Postdoctoral Fellow - Immunology and Cancer Therapy Development

City of Hope

Duarte, CA

Job posting number: #7107331 (Ref:10018016)

Posted: August 4, 2023

Salary / Pay Rate: $31.00 - $34.23 / hour

Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

Job Description

About City of Hope

City of Hope is an independent biomedical research and treatment organization for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.

Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a leader in bone marrow transplantation and immunotherapy such as CAR T cell therapy. City of Hope’s translational research and personalized treatment protocols advance care throughout the world. Human synthetic insulin, monoclonal antibodies and numerous breakthrough cancer drugs are based on technology developed at the institution. AccessHope™, a subsidiary launched in 2019 serves employers and their health care partners by providing access to City of Hope’s specialized cancer expertise.

A National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, City of Hope is ranked among the nation’s “Best Hospitals” in cancer by U.S. News & World Report and received Magnet Recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Its main campus is located near Los Angeles, with additional locations throughout Southern California and in Arizona.

City of Hope’s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We believe diversity, equity and inclusion is key in serving our mission to provide compassionate patient care, drive innovative discovery, and advance vital education focused on eliminating cancer and diabetes in all of our communities. Our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ensures we bring the full range of skills, perspectives, cultural backgrounds and experiences to our work -- and that our teams align with the people we serve in order to build trust and understanding. We are dedicated to fostering a community that embraces diversity - in ideas, backgrounds and perspectives; this is reflected in our work and represented in our people.

Position Summary

A Postdoctoral Fellow position is available in the laboratory of Leo D. Wang, MD, PhD, at City of Hope in Duarte, CA.

Do you love immunology, particularly T cell receptor signaling?

Are you interested in applying that knowledge to help develop new cancer therapies?

Are you excited to design, lead, and implement your own projects?

We are recruiting enthusiastic, motivated scientists who are seeking a fast-paced, team-based academic research environment. Our lab in the Department of Immuno-oncology focuses on how blood and immune cells develop, function, and interact with other cells, with a second focus on how blood stem cells become malignant. We use mass spectrometry to identify activated protein circuits in rare blood stem and progenitor cell populations, including therapeutic chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, and combine that knowledge with fundamental immunological principles to improve and devise new therapies for pediatric cancers and blood disorders.

Key Responsibilities include:

  • Design and lead multiple projects focused on understanding CAR signaling in brain-tumor-targeted CAR T cells, using canonical TCR signaling as a fundamental framework. Both in vitro and in vivo rodent work will be required.
  • Coordinate lab tasks and operations among multiple lab members, including ordering, inventory, and other essential lab functions.
  • Prepare laboratory reagents, chemicals, instruments, and maintain equipment.
  • Keep detailed and accurate logs of experiments from conception to analysis, as well as of lab inventory and rodent colonies.
  • Record data meticulously and analyze and synthesize results using industry standard application suites.
  • Help to prepare presentations and manuscripts for publication.
  • Initiate and maintain collaborations with other labs.
  • Travel to meetings to represent the lab and to present new data.

Basic education, experience and skills required for consideration:

  • Ph.D. in Immunology or related field.
  • Expertise with flow cytometry, immunologic assays, cell culture, and molecular biology techniques is required.
  • Ability to work productively and meticulously
  • Ability to develop cohesive team relationships
  • Extensive prior experience in immunology or a closely related field
  • Programming experience (R, Python) preferred
  • Good oral and written communication skills
  • Ability to structure tasks logically and effectively, organize, and set priorities
  • Ability to respond effectively to constructive feedback
  • Ability to analyze data statistically and to present it logically
  • Ideal candidates will be highly motivated and have ambitions to further develop scientific and career skills. They will have a desire to be challenged and to learn new scientific strategies and techniques.

Preferred education, experience and skills required for consideration:

  • Experience with high-resolution imaging platforms and mass cytometry (CyTOF) or mass spectrometry is a plus.

Additional Information:

To learn more about Dr. Leo Wang’s research, visit: www.leowanglab.org or

https://www.cityofhope.org/research/beckman-research-institute/research-departments-and-divisions/immuno-oncology/leo-wang-lab/leo-wang-lab-research

In addition to competitive compensation and benefits, candidates will have the opportunity to learn and to develop research publications and presentations, independent grant applications, and independent projects that they can take with them when they leave the lab.

As a condition of employment, City of Hope requires staff to comply with all state and federal vaccination mandates.

Salary / Pay Rate Information:
Pay Rate: $31.00 - $34.23 / hour

The estimated pay scale represents the typical [salary/hourly] range City of Hope reasonably expects to pay for this position, with offers determined based on several factors which may include, but not be limited to, the candidate’s experience, expertise, skills, education, job scope, training, internal equity, geography/market, etc. This pay scale is subject to change from time to time.



City of Hope is a community of people characterized by our diversity of thought, background and approach, but tied together by our commitment to care for and cure those with cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The innovation that our diversity produces in the areas of research, treatment, philanthropy and education has made us national leaders in this fight. Our unique and diverse workforce provides us the ability to understand our patients' needs, deliver compassionate care and continue the quest for a cure for life-threatening diseases. At City of Hope, diversity and inclusion is a core value at the heart of our mission. We strive to create an inclusive workplace environment that engages all of our employees and provides them with opportunities to develop and grow, both personally and professionally. Each day brings an opportunity to strengthen our work, leverage our different perspectives and improve our patients’ experiences by learning from others. Diversity and inclusion is about much more than policies and campaigns. It is an integral part of who we are as an institution, how we operate and how we see our future.


Apply Now

Please mention to the employer that you saw this ad on DiversityWork.com

More Info

Close menu