Postdoc in Cancer Immunology

Funding is available for a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to join an NIH R01-funded research program investigating bitter taste receptor (T2R) signaling in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). This work focuses on understanding how G protein-coupled receptor signaling shapes macrophage behavior within the tumor microenvironment and how these pathways can be leveraged to promote anti-tumor immunity.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma remains a highly lethal disease, with clinical outcomes strongly influenced by immune composition and macrophage phenotype within the tumor microenvironment. Tumor-associated macrophages play a central role in regulating tumor progression, immune suppression, and response to therapy, yet many of the signaling pathways governing macrophage-tumor interactions remain poorly understood. Our laboratory has identified bitter taste receptors as previously unrecognized immune signaling receptors expressed on macrophages and oral cancer cells, where their activation influences phagocytosis, inflammatory signaling, and tumor cell survival. These findings point to taste receptor pathways as novel, targetable mechanisms for modulating anti-cancer immunity.

The postdoctoral fellow will lead projects examining how bitter taste receptor signaling regulates macrophage function, including efferocytosis, polarization, and interactions with oral cancer cells. Experimental approaches will include studies using primary human monocyte-derived macrophages from healthy donors and patients with OSCC, patient-derived tumor slice cultures that preserve the native tumor microenvironment, and murine models to evaluate immune infiltration and tumor growth in vivo. The work integrates mechanistic signaling studies with translational immune-oncology questions.

Research in the Carey laboratory spans cancer biology, immunology, GPCR signaling, and translational medicine. We use a combination of live-cell and confocal imaging, biochemical and molecular techniques, primary human tissues, and in vivo models. A major emphasis is placed on clinically relevant systems and direct translation of laboratory findings toward novel therapeutic strategies for head and neck cancer.

The postdoctoral fellow will work closely with the PI, Dr. Ryan Carey, in a highly collaborative research environment with strong ties to clinical oncology and institutional core facilities. Training will be provided in advanced live-cell imaging and signaling assays as needed. The fellow will be encouraged to develop independent research directions, publish first-author manuscripts, and pursue career development activities including grant writing, conference presentations, and interdisciplinary collaborations.