[AY26-27] Postdoctoral Researcher - Cancer Biology, Precision Oncology & Multi-Omics - Innovations in Health Sciences (IHS)

ABOUT VINUNIVERSITY 

VinUniversity (VinUni) is Vietnam’s first private, not-for-profit university established to international standards, with the vision of becoming one of the world’s top 100 universities. Guided by its core values of Empathy, Creativity, Leadership Mindset, Exceptional Capability, and Entrepreneurial Spirit (EXCEL), VinUni is committed to developing outstanding talent and generating research with meaningful impact in Vietnam and globally. 

Founded by Vingroup, one of Asia’s leading private conglomerates, VinUni benefits from a dynamic ecosystem spanning Industrials & Technology, Real Estate & Services, Infrastructure, Green Energy, Culture, and Social Enterprises. This ecosystem provides distinctive opportunities for interdisciplinary research, innovation, technology translation, and industry–academia collaboration through leading organizations including VinFast, Vinmec, Vinschool, and Vinhomes, together with an expanding entrepreneurial ecosystem comprising VinVentures, VinMotion, VinRobotics, VinSpace, VinEnergo, and others. 

VinUni comprises four colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business and Management, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, and the College of Health Sciences. The University has established strategic partnerships with leading international institutions, including Cornell University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Nanyang Technological University, to advance excellence in education, research, and innovation. 

In 2024, VinUni became the youngest and fastest university globally to achieve QS 5-Star University status, receiving the highest rating in nine categories, including Global Engagement, Good Governance, Program Strength, Academic Development, Teaching, Employability, Facilities, Arts, and Social Impact. VinUni has also been appointed by UNESCO as a UNESCO Chair University, focusing on Environmental Leadership, Cultural Heritage, and Biodiversity. 

As a rapidly developing, research-intensive university, VinUni is investing substantially in world-class researchers, advanced research infrastructure, and interdisciplinary research programs to generate transformative discoveries in health sciences, artificial intelligence and machine learning, data science, environmental intelligence, policy development, and sustainable societies. 

ABOUT INNOVATIONS IN HEALTH SCIENCES 

Innovations in Health Sciences focuses on four strategic research pillars: Immunology, Stem Cell & Gene Technology, Precision Medicine&Health Tech and Population Health & Health Systems. At Innovations in Health Sciences (IHS), we aim to comprehensively address and develop innovative solutions that promote health, wellness, and disease prevention, enhance early detection, and provide novel and affordable precision medicine solutions to the most common health issues in Vietnam, Southeast Asia, and beyond. Additionally, we aim to be the leading authority on healthcare access and the social determinants of health shaping outcomes across Vietnam and Southeast Asia, with the goal of developing policies, practices, and interventions that improve health and well-being. 

ABOUT THE POSITION 

Innovations in Health Sciences (IHS), College of Health Sciences (CHS), VinUniversity, invites applications for an outstanding and highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Cancer Biology, Precision Oncology & Multi-Omics. 

The successful candidate will join a developing interdisciplinary research program at the interface of cancer biology, molecular medicine, precision oncology, functional genomics, multi-omics, and translational biomedical research. 

The position is designed for an ambitious early-career scientist who seeks to develop an independent research profile while working closely with an experienced physician-scientist and multidisciplinary research team. 

The successful candidate will contribute to research aimed at identifying and validating molecular mechanisms, biomarkers, therapeutic targets, and precision therapeutic strategies in cancer, with opportunities to integrate experimental biology with genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, computational, and clinical data. 

Depending on the candidate’s expertise and the specific research project, the work may involve cancer cell models, functional genomics, gene editing, molecular and cellular biology, NGS-based approaches, multi-omics analysis, cancer biomarkers, tumor–immune interactions, immunotherapy, and/or translational oncology. 

The postdoctoral fellow will be expected to take substantial ownership of research activities, including experimental design, data generation and analysis, interpretation of findings, manuscript preparation, scientific presentations, and contribution to grant development. 

This is an opportunity to work at the intersection of discovery science and clinical translation, with potential collaboration across VinUniversity, Vinmec, and international academic and research partners. 

KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Research and Scientific Development 

• Conduct innovative and hypothesis-driven research in cancer biology, precision oncology, functional genomics, multi-omics, and translational biomedical science. 

• Independently design, optimize, and execute molecular, cellular, and functional experiments. 

• Develop and apply appropriate experimental approaches to investigate molecular mechanisms, biomarkers, therapeutic targets, and treatment responses in cancer. 

• Generate, curate, analyze, and critically interpret experimental and/or computational biomedical data. 

• Integrate molecular, cellular, genomic, and clinical information where appropriate to address biologically and clinically relevant research questions.

• Contribute substantially to the scientific direction and execution of assigned research projects. 

• Maintain rigorous standards of experimental design, reproducibility, documentation, data integrity, and research ethics. 

Publications and Scientific Communication 

• Prepare and publish high-quality research articles in internationally recognized peer-reviewed journals. 

• Lead or substantially contribute to first-author and co-author publications arising from the research program. 

• Prepare review articles, conference abstracts, scientific presentations, and other scholarly outputs. 

• Present research findings at internal seminars, national and international scientific meetings, and other professional forums. 

• Contribute to the development of research proposals and external grant applications. 

Collaboration and Translation 

• Collaborate with researchers and clinicians across VinUniversity, Vinmec, and international partner institutions. 

• Contribute to the development of the VinUni–Vinmec Oncology Research & Innovation Program. 

• Participate in interdisciplinary research integrating molecular medicine, cancer biology, precision medicine, bioinformatics, and clinical research. 

• Where appropriate, contribute to the translation of laboratory discoveries toward clinically relevant biomarkers, diagnostics, and therapeutic strategies. 

Mentoring and Academic Development 

• Assist in mentoring undergraduate, graduate, and other early-career researchers involved in the research program. 

• Participate actively in the academic and research activities of IHS and the College of Health Sciences. 

• Develop an Individualized Development Plan (IDP) with the PI/mentor within the first month of appointment and review progress at least semi-annually. 

• Participate in Works-in-Progress seminars and present research progress at least once annually. 

• Participate in professional development activities for postdoctoral researchers and early-career scientists. 

EXPECTED RESEARCH OUTPUTS 

• Approximately 2–3 high-quality publications per year, with opportunities for first-author and/or substantial co-author contributions, preferably in Q1 internationally indexed journals. 

• Contribution to at least one external grant application during the appointment period. 

• Presentation of research findings at scientific seminars, conferences, or other appropriate academic forums. 

• Development of research expertise and increasing independence toward an internationally competitive academic research profile. 

Research outputs will be evaluated based on scientific quality, intellectual contribution, rigor, originality, and impact, rather than publication numbers alone. 

 

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA 

Academic Background 

• Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Cancer Biology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Genetics, Genomics, Biotechnology, Biomedical Sciences, Biochemistry, Medicine, Molecular Medicine, or a closely related discipline. 

• Ph.D. obtained from an internationally recognized research university or institution. 

• Preference will be given to candidates with doctoral training from internationally highly ranked institutions, including universities ranked within the Top 200 of the QS World University Rankings; however, exceptional candidates from other institutions will also be considered based on research excellence. 

Research Expertise 

• Demonstrated research experience in cancer biology, oncology, molecular medicine, precision medicine, or a closely related field. 

• Strong hands-on experience with cancer cell models and molecular and/or cellular biology techniques. 

• Demonstrated experience in functional gene studies, functional genomics, or molecular mechanism research. 

• Ability to independently design and conduct experiments and critically evaluate scientific findings. 

• Demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret experimental and/or biomedical data. 

• Experience with bioinformatics, computational biology, or biomedical data analysis is highly desirable. 

• Evidence of productivity through international peer-reviewed scientific publications, preferably including first-author publications. 

Scientific Communication 

• Excellent written and spoken English. 

• Demonstrated ability to prepare high-quality scientific manuscripts, reports, presentations, and/or review articles. 

• Strong critical thinking, scientific reasoning, problem-solving, and research communication skills. 

Research Independence and Collaboration 

• Demonstrated ability to work independently while functioning effectively within a multidisciplinary research team. 

• Strong scientific integrity, intellectual curiosity, initiative, accountability, and commitment to research excellence. 

• Ability and willingness to work in an international, interdisciplinary, and highly collaborative research environment. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

Experience in one or more of the following areas will be strongly advantageous: 

• CRISPR/Cas and other genome-editing technologies 

• Functional genomics and gene perturbation screening 

• NGS and multi-omics technologies 

• Transcriptomics, proteomics, single-cell or spatial omics 

• Bioinformatics and computational biology 

• R and/or Python programming 

• Cancer genomics and molecular subtyping 

• Cancer biomarkers and companion diagnostics 

• Precision oncology 

• Tumor microenvironment and cancer immunology 

• Immunotherapy and/or cellular therapy 

• Humanized mouse models or other in vivo cancer models 

• Patient-derived models, organoids, or translational cancer models 

• Clinical–molecular data integration 

• Research project development and external grant writing 

Candidates are not required to meet every preferred qualification. Exceptional candidates with a strong scientific track record and demonstrated potential for independent research are strongly encouraged to apply. 

WHAT WE OFFER 

• Work directly with a senior physician-scientist leading an interdisciplinary research program in molecular medicine, cancer biology, precision medicine, virology, immunology, and translational biomedical research. 

• Develop an independent research profile within a rapidly expanding research-intensive university. 

• Access multidisciplinary expertise and research infrastructure across VinUniversity and Vinmec. 

• Collaborate with international academic and research institutions. 

• Participate in high-impact research projects with potential clinical and translational relevance. 

• Develop expertise in emerging technologies including functional genomics, CRISPR/Cas, multi-omics, precision oncology, and advanced biomedical data analysis. 

• Receive structured mentorship and professional development toward future academic or research leadership positions. 

• Build an international publication and collaboration portfolio. 

• Work within an ambitious research environment designed to connect fundamental discovery, precision medicine, and clinical translation. 

APPOINTMENT DETAILS 

Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow 

Research Area: Cancer Biology, Precision Oncology & Multi-Omics 

Institution: Innovations in Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, VinUniversity 

Principal Investigator: Professor Nguyen Linh Toan, M.D., M.Sc., Ph.D. 

Contract: Initial one-year appointment, renewable subject to satisfactory performance, research progress, project requirements, funding availability, and institutional approval. 

Salary: Competitive and commensurate with qualifications, research experience, and demonstrated academic achievement. 

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR 

Professor Nguyen Linh Toan, M.D., M.Sc., Ph.D. 

Professor Nguyen Linh Toan is a physician-scientist and Professor of Precision Medicine with more than three decades of experience in biomedical research, medical education, postgraduate training, and academic leadership. 

He received his M.D. and M.Sc. degrees from Vietnam Military Medical University and earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine/Biomedicine from the University of Tübingen, Germany. 

His research program integrates molecular medicine, virology, immunology, cancer biology, precision medicine, and oncolytic virotherapy, with a particular emphasis on translating fundamental discoveries into clinically relevant applications. 

His research interests include virus–host interactions, immune regulation, molecular mechanisms of disease, biomarker discovery, precision medicine, cancer biology, and innovative therapeutic strategies for infectious diseases and cancer. 

The research program provides opportunities for postdoctoral fellows to work across disciplinary boundaries and develop expertise spanning experimental molecular medicine, cancer biology, functional genomics, precision oncology, multi-omics, and translational research. 

Research Profiles 

• ORCID: 0000-0001-7850-3896 

• Google Scholar: Nguyen Linh Toan 

• Scopus Author ID: 14029367600 

IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE 

We are particularly interested in candidates who demonstrate the following combination: 

Strong scientific training + excellent publication record + hands-on experimental expertise + quantitative/data-analysis capability + intellectual independence + translational vision. 

The ideal candidate is not simply a technically competent postdoctoral researcher, but an emerging independent scientist who can formulate research questions, design rigorous experiments, integrate complex datasets, communicate scientific findings effectively, and progressively take intellectual ownership of research projects. 

Candidates with a demonstrated trajectory toward independent research leadership, competitive grant funding, and high-impact international publication are especially encouraged to apply. 

Outstanding candidates may be considered for expanded research responsibilities and future opportunities within the growing biomedical research ecosystem at VinUniversity.