The Byrne Lab at the University of Iowa is seeking a highly motivated post-baccalaureate researcher to join the team beginning in Spring 2026. This position is ideal for recent graduates interested in gaining hands-on research experience before applying to graduate or medical programs.

The successful candidate will work directly under the supervision of Cory Fines, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in the Byrne Lab. Their primary project will investigate the use of mechanical stimuli as a therapeutic approach for multiple cancer types. The experiments will examine how different stimuli affect various aspects of the tumor, including rigidity, hypoxia, and the immune microenvironment. Treatments will be tested in combination with a range of standard of care chemotherapies and immunotherapies. This work involves both in vitro (cell culture) and in vivo (mouse) studies. The successful candidate will receive training in a broad range of research techniques, including:

• Flow cytometry


• Western blotting


• PCR


• Cytokine and chemokine arrays


• Cell culture and murine tumor models


• HPLC, mass spectrometry, and other analytical chemistry approaches

This position offers extensive research training, close mentorship, career development support, and opportunities for authorship.

Responsibilities:

• Perform in vitro and in vivo experiments under supervision


• Maintain accurate lab notebooks and follow established protocols


• Assist with data collection, analysis, and presentation


• Contribute to lab organization and ordering


• Collaborate with students, postdocs, and the PI (Dr. James Byrne, MD, PhD)


• Be able to understand and present findings in lab meetings and potentially at conferences

Position Details:

• Full-time; expected 40 hours/week


• Start date: Spring 2026 (flexible)


• 1–2 year appointment preferred

How to Apply

Please send the following materials in a single PDF to michael-washington@uiowa.edu with the subject line: “Post-Bac Application – Byrne Lab”:

1. A brief cover letter describing your research interests and career goals


2. CV or résumé


3. Contact information for 3 references

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, biochemistry, biomedical engineering, chemistry, or a related field (completed by start date)

• Strong interest in cancer research, drug delivery, biomedical engineering, or related fields


• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail


• Willingness to work with mouse models


• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team

• Prior research experience (cell culture, molecular biology, or animal work)


• Experience with any of the listed techniques


• Strong communication and problem-solving skills


• Interest in pursuing a PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or research-focused career