Postdoctoral Fellow in Cancer Immunotherapies
Investigate tumor-immune interactions and develop combined dendritic cell vaccines and oncolytic virotherapy for solid tumors.
Best for:Best for immunologists and molecular biologists with strong expertise in flow cytometry, dendritic cell biology, and cancer immunotherapy.
Overview
The University of Maryland School of Medicine invites applications for a multidisciplinary postdoctoral fellow position within the Laboratory for Cancer Immunology and the Viral Engineering & Translational Laboratory. The successful candidate will investigate tumor-immune interactions and advance innovative immunotherapeutic strategies, with a major emphasis on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The role involves developing tumor-pulsed dendritic cell vaccines combined with oncolytic viral therapy to overcome immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment. Applicants will work collaboratively across both research groups, conduct independent experiments, and contribute to high-impact translational cancer research.
What you'll do
- Design and execute multidisciplinary experiments combining cancer immunology, dendritic cell biology, and oncolytic virotherapy.
- Develop and evaluate tumor-pulsed dendritic cell vaccines and their efficacy alongside oncolytic viral therapy.
- Investigate molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating dendritic cell activation, antigen processing, and T-cell priming.
- Analyze tumor-immune interactions, immune suppression, and inflammatory pathways within the tumor microenvironment.
- Perform multicolor flow cytometry, immune profiling, molecular assays, and cellular characterization of immune cells from solid tissues.
- Utilize mouse models of pancreatic cancer and other malignancies to test novel combination immunotherapies.
- Collaborate across research laboratories to advance translational cancer research objectives.
- Prepare research findings for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals and present results at national and international conferences.
Requirements
Degree required: Ph.D., M.D./Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in Immunology, Cancer Biology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, or a related discipline
Language: English; excellent written and oral communication skills
Instruction: English
Publications: Strong publication record and scientific productivity demonstrated through prior work
- Demonstrated expertise in multicolor flow cytometry and immune profiling
- Hands-on experience with dendritic cell biology, antigen presentation, and T-cell activation
- Familiarity with tumor antigen processing and MHC class I and II presentation pathways
- Experience working with oncolytic viruses, viral vectors, or general virology
- Proficiency in isolating and characterizing immune cells from solid tumors and tissues
- Experience utilizing mouse models of cancer
- Strong background in molecular and cellular biology techniques such as Western blotting, RT-qPCR, ELISA, and confocal microscopy
- Doctoral degree preferably obtained within the past three years
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2027-01-15 · open until filled
Interested candidates should submit their application materials directly via email to Dr. Chozha Rathinam. The application package must include a comprehensive cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three professional references.
- Cover letter
- CV
- 3 reference letters
Contact
Chozha Rathinam· Laboratory Leader
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