Postdoc / Research Scientist

NIH-funded postdoctoral fellow and research scientist positions are available in the laboratory of Dr. Shengyu Yang at Penn State College of Medicine. The lab studies how metabolic stress signaling and metabolic vulnerabilities contribute to metastatic cancer.

Our goal is to understand how mitochondrial metabolism and nutrient stress regulate metastatic progression through metabolic reprogramming. This project builds on our recent discoveries that cystine limitation promotes pancreatic cancer growth and metastasis through metabolic reprogramming. This reprogramming also reveals a lipid-metabolism vulnerability that can be targeted with lomitapide, an FDA-approved drug.

For more information, see our publications:

• Li et al., Nature Communications, 2026. PMID: 41476081
• Wang et al., Cancer Research, 2022. PMID: 35413105
• Lin et al., Cell Reports, 2019. PMID: 31509745
• Lin et al., EMBO Molecular Medicine, 2019. PMID: 31633874

The research will use biochemistry, cell biology, genetically engineered mouse models, and patient-derived organoids and xenografts.

Applicants should be highly motivated and hold a recent Ph.D. or equivalent degree, with expertise in biochemistry, molecular biology, cancer metabolism, or a related field. Experience with genetically engineered mouse models or next-generation sequencing data analysis is desirable but not required.

Trainees will have opportunities to develop expertise in orthotopic lung and/or pancreatic cancer metastasis models, metabolomics and lipidomics, metabolic flux analysis, and genetically engineered cancer models. Additional training is available in grant and manuscript writing, teaching, mentoring, and scientific presentations.

Research in Dr. Yang’s lab is supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute on Aging, and the Department of Defense. Penn State College of Medicine is located in Hershey, Pennsylvania—a family-friendly community with affordable living and convenient access to major metropolitan areas, including Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and New York City.

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. Women and members of underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply.

To apply, please email a cover letter, CV, and contact information for three references to Dr. Shengyu Yang at sxy99@psu.edu.

Tagged as: Life Sciences