The Postdoctoral Associate will engage in mentored research focused on precision screening and prevention of breast and other solid cancers. A central focus will be polygenic risk scores (PRS) and their clinical applications in risk prediction and decision-making around screening and prevention. Key projects will include evaluating the contribution of PRS to multimodal risk assessment (encompassing rare germline variants and established clinical risk models), tailoring PRS to predict breast cancer aggressiveness and mortality, and examining associations between PRS and screening outcomes. Given the group's active work in real-world PRS implementation, there is also an opportunity to develop, deploy, and validate polygenic risk scores within ongoing prospective studies. This position is supported by recently awarded NIH funding.
The Postdoctoral Associate will have opportunities to pursue additional research questions by drawing on the interdisciplinary expertise and robust data infrastructure of the Department of Population Health Sciences and the Meyer Cancer Center. Available resources include biobank data, electronic health record-based datasets, and data from established research cohorts and clinical trials.
The Postdoctoral Associate will be mentored by Dr. Yiwey Shieh, a clinician-investigator and Assistant Professor in Population Health Sciences at Weill Cornell Medicine. In addition, the Associate will collaborate with and receive support from investigators with complementary expertise across biostatistics, epidemiology, data science, informatics, and clinical medicine (including radiology and oncology). This position is further enriched by the research infrastructure and collaborative opportunities afforded by Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University at Ithaca, and Cornell Tech.
As a Postdoctoral Associate, you will be responsible for:
- Designing and conducting research studies, including:
- Evaluating the clinical utility of polygenic risk scores and rare germline variants in informing cancer screening, prevention, and prognosis
- Applying and benchmarking novel PRS construction methodologies
- Assessing the real-world implementation of PRS and rare germline variants for cancer risk stratification
- Identifying and addressing contextual factors that influence PRS performance across diverse populations
- Coordinating and co-managing multi-institutional research collaborations
- Maintaining well-documented code repositories (e.g., GitHub) to promote reproducible research practices
- Contributing to abstract and manuscript preparation, publishing findings in peer-reviewed journals, and presenting work at scientific conferences
- Supporting the Principal Investigator in preparing fellowship, grant, and scholarship applications as needed
Minimum Qualifications:
Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in a relevant area of study or will receive such a degree before the start of employment.
Preferred Qualifications:
In addition to the minimum qualifications, the successful candidate will have:
- Background in genetic epidemiology or statistical genetics.
- Proficiency in R, Python, or similar programming languages.
- Working knowledge of widely used genetic analysis tools and packages (preferred).
- Proficiency with Unix environments and high-performance computing platforms (preferred).
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Proven ability to thrive in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.
Application Process:
Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest highlighting their research interests and career goals and a curriculum vita to Dr. Yiwey Shieh at yis4001@med.cornell.edu. Applications will be reviewed in a rolling manner beginning June 1st.
Appointment Term:
One year, with possible reappointment based on performance and funding availability.
Starting Date:
September 1, 2026.
Location of Appointment:
The Weill Cornell Medicine Department of Population Health Sciences is located at 425 E. 61st St., New York, NY 10065. Hybrid arrangements may be considered on an individual basis.
Lab and Department Websites:
Lab: https://vivo.weill.cornell.edu/display/cwid-yis4001
Department: https://phs.weill.cornell.edu/
Salary:
The starting salary will be commensurate with years of experience and ranges from $75,812-82,192.
Benefits:
A summary of employee benefits can be found on the WCM Human Resources website.
Visa Options:
Candidates applying for this position could be eligible for a J-1 Exchange visitor visa and the H-1B temporary worker visa.
Union Membership:
This position is covered under a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between Weill Cornell Medicine and the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (“UAW”), and its Local Union, Weill Cornell Medicine Postdocs United-UAW Local 4100.
Commitment to Diversity
Weill Cornell Medicine is committed to fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion among our faculty, staff, and students. We seek out individuals with a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences, and we work to create programs that support both our current employees and our recruitment efforts.
EEO Statement
Weill Cornell Medicine welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “any person, any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.