Postdoctoral Fellows

Postdoctoral positions are currently available in our laboratory to study the molecular basis of cancer metastasis. We use molecular cell biology, genomics and proteomics, and mouse genetics to study genes and signaling pathways that regulate the multi-step process of breast tumor initiation, progression and metastasis.

Major areas of research in our laboratory includes: identification and functional characterization of metastasis genes using both xenograft and genetically modified mouse models, analysis of tumor-stromal interactions in cancer progression, pre-clinical evaluation of anti-metastasis therapeutics and mechanism of stromal-dependent treatment resistance, cellular plasticity during development and metastasis, molecular characterization of mammary gland stem cells and their link to breast tumor initiating cells, early tumorigenesis and regression mechanisms, diet, metabolism and their systemic influence on cancer progression and metastasis.  Candidates are encouraged to develop their independent research directions.

We welcome highly motivated candidates with a Ph.D. degree in the field of molecular cell biology, cancer biology, developmental biology, genomics or genetics. Experience in cancer biology or mouse developmental biology are preferred but not required. Interested applicants need to submit a statement of research interest, curriculum vitae and list of references.

The laboratory has currently have particular interest in recruiting postdoctoral fellows with experience and expertise in immunology, bone or mammary gland development, and metabolism, ideally with relevant genomic and bioinformatics experience. 

Graduate Students

Our laboratory does not admit graduate students directly. Everyone must apply for admission to the Department of Molecular Biology or the Quantitative and Computational Biology Graduate Program through the Princeton University Graduate School. Once a student gets here he/she can rotate in any professor's lab. Students do three rotations to get a feel for potential labs for PhD work and at the end of the first year, they choose a dissertation advisor.

Our laboratory usually takes 1-2 graduate students for Ph.D. dissertation research each year. If you are interested in the lab, please contact Prof. Kang for an appointment to discuss your background and research interest before submitting your request for laboratory rotations. Priority for joining the laboratory for thesis research will be given to students who demonstrate a superior learning ability, strong work ethic and self-motivation, excellent collegiality, and outstanding performance in gradute courses. Students who are interested in joining the lab are encouraged to take MOL523: Molecular Basis of Cancer to enhance their background knowledge in cancer biology, during their first two years of graduate study at Princeton.

Undergraduate Students

We accept ~2 undergraduate MOL major students from each Princeton class for independent senior thesis research in our lab. Most undergraduate students join the lab in the sophomore years, and also spend two summers in the lab through the departments' Summer Research Program. Many undergraduate students made significant contributions to the research projects and become significant co-authors of major research papers. 

Update 1/1/2026 reflecting new MOL policies and procedures:

Freshmen are not allowed to conduct research in the laboratory due to safety and other regulations. Our typical onboarding pathway for first-year students and/or sophomores follow these steps.

1. If you are and intended MOL major student and interested in joining the lab, please contact Professor Kang by email and include a copy of your resume and an unofficial Princeton transcript. Priority for joining the laboratory will be given to students with prior research experience, genuine interest and a strong commitment in research, and excellent grade in relevant science courses. Students must intend to major in MOL due to space limitations.
2. For freshmen, select students will begin with consistently attending lab meetings during the fall/spring semester to become familiar with our research themes. After becoming familiar with lab research topics and senior lab members, students interested in pursuing summer research meet with potential postdoctoral or graduate student mentors who have the capacity to supervise a student. If there is a mutual interest in a project, the student then develop a project idea with their potential supervisor and applies for a funded summer program, such as OURSIP or the Ludwig Institute Summer Research Program. We cannot take any students outside such programs. Be aware of the deadlines to leave enough lead time and plan accordingly.
3. A successful summer research experience often leads to continuation through the MOL280/281 course series in the following academic year as sophomores, with the potential—though not guaranteed—for the student to continue on to independent junior paper and senior thesis research.
4. Joining the MOL280/281 sequence is the only pathway for sophomores to join the lab. Sophomores can similarly apply for OURSIP and/or Ludwig summer programs as rising juniors.
5. Juniors can potentially join the lab during the junior MOL lab match process, if there is slot available. If we have taken two students from the same class before the start of the junior year, the lab will not participate in the junior lab match process.

Note: We currently do not have position available for class of 2027, 2028 and 2029 (full).

High School Students and non-PU undergraduate students

Due to current policies and regulations, we do not accept high school students or non-PU undergraduate students for research in the lab.

Technicians

No position open at this time.