Postdoctoral Research Position in Cancer Immunology and Immune Engineering

VS‑Postdoc; Dallas (TX); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

UT Southwestern Medical Center’s Laboratory of Dr. Jaehyuk Choi in Dallas is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to push the frontiers of cancer immunology and immune engineering.

The role integrates immunology, protein engineering, and translational science to uncover regulatory mechanisms and convert discoveries into rational therapies. The successful candidate will join the Center for Cellular Therapies and Cancer Immunology and work with basic scientists, translational researchers, and

Qualifications

• Postdoctoral appointment focusing on cancer immunology and immune engineering.
• Experience with translational research and preclinical development is preferred.
• Strong collaboration across disciplines including immunology, cancer biology, and molecular engineering.

Responsibilities

• Engineer immune responses in cancer and develop immunotherapies.
• Contribute to projects from mechanistic studies to preclinical development.
• Collaborate with basic scientists, translational researchers, and clinicians.

Skills

T-cell engineering

Cancer immunology

Protein engineering

Job description

Postdoctoral Research Position in Cancer Immunology and Immune Engineering

2026-10-12

Postdoctoral Research Position in Cancer Immunology and ImmuneEngineering

Employer

UT Southwestern Medical Center - Center for Cellular Therapy and CancerImmunology

Location

Commensurate with education and experience

Job Type

Postdoc

Organization Type

Laboratory of Dr. Jaehyuk Choi

Co-founder, Moonlight Bio

Director, Center for Cellular Therapies and Cancer Immunology

Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center

Vice Chair of Innovation and Translation

Department of Dermatology

University of Texas Southwestern

Position Overview

The Choi Laboratory is seeking a highly motivated and collaborativepostdoctoral researcher to help develop the next generation of cancerimmunotherapies. Our research integrates cancer immunology, T-cell and proteinengineering, and translational science to uncover mechanisms of immuneregulation and convert those discoveries into rationally designed therapies.

The successful candidate will join the Center for Cellular Therapies andCancer Immunology and work alongside basic scientists, translationalresearchers, and clinicians with expertise in immunology, cancer biology,molecular engineering, and therapeutic development. Projects are designed toprogress from mechanistic discovery through preclinical development, providingexposure to programs moving toward first-in-human studies. This position isparticularly well suited for researchers seeking rigorous scientific trainingand preparation for careers in academia, biotechnology, or translationalmedicine.

Research Focus

The successful candidate will investigate and engineer immune responses incancer, with particular emphasis on:

• T-cell engineering
• Cancer immunology and immunotherapy
• Protein and cell engineering for next-generation immunotherapies

Why Join the Choi Laboratory at UT Southwestern?

UT Southwestern Medical Center is an internationally recognized academicmedical center where scientists and clinicians work together to translatediscovery into better treatments. Through the Choi Laboratory’s affiliationswith the Center for Cellular Therapies and Cancer Immunology and the Harold C.Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, postdoctoral researchers have access tomultidisciplinary expertise, advanced shared core facilities, extensiveinstitutional research support, and opportunities to connect laboratorydiscoveries with unmet clinical needs.

The Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center is an NCI-designatedComprehensive Cancer Center recognized for excellence across basic, clinical,prevention, and population-based cancer research. This highly collaborativeenvironment allows postdoctoral researchers to engage with scientists andclinicians across traditional disciplinary boundaries while developing thetechnical, scientific, and professional skills needed for their next careerstage.

Postdoctoral researchers receive a competitive salary and comprehensivebenefits, individualized mentoring, and access to institutionalcareer-development resources. Located in Dallas, UT Southwestern combines theresources and scientific community of a major academic medical center with theprofessional and cultural opportunities of one of the country’s largest and mostdiverse metropolitan areas.

Selected Recent Publications

Candidates are encouraged to review the lab’s recent publications to learnmore about our scientific approach and ongoing areas of research.

2025

• Journal of Clinical Investigation: Addiction of primarycutaneous γδ T cell lymphomas to JAK/STAT signaling
• Journal of Clinical Investigation: Cellular profilingidentifies targetable T cell phenotypes in lymphocytic variant hypereosinophilicsyndrome

2024

• Nature: Naturally occurring T cell mutations enhanceengineered T cell therapies
• Nature: Interferon subverts an AHR-JUN axis to promoteCXCL13+ T cells in lupus
• Cancer Discovery: Preexisting Skin-Resident CD8 and γδT-cell Circuits Mediate Immune Response in Merkel Cell Carcinoma and PredictImmunotherapy Efficacy

2023

• Nature: PD-1 instructs a tumor-suppressive metabolic programthat restricts glycolysis and restrains AP-1 activity in T cell lymphoma

Learn More

Explore the Choi Laboratory’s research, publications, and ongoingprograms:

Laboratory research overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMnKZ0bko0U

Dr. Jaehyuk Choi Influuent: Jaehyuk Choi - University ofTexas Southwestern Medical Center

EEO Statement

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and workingenvironment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the Universitycommunity. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawfuldiscrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion,national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression,age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status