Postdoctoral Research Fellow Cancer Metabolism/ Immunometabolism

The El-Kenawi Laboratory at Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center (NCI-designated) is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to investigate metabolic mechanisms of immune suppression in the prostate tumor microenvironment. Our research focuses on understanding how cancer cells exploit metabolic symbiosis with neighboring cells to drive therapeutic resistance, with particular emphasis on cholesterol metabolism and its role in hormonal therapy resistance.

This position offers exceptional training opportunities in cutting-edge metabolomics (Orbitrap LC-MS), cancer immunology, and translational cancer research in a collaborative, well-funded environment.

Research Focus

• Metabolic interactions in the tumor microenvironment

• Cancer immunometabolism and immune cell suppression

• Cholesterol metabolism in therapeutic resistance

• Nutrient scavenging mechanisms in cancer progression

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute independent research projects on cancer metabolism and immune cell function

• Perform advanced metabolomics using LC-MS (Orbitrap) and integrate multi-omic datasets

• Conduct molecular biology, flow cytometry, and functional immunology assays

• Work with preclinical mouse models of prostate cancer and clinical samples.

• Prepare manuscripts, present at conferences, and contribute to grant applications

• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students

What We Offer

• Competitive salary following NIH guidelines with comprehensive benefits

• Access to state-of-the-art metabolomics core (Orbitrap LC-MS) and NCI-designated cancer center facilities

• Collaborative research environment with leading cancer researchers

• Professional development opportunities including grant writing training and career mentorship

• Support for conference presentations and networking

IU School of Medicine is committed to being a welcoming campus community and we seek candidates whose research, teaching, and community engagement efforts contribute to robust learning and working environments for all students, staff, and faculty. We invite individuals who will join us in our mission to improve health equity and well-being for all throughout the state of Indiana.

Indianapolis is the capital and most populous city in the State of Indiana. It is growing economically thanks to a strong corporate base anchored by the life sciences. Indiana is home to one of the nation’s largest concentrations of health sciences companies. Indianapolis has a sophisticated blend of charm and culture with a wonderful balance of business and leisure. The growing residential base is supported by rich amenities and quality of life – the city possesses a variety of professional sports, arts venues, and outdoor recreation areas. Residents of this dynamic city and surrounding suburbs enjoy leading educational systems and top-ranked universities paired with a diverse population. Indianapolis International Airport is a top-ranked international airport that has been named “Best Airport in North America” by Airports Council International for many years. For additional information on life in

Indy: https://faculty.medicine.iu.edu/relocation

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Cancer Biology, Immunology, Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, Computational Biology, or related field

• Strong publication record and demonstrated productivity

• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with metabolomics (LC-MS, GC-MS) and metabolic pathway analysis

• Computational skills for multi-omic data analysis (R, Python) is a plus.

Dr. Asmaa El-Kenawi

Email: asmaa.elkenawi@cancerimmunometabolism.com

Website: https://cancerimmunometabolism.com

Please submit the following materials in a single PDF:

• Cover letter (1-2 pages) describing research interests, experience, and career goals

• Curriculum vitae with publication list

• Brief summary of prior research (1 page)

• Contact information for three references