conduct innovative translational research.

• The successful candidate will join the interdisciplinary research teams of Drs. Fiyinfolu Balogun and Debyani Chakravarty bridging the GI Oncology and Clinical Computational Diagnostics Services.
• The primary focus of this fellowship will be research studies investigating the influence of community and socioeconomic status on the genetics and biology of GI cancers. There will also be opportunities to develop partnerships with community hospitals to establish research workflows and provide a framework for data acquisition.
• This framework will serve as a platform for hypothesis generation and a building block to improve precision oncology outcomes. This position will also involve a mixture of methodological development and analysis of large-scale datasets of patient samples from a leading cancer center.
• The fellow will play a leading role on research projects, have the chance to present research findings at national scientific meetings, develop grant writing skills and learn from a cadre of other computational scientists, clinical fellows and mentors.

Key Requirements:

• PhD in a computational or quantitative discipline -- including computational biology, bioinformatics, biostatistics, epidemiology, population genomics, data science, or a related field
• Experience with genomic data (NGS), clinical or real-world datasets (EHR, cancer registries), or both
• Strong foundation in quantitative methods, study design, and large-scale data analysis
• Proficiency in at least one statistical programming language: R, Python, or SAS
• Independent thinker with strong written and verbal communication skills
• Collaborative team member with a willingness to mentor junior trainees

Preferred Qualifications:

• Background in cancer disparities, health equity, population genomics, or cancer epidemiology
• Experience linking genomic data with clinical or socioeconomic variables
• MD/PhD or candidates with clinical research exposure are strongly encouraged to apply

Core Skills:

• Strong understanding of quantitative methods, study design, data analysis, and interpretation.
• Proficiency working with large genetic or population-based datasets (e.g., SEER, TCGA, NGS pipelines, or EHR-linked cohorts)
• Experience in at least one of: cancer genomics, genetic epidemiology, clinical data science, or computational oncology
• Familiarity with health disparities research methods or real-world data integration is a plus

Application Instructions:

Submit C.V., letter of interest, and references in your application submission to:
Juana Almonte
almontej@mskcc.org

Pay Range: $72,000 - $76,385

Helpful links:

• MSK Compensation Philosophy
• Review Our Great Benefits Offerings

Additional Information:

Learn more about working as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at MSK: What distinguishes this opportunity is access to high-quality facilities, innovative technologies, and a collaborative environment that promotes ingenuity. Working alongside leading professionals in computational genomics, genetic epidemiology, and GI oncology, you will contribute to research that advances precision oncology and improves outcomes for underserved patient populations globally. This fellowship is particularly well-suited for candidates motivated by health equity and the integration of real-world data into translational science.

Closing:

At MSK, we believe in fair, competitive pay that reflects your job, experience, and skills.

MSK is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of recruiting and employment. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration without regard to race, color, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran status or any other factor which cannot lawfully be used as a basis for an employment decision.

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