Job Listings

Appointment Type: Postdoctoral Fellow

Department: IUSM - Surgery - Surgical Oncology

Campus: IU School of Medicine Indianapolis

Position Summary
The Laboratory of Dr. C Max Schmidt in the Department of Surgery at Indiana University School of Medicine is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to conduct bench experiments. The Research Fellow will support ongoing translational research programs within the Pancreatic Cyst and Cancer Biomarker Discovery Laboratory. The position focuses on the integration of biobank management, protein biomarker discovery, and single cell sequencing to advance precision medicine approaches for pancreatic and related cancers. The fellow will:

• Manage and curate biospecimen collections, including pancreatic tissue, cyst fluid, and serum samples from a large clinical biobank.
• Perform proteomic and molecular profiling to identify and validate biomarkers associated with disease progression and treatment response.
• Conduct single-cell sequencing experiments and downstream bioinformatic analyses to characterize tumor heterogeneity and cell-type-specific pathways.
• Coordinate data collection and integration across multi-institutional collaborators.
• Work closely with clinical and research teams to ensure high-quality sample tracking, annotation, and compliance with institutional protocols.
• Participate in manuscript preparation, grant development, and mentoring of students and research staff.

Department of Surgery - The IUSM Department of Surgery is committed to the education and development of excellent surgical clinicians, incorporating the skills, knowledge, and competencies essential for providing a high standard of care to residents across the state of Indiana and beyond. Faculty educators in the Department of Surgery strive to advance surgical scientists and their research and aim to instill the leadership qualities that will empower graduates to excel in all practice settings.

Indiana University School of Medicine - 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.

IU Health - IU Health is Indiana's most comprehensive healthcare system (ranked No. 1 in the state by U.S. News & World Report). Our unique partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine, one of the nation's leading medical schools, provides physicians opportunities in breakthrough research and high-quality patient care. Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, with dozens of facilities statewide, IU Health is a regional leader in providing the right healthcare when and where it is needed.

Indianapolis - 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 largest concentrations of health sciences companies in the nation. 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, being named "Best Airport in North America" by Airports Council International for many years.

Basic Qualifications

• Must have PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences, or related field.
• Strong background in proteomics, biomarker discovery, and mass spectrometry-based analysis.
• Strong technical expertise in DNA, RNA, and miRNA analysis using PCR, real-time PCR, and qPCR.
• Proficiency in cell culture, flowcytometry, confocal microscopy, and tissue handling is desirable.
• Experience with single cell sequencing and data analysis pipelines.

Department Contact for Questions
Meghan Hutchinson
Human Resources Business Partner
Department of Surgery
mjhutchi@iu.edu ORThoa TranAssistant Research Professor of Surgerythoatran@iu.edu

Additional Qualifications
Preferred but not required:

• Hands-on experience in biobank management or biospecimen processing.
• Experience with animal models and organoid culture. The candidate should be willing to perform animal work as part of the research project.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment.

Posting Number
IUSM-02333-2026