April 16, 2026

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Cancer-Kidney Crosstalk, Immunology, and Nephrotoxicity

The Tumorigenesis and Therapeutic Outcomes Laboratory (ToTOL; ToTOLresearch.com) at the UofL Health Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, is recruiting a postdoctoral fellow to join a multidisciplinary program focused on mechanisms of acute kidney injury and transition to chronic kidney disease in the setting of nephrotoxic cancer therapies. The position places particular emphasis on tumor-driven kidney injury, macrophage biology, proximal tubule epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, fibrosis, and restoration of nephroprotective therapies. The ToTOL research group (ToTOLresearch.com) is co-directed by Dr. Leah Siskind and Dr. Levi Beverly, who jointly lead an interdisciplinary program spanning nephrology, cancer biology, and translational therapeutics.

Project Focus

This project is built around a clinically relevant repeated low-dose cisplatin (RLDC) model that recapitulates kidney injury, fibrosis, and chronic kidney disease following chemotherapy exposure. The work is motivated by the observation that, although cisplatin is widely used in cancer treatment, approximately 30% of treated patients develop acute kidney injury, and a substantial fraction of those patients progress to chronic kidney disease.

The research program investigates a newly identified cancer-kidney crosstalk in which distant tumors reduce kidney function, induce kidney injury and fibrosis, and diminish the effectiveness of nephroprotective interventions. Preliminary data suggest that kidney-infiltrating and resident macrophages play a role in mediating tumor- and treatment-induced changes in proximal tubules and impaired kidney function.

Major Responsibilities

  • Lead and support in vivo studies using mouse cancer models and repeated low-dose cisplatin paradigms.

  • Design and execute experiments focused on macrophage depletion, immune-cell phenotyping, and mechanisms of kidney injury and fibrosis.

  • Analyze immune and tissue responses using approaches such as single-cell RNA sequencing, CyTOF, flow cytometry, imaging mass cytometry, and immunohistochemistry.

  • Contribute to biomarker-based assessment of kidney injury and function, including serum and urine biomarkers and transdermal GFR measurements.

  • Prepare manuscripts, present findings at conferences, and contribute to grant development related to cancer therapy-induced kidney injury.

 

Desired Qualifications

  • PhD or MD/PhD in nephrology, cancer biology, immunology, physiology, pharmacology, molecular biology, or a related biomedical discipline.

  • Strong interest in mechanisms of organ crosstalk, kidney injury, fibrosis, tumor-host interactions, or translational cancer biology.

  • Experience in one or more of the following areas: mouse models, renal pathophysiology, tumor models, flow cytometry, single-cell approaches, spatial biology, immunohistochemistry, or biomarker analysis.

  • Demonstrated scientific writing, data analysis, and communication skills.

  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment.

 

What the Fellow Will Gain

This position offers the opportunity to work on a highly translational project aimed at developing therapies to prevent long-term chemotherapy-induced kidney sequelae and improve outcomes for cancer survivors. The fellow will gain exposure and expertise in integrated animal models, immune profiling, spatial tissue analysis, kidney functional phenotyping, and therapeutic testing in a program that bridges nephrology, oncology, and immunology within the Brown Cancer Center.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The strongest candidates will be highly motivated by mechanistic and translational science, excited by complex in vivo models, and interested in discovering how immune cells mediate cancer-associated kidney injury and treatment resistance. Applicants with a background in kidney disease, macrophage biology, tumor microenvironment research, or advanced tissue and single-cell analysis methods will be especially well aligned with the goals of the project.

Application Instructions

Interested applicants should submit the following as a single PDF file to Levi.Beverly@Louisville.edu

  • Cover letter describing research interests, fit for the position, and future goals.

  • Curriculum vitae.

  • Contact information for three references.

  • Representative publication and/or writing sample.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until an ideal candidate is identified and the position is filled. The start date is flexible.