Important Info
Please email applications to Dr. Max Diehn (diehn@stanford.edu).
The Diehn Laboratory at Stanford University is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral scholar to join our interdisciplinary team working at the intersection of liquid biopsy, cancer genomics, and computational biology.
Multiple projects are available in the area of liquid biopsy, including work on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and cell-free RNA (cfRNA). Projects can be bench-focused, computational, or a combination of both, and range from applying methods developed in the lab to existing patient cohorts, to developing entirely new assays and analytical approaches. We study a wide variety of cancer types, with major focuses on bladder, prostate, kidney, and lung cancers. Projects are designed to be tailored to the scholar's interests, and additional details can be discussed following initial inquiry.
About the Lab
The Diehn Lab develops and applies liquid biopsy technologies to detect, characterize, and monitor cancer using blood, urine, and other biofluids. Our work spans molecular assay development, high-throughput sequencing, and computational method development, unified by a common effort to translate these approaches into tools that change how patients are diagnosed and treated.
One arm of the lab focuses on pushing the sensitivity and information content of cell-free nucleic acid analysis, including ctDNA detection at very low tumor fractions and cfRNA-based readouts of tumor and host biology. A second arm applies these methods to well-annotated clinical cohorts to address questions in early detection, minimal residual disease, treatment response prediction, and resistance characterization. Our goal is to bridge technical innovation with clinical translation.
Environment and Resources
The Diehn Lab is housed in the Stanford Cancer Institute and Department of Radiation Oncology in the Stanford University School of Medicine. The lab is supported by funding from the National Institute of Health, Department of Defense, Cancer Research UK, and several foundations. Stanford offers an exceptionally collaborative environment with world-class expertise in genomics, bioengineering, computational biology, and translational oncology, and a vibrant research community that spans discovery to clinical implementation.
- Ph.D. and/or M.D. conferred prior to the start date, in molecular biology, genomics, computational biology, bioengineering, cancer biology, or a closely related field
- Strong background in molecular biology, genomics, and/or computational biology
- For bench-focused candidates: strong background in molecular biology and nucleic acid work and experience with sequencing library preparation is highly desirable
- For computationally focused candidates: proficiency in a scripting language (e.g., Python, R) and experience analyzing next-generation sequencing data; experience with statistical modeling or machine learning is highly desirable
- Prior experience with liquid biopsy work is welcome but not required
- Proven ability to think creatively, work collaboratively, and communicate effectively
- Fluency in both spoken and written English
- Applicants must be able to work in a diverse, multidisciplinary, and collaborative research environment
- Cover letter describing the candidate's relevant experience, career goals, and preferred start date
- CV with complete list of publications
- Names and contact information for 2–3 references