Staff Scientist

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is seeking an outstanding and highly motivated Staff Scientist to join its intramural research program in Bethesda, Maryland. The position will focus on clinical and translational research of thyroid cancer, with the goal of advancing our mechanistic understanding of this disease's pathogenesis and improving our therapeutic strategies for patients with advanced and treatment-refractory thyroid malignancies.

The selected candidate will join a multidisciplinary team that integrates clinical investigation, molecular biology, and translational science. This Staff Scientist will play a central role in the design and execution of translational research studies that integrate patient-derived samples, clinical data, and mechanistic laboratory investigations by contributing scientific leadership and technical expertise in molecular oncology, endocrine tumor biology, and therapeutic development.

Responsibilities include:

• Designing and conducting translational studies using human biospecimens, clinically annotated datasets, and in vivo animal models (including genetically engineered mouse models, xenografts and patient-derived xenograft systems)
• Investigating molecular drivers of thyroid cancer progression and resistance to targeted therapies
• Developing and validating biomarkers for prognosis, therapeutic response, and disease monitoring
• Applying advanced genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic approaches to characterize tumor biology.
• Collaborating closely with clinician-investigators to integrate laboratory findings with ongoing or planned clinical trials and contributing to clinical protocol development
• Analyzing and interpreting complex datasets and preparing manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals
• Mentoring fellows and trainees in translational research methodologies

Our research areas of emphasis include:

• Molecular mechanisms of thyroid tumor initiation and progression
• Oncogenic signaling pathways (e.g., MAPK, PI3K/AKT) in thyroid cancer
• Mechanisms of resistance to kinase inhibitors and other targeted therapies
• Tumor microenvironment and immune modulation in advanced thyroid cancer
• Precision oncology approaches and translational biomarker development
• Genetic background and hereditary predisposition in familial thyroid cancer, including identification and functional characterization of germline susceptibility variants

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in oncology, molecular biology, endocrinology, pharmacology, or a related biomedical discipline
• Demonstrated record of high-quality peer-reviewed publications in cancer biology or translational oncology
• Experience working with human biospecimens and/or clinically annotated datasets
• Substantial experience designing, implementing, and analyzing studies using in vivo animal models of cancer (genetically engineered mouse models, orthotopic models, xenografts, or patient-derived xenografts)
• Expertise in modern molecular and cellular techniques (next-generation sequencing, gene editing, signaling pathway analysis, tumor profiling)
• Strong analytical skills, including experience with large-scale genomic or multi-omic datasets
• Ability to work effectively in a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary clinical research environment

Desired Qualifications:

• Postdoctoral research experience in thyroid cancer or endocrine oncology
• Experience contributing to or supporting translational studies, including correlative science studies
• Familiarity with regulatory and ethical considerations related to human subjects research
• Experience with patient-derived xenograft models, genetically engineered mouse models, orthotopic tumor models, organoid systems, or immune profiling, including familiarity with experimental design, animal protocol development, and data interpretation
• Demonstrated experience in mentorship project management, and leadership

Selection for this position will be based solely on merit, with no discrimination for non-merit reasons such as race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, age, or membership or non-membership in an employee organization. The NIH encourages the application and nomination of qualified women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities. DHHS is an equal opportunity employer. The NIH is dedicated to building a diverse community in its training and employment programs. Applications from underrepresented groups and female candidates are particularly encouraged. Salary is dependent on qualifications and experience. A full package of Civil Service benefits is available including retirement, health and life insurance, long-term care insurance, leave and savings plan (401(k) equivalent). Appointments for this position are made as Staff Scientist and are open to all sources. The position is based in Bethesda, Maryland.