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School of Medicine Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation's top medical schools. Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe. Composed of more than 2,600 faculty physicians and researchers, nearly 2,000 students, and more than 6,200 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, and Duke University Health System comprise Duke Health, a world-class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Health Integrated Practice, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home Care and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.

Department of Medicine & Duke Cancer Institute

Durham, North Carolina

Position Overview

The Somarelli Laboratory in the Department of Medicine at Duke University is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Associate to join a collaborative research program investigating the endocrine-disrupting potential of plastic additives. This position offers a unique opportunity to conduct rigorous pharmacological and toxicological research with direct public health relevance.

Plastic additives - chemicals incorporated into plastic polymers to enhance material performance - number over 10,000 and are ubiquitously present in everyday consumer products. Despite widespread and growing human exposure, the vast majority of these additives remain uncharacterized for their health effects. This project focuses on experimentally characterizing the endocrine-disrupting potential of plastic additives, with a primary emphasis on androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptor alpha (ER) modulation, using established in vitro and in vivo models.

About the Somarelli Lab

The Somarelli Lab is a translational research group with deep expertise in pharmacology, toxicology, and steroid hormone receptor signaling. The lab has pioneered real-time fluorescence-based reporter systems for quantifying AR and ER activity, conducted large-scale toxicogenomic analyses of plastic additives, and established enduring collaborative relationships with oncologists, biostatisticians, and environmental scientists. The postdoctoral associate will be mentored directly by Dr. Jason Somarelli (PhD, basic scientist) and will work within a highly collaborative, team-oriented environment.

Research Program

The postdoctoral associate will lead experimental efforts to systematically identify and characterize plastic additives with AR and ER modulatory activity. This work spans the following three interconnected objectives: 1) high-throughput in vitro screening; 2) mechanistic studies, and 3) in vivo validation

Required Qualifications

• PhD in pharmacology, toxicology, biochemistry, cell biology, chemical biology, or a closely related field
• Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture and fluorescence-based or biochemical assays
• Experience with in vivo mouse studies and standard molecular biology techniques (qPCR, ELISA, western blot)
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex experimental data (R, Python, genomics data experience)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and a collaborative, team-oriented mindset

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with steroid hormone receptor biology, endocrinology, or endocrine disruption
• Experience with high-throughput screening platforms (e.g., IncuCyte, PolarScreen assays)
• Track record of peer-reviewed publications

Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and analyze in vitro and in vivo experiments to characterize endocrine-disrupting plastic additives
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members including biostatisticians, environmental scientists, and clinicians
• Prepare manuscripts, contribute to grant reports, and present findings at lab meetings and scientific conferences
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students as appropriate
• Independently develop and apply for postdoctoral fellowships to support career advancement

What We Offer

• An intellectually rich, collaborative environment at one of the nation's leading research universities
• Mentorship from an interdisciplinary team with expertise spanning oncology, toxicology, and endocrine biology
• Competitive salary and benefits in accordance with NIH/Duke postdoctoral guidelines
• Access to state-of-the-art facilities including the Duke Cancer Institute, Duke Functional Genomics Core, and Duke Proteomics Core
• Strong support for career development, including fellowship application, conference travel, and professional networking

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit the following materials to Dr. Jason Somarelli at jas119@duke.edu:

• Curriculum vitae (CV) including a full list of publications
• Cover letter describing your research background, relevant experience, and career goals (1-2 pages)
• Contact information for three professional references

Select candidates will be contacted for a phone or video interview; finalists will be invited for an in-person visit to Duke University. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.