Postdoctoral Scientist – Cancer Immunology and Tumor Microenvironment

Cedars-Sinai; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Cedars-Sinai's McGaha Lab in the Department of Surgery seeks a Postdoctoral Scientist to advance understanding of anti-tumor immunity, focusing on macrophages, tumor microenvironment, and pancreatic cancer biology. The role emphasizes mechanistic immunology with translational aims and cross-disciplinary training.

The candidate will design studies, analyze data, and contribute to manuscripts, presentations, and developing scientific independence under Dr. McGaha's mentorship.

Qualifications

• PhD, MD, VMD, DDS, or equivalent doctoral degree in immunology, cancer biology, cell biology, molecular biology, biomedical sciences, or related field.
• Strong record of experimental research and demonstrated ability to design experiments, analyze data, interpret results, and communicate scientific findings.
• Evidence of scientific productivity appropriate to career stage.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment.
• Strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop a rigorous mechanistic research program within cancer immunology in a translational environment.
• Design experiments, analyze data, and prepare manuscripts and scientific presentations.
• Collaborate across approaches including in vivo tumor models, cellular immunology, flow cytometry, and omics.

Skills

Experimental research

Independent work

Collaborative work

Communication skills

Education

PhD/MD equivalent

Tools

Flow cytometry

Single-cell sequencing

Transcriptomics

Spatial analysis

Job description

Job Description

McGaha Lab, Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Dr. Tracy McGaha is recruiting a highly motivated Postdoctoral Scientist to join the McGaha Lab at Cedars-Sinai. The laboratory investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate anti-tumor immunity, with a particular focus on tumor-associated and tissue-resident macrophages, interactions between innate and adaptive immune cells, and the metabolic and microenvironmental signals that drive immune suppression in cancer.

A major focus of the laboratory is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), an aggressive cancer in which the immune microenvironment contributes substantially to disease progression and resistance to therapy. Current research examines how macrophage function is shaped by the tumor microenvironment, metabolism, hypoxia, microbiome-derived signals, and interactions with T cells, with the broader goal of identifying mechanisms that can be therapeutically targeted to improve anti-tumor immunity.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to develop a rigorous mechanistic research program within this broader area and to work across complementary experimental approaches. Projects may incorporate in vivo tumor models, cellular and molecular immunology, flow cytometry, primary tissue, tumor–immune cell interactions, transcriptomic and single-cell approaches, and other emerging methods appropriate to the scientific question.

We welcome applicants fromimmunology, cancer biology, molecular and cell biology, tumor biology, metabolism, microbiome research, systems biology, and related disciplines. Prior experience in pancreatic cancer or tumor immunology is valuable but isnot requiredfor an outstanding candidate with strong experimental training and an interest in entering the field.

This position is particularly suited to a scientist who wants to pursue fundamental questions in cancer immunology in a highly translational environment. The Postdoctoral Scientist will work closely with Dr. McGaha in experimental design, data analysis, manuscript preparation, scientific presentations, and the development of increasing scientific independence during the postdoctoral period.

Qualifications

Required

• PhD, MD, VMD, DDS, or equivalent doctoral degree in immunology, cancer biology, cell biology, molecular biology, biomedical sciences, or a related field.
• Strong record of experimental research and demonstrated ability to design experiments, analyze data, interpret results, and communicate scientific findings.
• Evidence of scientific productivity appropriate to career stage.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment.
• Strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills.

Experience in one or more of the following areas is desirable, but candidates are not expected to have expertise in all of them:

• Cancer immunology or tumor microenvironment biology
• Macrophage or myeloid-cell biology
• T-cell biology
• Pancreatic cancer or other solid tumors
• Mouse models of cancer or immune disease
• Flow cytometry and immune phenotyping
• Tumor metabolism or immunometabolism
• Microbiome–immune interactions
• Single-cell, transcriptomic, spatial, or other high-dimensional approaches
• Organoid, primary-tissue, or tumor–immune co-culture systems
• Quantitative or computational approaches to biological questions

Candidates with strong backgrounds in adjacent areas who are interested in applying their expertise to cancer immunology are encouraged to apply.