Mission
The Zaidi Lab is dedicated to uncovering the principles of cancer biology, with a focus on how tumors and their ecosystems evolve to drive therapy resistance. We integrate genetic engineering, advanced mouse and human model systems, and bioinformatics to investigate fundamental questions about cancer cell plasticity and its impact on the tumor microenvironment.
Research Areas
Our research program focuses on how tumors interact with surrounding immune cells and fibroblasts to drive therapeutic resistance. We use a diverse array of tools—including genomic and immunologic approaches—to study these interactions in both in vitro and in vivo settings, leveraging dynamic model systems. To ensure clinical relevance and anticipate therapeutic benefit, we benchmark our findings against biologic data derived from human tumors.
Lab Life
Join us! The Zaidi Lab has an open Postdoctoral Research Position in Cancer Biology.
We’re looking for a postdoctoral research associate in Cancer Biology to join the Zaidi Lab. Applicants should have experience in cancer biology, molecular biology, genetics/genomics or related fields. Experience with mouse work is encouraged but not required if the candidate wants to learn. Most important qualifications are high self–motivation, curiosity, and rigor, along with excellent written and oral communication skills.
The Zaidi Lab welcomes postdoctoral associates Arun Kumar, PhD and Pengfei Xu, PhD
Arun joins us as a postdoctoral researcher after completing his PhD at National University of Singapore. Pengfei joins us from UC Davis.
Dr. Zaidi received a 2026 ASCI Young Physician-Scientist Award and a 2026 AACR Trailblazer Award.
We are pleased to share that Dr. Zaidi has been selected as an ASCI 2026 Young Physician Scientist awardee and a 2026 AACR Trailblazer Cancer Research Grant recipient. The Young Physician-Scientist Awards (YPSA) recognize physician-scientists who are early in their first faculty appointment and have made notable achievements in their research.
Dr. Zaidi was named the Stephen Sherwin MD Investigator
We are proud to share that Dr. Zaidi has been named the Stephen Sherwin, MD Investigator, a prestigious honor recognizing his outstanding contributions to biomedical research, along with his dedication to mentoring the next generation of researchers and fostering a collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment. Dr. Zaidi is a medical oncologist specializing in the care of genitourinary malignancies, including prostate, bladder, and kidney cancers. Dr. Zaidi has transitioned from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) to Yale University, where he has launched his own research group focused on cancer biology, specifically in prostate and kidney cancer. His lab aims to advance understanding of tumor progression and identify new therapeutic strategies.
Funders
