Research Associate, Department of Radiation Oncology

The Tianpeng Zhang Laboratory in the Department of Radiation Oncology at University of Virginia seeks to hire a Postdoctoral Research Associate to study the genome integrity maintenance within repetitive genome regions. The incumbent will perform proteomics, biochemical and genetic studies to unravel how DNA replication and repair through the complex secondary structures present in the tandem repetitive sequences and shed light on their associated etiology and therapeutic vulnerabilities.

Postdoctoral employment is temporary and is normally limited to an individual who has been awarded a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate within the previous five years and who will be involved in full-time research or scholarship at the University. Employment as a Postdoctoral Research Associate is viewed as training and is preparatory for a full-time academic or research career, is supervised by a senior scholar, and allows the appointee to publish the results of his/her research or scholarship during the training period.

Minimum Qualifications

PhD and/or MD. Experience in protein posttranslational modifications, epigenetics, DNA damage/repair, DNA replication and chromatin biology is preferred. Candidates with significant expertise in genome-wide screening and/or biochemistry are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate is expected to be self-motivated and career-oriented, can work independently and perform research on his/her own initiative, and collaborate with fellow students in the lab and department.

Physical Demands

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

Salary will be commensurate with education and experience.

This is an exempt-level, benefited position. Learn more about UVA benefits.

This is a restricted position, which is dependent on funding and is contingent upon funding availability. This is a 12-month appointment with the possibility of renewal contingent upon satisfactory performance and the availability of funding.

This position is based in Charlottesville, VA, and must be performed fully on-site.

To learn more about UVA and the Charlottesville area, visit UVA Life and Embark CVA.

Application review will begin after April 20, 2026.

Background checks and pre-employment health screenings will be conducted on all new hires prior to employment.

How to Apply

Please apply online, by searching for requisition number R0082244. Complete an application with the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Contact information for 3 references

Upload all materials into the resume submission field. You can submit multiple documents into this one field or combine them into one PDF. Applications without all required documents will not receive full consideration.

Internal applicants:Search and apply for jobs on theUVA Internal Careers website.

For questions about the application process, please contact Jessica Russo, Senior Recruiter, sxv9zv@virginia.edu.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA's commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.