Postdoctoral Fellow in Oncology

Position Overview

The Fan Laboratory in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine is recruiting creative, collaborative, and highly motivated Postdoctoral Scientists to lead research projects in cancer immunology and cardiovascular biology.

Research Focus

The lab investigates how the tissue microenvironment regulates cancer immunity and heart repair.

Key areas of interest include:

• Molecular mechanisms underlying vascular control of immune cell function in cancer and ischemic heart disease
• Targeting myeloid cells to overcome cancer-associated immunosuppression
• Biology and therapeutic targeting of γδT cell and NKT cell exhaustion in cancer
• Advanced radiation strategies, including FLASH and SFRT, to modulate tissue immunity in tumors and normal hearts

Research Approach

The research integrates:

• Mouse models
• Molecular and cell biology
• Immunology and metabolism
• Multi-omics approaches (transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics)
• Advanced 3D imaging

The goal is to uncover molecular pathways and develop novel therapeutic strategies.

Project Areas

Projects will be tailored to candidate interests within themes such as:

• Molecular communication among endothelial cells, fibroblasts, macrophages, and dendritic cells
• Metabolic and transcriptional mechanisms regulating γδT cell dysfunction in the tumor microenvironment
• Combinatorial strategies integrating CAR-T cell therapy with FLASH- and SFRT-based radiotherapy
• Targeting endothelial plasticity and myeloid cell transitions to improve cardiac repair following ischemia

Lab Environment

The Fan Lab emphasizes:

• Rigorous science
• Intellectual independence
• Strong mentorship

The lab has a strong track record of training researchers who advance to independent faculty positions.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Cancer Biology, Immunology, Cell Biology, or related field
• Demonstrated research productivity (including first-author publications)
• Strong experimental and analytical skills in molecular, cellular, or tissue biology
• Ability to independently design and execute experiments

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with mouse models
• Background in metabolism and/or immunological analysis
• Experience in cancer and/or cardiovascular research workflows
• Bioinformatics skills (e.g., R, Python, or related tools)

Visa Information

Candidates requiring visa sponsorship are welcome to apply.

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit:

• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter describing research experience and interests
• PDF of relevant publication(s)
• Contact information for three references