Assistant Professor in the Basser Center for BRCA in partnership with the Department of Cancer

Location

Philadelphia, PA

Open Date

Jul 10, 2026

Deadline

Jul 10, 2028 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Description

The Department of Cancer Biology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in collaboration with the Basser Center for BRCA seek candidates for an Assistant Professor position in the tenure track. Applicants must have a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. degree.

Teaching responsibilities may include focused classroom teaching in an existing area of expertise as well as mentoring graduate and undergraduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and other research trainees.

Research or scholarship responsibilities may include establishment and maintenance of an externally funded, independent research program that leads to impactful publications focused on breast, ovarian, prostate, or pancreas cancer, or other cancers associated with inherited mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2. The Basser Center and the Department of Cancer Biology value a supportive, cohesive, and collaborative culture. Growth of junior faculty is fostered by providing tailored mentoring and faculty development from appointment through tenure and all major career milestones.

Successful candidates are expected to have either achieved success in areas broadly related to BRCA-associated cancers, or to have an established focus on the biology of breast, ovarian, pancreas or prostate cancers accompanied by future research plans to investigate the role of BRCA1/2 in these cancers. All candidates are expected to have demonstrated high-quality scholarship through publication in peer-reviewed journals and independent research funding. Basic or translational scientists interested in the mechanisms of tumor development and interception of tumors common in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers are highly sought. Areas of particular interest include:

• Investigation of the haploinsufficent state and how this leads to cancer;
• tissue specificity related to BRCA1 and BRCA2 (why cancers emerge from breast, ovarian, prostate and pancreas when all cells in affected individuals are heterozygous?)
• hormonal influences on DNA repair and tumorigenesis;
• early detection of cancer; and
• models of cancer initiation and interception.

The Basser Center for BRCA was established at Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center in 2012 as the first comprehensive center for the research, treatment, and prevention of BRCA-related cancers. More information on the Basser Center for BRCA can be found at www.basser.org.

Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis, but to ensure full consideration applicants are encouraged to apply by September 1.

Applicants will be evaluated based on the following required documents:

1. Cover letter (Highlight past and proposed research and its synergies with Penn Cancer Biology, Basser Center, and the University, 1 page maximum).
2. Curriculum vitae (Highlight 3 to 5 impactful publications using several sentences to provide context about the specific advances for the field and the candidate’s role in these studies).
3. Anonymized Executive Summary (one page max): Please provide brief, anonymized responses to the following prompts, with further details to be provided in additional documents: 1) Briefly describe your two most important research contributions to date; 2) Describe your vision for your independent research program, including “big picture” questions that you plan to address in your laboratory; 3) Highlight how your work will contribute to the mission of the Basser Center; 4) Describe any contributions to teaching, mentoring, and scientific community.
4. Statement of significant research contributions and plans for an independent research program (2-3 pages). This document should briefly describe past research accomplishments -research questions, an applicant’s intellectual contributions, the research findings and significance, and future research plan as well as opportunities for integration and collaboration with Penn Cancer Biology, the Basser Center and the University.
5. Statement of Teaching, Mentoring, and Community (1 page). This statement will focus on contributions and commitment to the advancement of collaborative research, mentoring, teaching, and inclusion in science. We seek candidates with a demonstrated track record of and/or plans for promoting an environment focused on collaborative and inclusive research, and high-quality mentoring and teaching. This document should briefly describe candidate's prior or future actions towards research collaborations, teaching and mentoring of trainees in the lab and classroom, service to the scientific and/or broader community.
6. Reference Letters (3 minimum)

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.