Job Openings and Opportunities

The lab currently has openings for postdoctoral fellows, graduate students and undergraduate students. In particular, there are many intriguing projects for rotation students. Please contact Dr. Xin Lu (xlu@nd.edu) if you are interested in joining us to explore exciting opportunities of translational cancer research.


Post Doctoral Position

NOVEL CANCER GENE AND THERAPY DISCOVERY IN THE ERA OF CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY

Dr. Xin Lu is John M. and Mary Jo Boler Associate Professor (tenured and endowed) at University of Notre Dame. The goal of Lu lab (https://biology.nd.edu/labs/lu-lab/) is to identify novel immuno-oncology targets and develop immunotherapies to benefit patients with metastatic cancers. We focus on both cancer cell intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms of tumor immune evasion in a range of cancer types (e.g., prostate, breast, pancreas, kidney). Our research approach integrates genetically engineered mouse models, functional genomics, experimental therapeutics, and cutting-edge experimental and computational methodologies (single cell RNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics, high-throughput drug and CRISPR/cas9 screen, molecular digital pathology, multi-omics integration, etc.). Some recent publications include Wang*, Lu*, et al. Cancer Discovery, 2016 [PMID: 26701088]; Lu et al. Nature, 2017 [PMID: 28321130]; Feng…Lu, PNAS 2018 [PMID: 30232256]; Huang…Lu, Nat Comm, 2020 [PMID: 32358507]; Zhu…Lu, Science Immunology, 2023 [PMID: 36897957].

Located at the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame and affiliated with Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Lu lab is seeking highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow candidates with interests or expertise in areas such as:

  • Cellular, biochemical or metabolic mechanism of cancer progression and metastasis
  • Tumor microenvironment and immunology, tumor and immune metabolism, immunotherapy
  • Cancer genomics, bioinformatics, single-cell RNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics, CRISPR screen
  • Medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, tissue engineering, 3D tumor organoids

The lab research is actively supported by federal agencies and private foundations. A range of available projects include but are not limited to: (1) Mechanistic understanding of immunosuppressive myeloid cells; (2) Heterogeneity of MDSCs, neutrophils and other myeloid cells; (3) Metabolic reprogramming to enhance cancer immunotherapy; (4) Immunological regulation of cancer metastasis; (5) Gene functions and therapy development for solid tumors; (6) Novel 3D tumor organoids enabling high-throughput screening of immunotherapeutics.


Position Requirements

Candidate should already hold or expected to hold a doctoral degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology, immunology, bioinformatics or related field. Experiences that are desirable (but not required) include mammalian cell culture, molecular cloning, cell biology and biochemistry assays, RNAi, CRISPR, immunology, animal models, histopathology, single-cell technology, or bioinformatics/computational biology. A notable publication record, effective communication skills and teamwork spirit are beneficial.

A generous offer package will be provided. University of Notre Dame is among the top 20 universities in the US ranked by US News. You will enjoy beautiful campus, safe and enriched environment and low-cost comfortable living style. Please kindly email current CV and names of 3 references to Dr. Xin Lu at XLU@ND.EDU.

Note: The University of Notre Dame is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minority candidates are encouraged to apply.


NOVEL CANCER GENE AND THERAPY DISCOVERY IN THE ERA OF CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY

The goal of Dr. Xin Lu’s lab (https://biology.nd.edu/labs/lu-lab/) is to identify novel therapeutic targets and realize innovative combination therapy strategies to benefit cancer patients, through mechanistic investigation, functional genomics, mouse modeling and therapeutics development (some select recent publications: Wang*, Lu*, et al. Cancer Discovery, 2016; Lu et al. Nature, 2017; Feng…Lu, PNAS 2018; Huang…Lu, Nat Comm, 2020). Located at the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame and affiliated with Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, the Lu lab is seeking highly motivated PhD or MD scientists with expertise and interests in one or more of following areas:

  • C​​​​​ellular, biochemical or metabolic mechanism of cancer progression and metastasis, especially for but not limited to prostate cancer and breast cancer
  • T​​​​​​umor microenvironment, tumor immunology and/or cancer immunotherapy
  • C​​​​​​omputational cancer bioinformatics, integrated analysis of oncogenomics and/or proteomics data and functional validation in cell culture and animal models.

The lab research is supported by active grants from NIH, DOD, private foundations and internal resources. A range of available projects includes: (1) Mechanistic understanding of immunosuppressive myeloid cells; (2) Metabolic reprogramming to enhance cancer immunotherapy; (3) Molecular mechanism of prostate cancer bone metastasis; (4) Anti-metastasis and pro-metastasis functions of neutrophil subsets; (5) Gene functions and therapy development to treat refectory prostate cancer or breast cancer.

Position Requirments

A doctoral degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology, immunology, bioinformatics or related field is required. A qualified candidate should already hold or expected to hold a doctoral degree at the time of applying. Experiences that are desirable (but not required) include mammalian cell culture, basic molecular cloning, cell biology, biochemistry, RNAi, CRISPR, immunology, animal models, histopathology, single-cell technology, or bioinformatics/computational biology. Furthermore, a notable publication record, strong interpersonal and teamwork skills are also beneficial.

A generous job package will be provided. University of Notre Dame is among the top 20 universities in the US ranked by US News. You will enjoy beautiful campus, safe and enriched environment and low-cost comfortable living style. Please kindly submit a current C.V. and names of 3 references to Dr. Xin Lu, Boler Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, IN 46556, xlu@nd.edu.

The University of Notre Dame is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minority candidates are encouraged to apply.