Title of the position: Post graduate associate
Department and School: Department of Surgery in the School of Medicine
Anticipated appointment dates: 5/30/2025-5/30/2026
Email: gavitt.woodard@yale.edu
Introduction to the School/Department:
Gavitt Woodard, MD, FACS, is seeking a Postgraduate Associate for a position in her thoracic oncology laboratory in the Department of Surgery at the Yale School of Medicine. The Department of Surgery in the School of Medicine conducts lots of research related to cancer and thoracic oncology. Research Projects - As a Postgraduate Associate, the candidate will perform basic science and translational research related to two ongoing projects: 1) characterizing tumor infiltrating immune cells in lung cancer and 2) characterizing genetics of early-stage semi-solid lung adenocarcinoma. The projects employ a broad range of techniques in the lab including disease modeling, molecular and cellular biology, single-cell RNA sequencing, and other new tissue-based approaches.
Overview of the Position
Education – The ideal candidate has majored in the Biological or Chemical Sciences but has not yet received a doctoral degree and is seeking advanced scientific training for a duration of one or two years. Prior laboratory-based and/or clinical research experience is a plus but not required. This experience will provide education in basic laboratory techniques, tissue handling, data analysis and manuscript preparation. There are also clinical shadowing opportunities. This will prepare the applicant well for medical school or Ph. D. school applications.
Training – The postgraduate will be trained to perform all of the tasks outline below.
- Immunohistochemical stains of tissue followed by visualization using various microscopy techniques including confocal microscopy and basic immunofluorescence/brightfield microscopy
- Basic molecular biology techniques such as quantitative PCR and Western blots
- Preparation of mouse and human tissues for bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing as well as for fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and analysis
- Basic tissue culture techniques
- Use basic software/statistical tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Fiji, etc.
Associate Mentoring – The associate will meet with faculty mentor Gavitt Woodard weekly. The overall goal is to gain experience in designing and performing both basic and translational scientific work that can be used as a foundation for a future career in science and/or medicine. Clinical shadowing Dr. Woodard in thoracic oncology clinic and the operating room is also possible. The candidate will be given career development opportunities (e.g. scientific writing, authorship, and public speaking skills) that are individually tailored to her/his long-term career goals. The ultimate goal is to create an experience that is rewarding and engaging for the successful applicant and to foster scientific, professional, and/or educational advancement.
Location: Yale West Campus
Qualifications: Minimum of a bachelor’s degree, prior lab experience preferred. The candidate will be expected to be able to perform some or all of the following duties:
- Immunohistochemical stains of tissue followed by visualization using various microscopy techniques including confocal microscopy and basic immunofluorescence/brightfield microscopy
- Basic molecular biology techniques such as quantitative PCR and Western blots
- Preparation of mouse and human tissues for bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing as well as for fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and analysis
- Basic tissue culture techniques
- Use basic software/statistical tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Fiji, etc. Opportunity to develop advanced programming/data analysis skills if desired.
- Assist with data analysis, interpretation, and generation of figure quality data for publication and/or presentations
- Attend conferences where he/she can network and/or present research data
- Attend weekly lab meetings
- Assist with ordering supplies
- Assist with writing scientific papers, case reports, and reviews, if of interest
Process to Apply:
Full time for 1 year (up to 2 years max)
Interested candidates should email a (1) cover letter that briefly describes their personal and career goals as well as their research/scientific background, (2) their CV, and (3) contact information for 2 references to gavitt.woodard@yale.edu.