"Post-Doctoral Research Fellow - Synthetic Immunology"

Overview

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit organization providing adult cancer treatment and groundbreaking research focused on cancer and infectious diseases. Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington.

With a track record of global leadership in bone marrow transplantation, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunotherapy and COVID-19 vaccines, Fred Hutch has earned a reputation as one of the world's leading cancer, infectious disease and biomedical research centers. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services, and network affiliations with hospitals in five states. Together, our fully integrated research and clinical care teams seek to discover new cures to the world's deadliest diseases and make life beyond cancer a reality.

At Fred Hutch we value collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity and respect. Our mission is directly tied to the humanity, dignity and inherent value of each employee, patient, community member and supporter. Our commitment to learning across our differences and similarities make us stronger. We seek employees who bring different and innovative ways of seeing the world and solving problems.

Are you interested in joining a lab focused on cutting-edge CRISPR screening and immuno-oncology? The Li Lab at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (https://research.fredhutch.org/haolong-li/en.html) is seeking highly motivated and collaborative postdoctoral fellows to join our dynamic team. We are dedicated to advancing cancer research and developing new treatments.

Our lab uses CRISPR-based functional genomic screens to dissect how immune cells interact with solid tumor cells. By identifying genetic determinants of tumor immune evasion, we aim to uncover mechanisms that guide the next generation of immunotherapies, including CAR-engineered cell therapies and other synthetic immunology approaches. We employ state-of-the-art techniques such as CRISPR screening, next-generation sequencing, and in vivo mouse modeling, with a focus on prostate cancer as a model system. Our lab is part of the Prostate Cancer Program and is located next to the Nelson Lab (https://research.fredhutch.org/peternelson/en.html) and the Haffner Lab (https://research.fredhutch.org/haffner/en.html). Postdocs will have opportunities for collaboration and co-mentorship with PIs in the program.

Postdoctoral fellows will lead independent research projects with direct translational relevance to cancer treatment. We've already established cutting-edge platforms and collected exciting data ready to be explored. Successful candidates will have the chance to lead and be first authors on projects aimed at identifying novel therapeutic targets and developing new combination treatment strategies.

Please include a cover letter that describes your interest and motivation related to the research area in our lab along with your CV.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute independent research projects under the mentorship of Dr. Li.
• Apply for independent funding (intramural and extramural).
• Participate in grant writing, manuscript preparation, lab meetings, and journal clubs.
• Mentor junior lab members, including technicians and students.
• Contribute to and lead publications in high-impact journals.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• PhD (or equivalent) in immunology, cancer biology, cell biology, or a related field.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Self-motivated, collaborative, and enthusiastic about cancer research.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Background in immunology or cancer immunotherapy research, with a proven track record of high-quality publications.
• Hands-on experience working with immune effector cells, such as T cells or NK cells.
• Proficiency in flow cytometry, molecular cloning, and CRISPR-based screening technologies.
• Familiarity with single-cell or large-scale omics data analysis, and experience with programming in R or Python.

We will consider applicants from varied backgrounds and with different levels of experience. We will also base our evaluation on your specific interest and motivation for this position. Accordingly, in your application please include a cover letter that describes your interest and motivation related to the research area in our lab along with your CV.

The annual base salary range for this position is from $77,976 to $95,014, and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications. This position may be eligible for relocation assistance.This position is not eligible for H1-B sponsorship at this time.Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center offers employees a comprehensive benefits package designed to enhance health, well-being, and financial security. Benefits include medical/vision, dental, flexible spending accounts, life, disability, retirement, family life support, employee assistance program, onsite health clinic, income-based child care subsidy, tuition reimbursement, paid vacation (22 days per year), paid sick leave (up to 30 calendar days per occurrence of a qualifying reason), paid holidays (13 days per year), and paid parental leave (up to 4 weeks).