Zebrafish postdoc – overcoming the blood-brain barrier to treat brain cancer

A postdoctoral position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Michael M. Gottesman in the Laboratory of Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute. The M. Gottesman lab has been at the forefront of discovery in the field of multidrug efflux transporter biology since its inception. Transporters that confer multidrug resistance in cancer also prevent drugs from crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB), creating a formidable challenge for the treatment of brain cancers (Robey et al., Nature Reviews Cancer, 2018).

In recent years, the M. Gottesman lab has advanced zebrafish as a model organism for studying transporters and the BBB (Robey et al., Scientific Reports, 2021; Thomas et al., FBCNS, 2024; Thomas et al., Drug Resist Updat., 2024). We have developed a transgenic larval bioluminescent assay that measures BBB integrity in response to perturbations designed to enhance drug delivery to the brain. This assay is complemented by in vivo confocal imaging, toxicity assays, CRISPR-knock-out mutants, and cell-based orthogonal methods. Xenograft models will be utilized to assess the effectiveness of approaches that disrupt the BBB and increase drug delivery to the brain in treating brain cancer.

As a postdoctoral fellow, you will join a vibrant, collaborative research community with cutting-edge facilities, abundant training opportunities, experienced mentorship, and an outstanding track record in career development. The NIH has the largest zebrafish facility in the world, multiple supporting core facilities, and a diverse research network. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in leading the lab’s zebrafish research, fostering intra and extramural collaborations, and actively engaging in mentoring.

Required and preferred skills:

The ideal candidate must have strong knowledge and experience working with zebrafish. Experience with colony management and microinjections are desired. The candidate is expected to have skills in molecular biology, excellent record-keeping, strong written and verbal communication, a track record of mentoring, and a collaborative mindset.

How to apply:

CV/Resume, cover letter, 3 references.
Applications should be sent directly to Dr. Michael M. Gottesman at mgottesman@nih.gov with the subject line “Zebrafish postdoc application”

Please contact us directly to learn more about our research. More information about the lab can be found on our website.