The Polyak laboratory focuses on translational studies with potential clinical impact. Her laboratory is an integral part of the Breast Cancer Research program in Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) and Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC), and two of the strategic centers in DFCI: the Center for Cancer Genome Discovery (CCGC) and Center for Functional Cancer Epigenetics (CFCE). Research in the laboratory is dedicated to the molecular analysis of human breast cancer. The overall goal is to dissect breast tumor evolution and use this information to improve the clinical management of breast cancer patients. The three main areas of interests are: (1) how to accurately predict breast cancer risk and prevent breast cancer initiation or progression from in situ to invasive disease, (2) better understand drivers of tumor evolution with special emphasis on metastatic progression and therapeutic resistance, and (3) novel therapeutic targets in breast cancer with particular focus on “bad” cancers such as triple negative breast cancer and inflammatory breast cancer. All of the studies start with analyzing samples from breast cancer patients (or normal healthy for the risk studies), formulate hypotheses based on our observations, use experimental models to test these, and then translate back our findings into clinical care.

• Perform RNA-seq and ChIP-seq analysis

• Perform cell and molecular biology research
• Perform a variety of basic assays, and experiments in breast cancer research
• Effectively work with research technicians and cross-functional project teams

• Maintain accurate records, write reports, and prepare/give presentations

Position requires a minimum of a Ph.D. in the field of study in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or Genetics.