Research Associate II - DNA Metabolism in Cancer, Aging and Immunity

Thank you for your interest. Please note, the purpose of this posting is to recruit for on-going and future positions.

About City of Hope

City of Hope, an innovative biomedical research, treatment and educational institution with over 6000 employees, is dedicated to the prevention and cure of cancer and other life-threatening diseases and guided by a compassionate, patient-centered philosophy.

Founded in 1913 and headquartered in Duarte, California, City of Hope is a remarkable non-profit institution, where compassion and advanced care go hand-in-hand with excellence in clinical and scientific research. City of Hope is a National Cancer Institute designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation's leading cancer centers that develops and institutes standards of care for cancer treatment.

Position Summary:

Under the supervision of Dr. Yilun Liu, the Research Associate II (RAII) will perform a variety of research experiments to support one or more of the ongoing projects:

(1) Dissecting the molecular mechanism by which cells prevent the formation of cancer-causing genomic instability because of conflicts between RNA transcription and DNA replication

(2) Developing pharmaceutical mechanisms for cancer therapy by targeting enzymes important for preventing the formation of DNA breaks arose during accelerated cell growth such as in cancer cells as well as factors important for the BRCA2 and PARP-dependent repair pathways to keep these DNA breaks unrepaired

(3) Exploring the role of mitochondrial DNA in cancer pathogenesis and in immune response

(4) Targeting SUMOylation of topoisomerase I in chemo- and immuno-therapies

Key Responsibilities include:

• Utilize established protocols to perform a variety of research experiments, both in vitro (in cancer cell lines) and in vivo (in murine models). Record and validate results for accuracy and completeness.
• Develop techniques and expertise relevant to the laboratory's research projects.
• Maintain thorough and accurate records of methodology and results. Analyze, compile, and graph data to present at lab meetings.
• Ensure that all laboratory activities are carried out in compliance with safety procedures and guidelines.
• Assist in organizing laboratory supplies and equipment maintenance.

Basic education, experience and skills required for consideration:

• A Bachelor's degree in Biological Science with 2 years of experience or a Master's degree in Biological Sciences with 1 years of experience
• Experience with cell culture, protein purification and/or murine models is desired but not required.
• A desire to work in a collaborative, interdisciplinary lab environment that values communication, initiative, professionalism, and teamwork.

Additional Information:

• Dr. Liu's research is currently supported by NIH R01 grants from National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Institute of General Medical Science (NIGMS) and a grant from Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
• Dr. Liu's group has published in journals, including Nature Communications, Cell Reports, EMBO Journal and PNAS. A full list of publications can be found at

My Bibliography or Google Scholar .

• For more information on Dr. Yilun Liu's research please visit, here .
• To protect the health of patients and staff and to comply with new State of California mandates, City of Hope staff are required to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination. Compliance is a condition of employment.

City of Hope is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

• Posting Date: Oct 22, 2021
• Job Field: Research
• Employee Status: Regular
• Shift: Day Job