Research Postdoctoral Fellow - Mossé and Weber Labs

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 20,800 - 110,400; Full time

Job summary

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) seeks a talented postdoctoral fellow to join a dynamic team developing next-generation CAR T cell therapies targeting pediatric solid tumors. Under a mentor, you will design and implement experiments, perform in vitro and in vivo studies, and contribute to publishing findings.

Candidates should have a Doctorate and strong background in molecular biology and immunotherapy.

Qualifications

• Design, develop, and optimize genetically engineered CAR T cells for improved tumor targeting and persistence.
• Perform molecular cloning, lentiviral vector production, T cell transduction, and functional assays.
• Conduct in‑vitro experiments and use clinically relevant mouse models to evaluate CAR T cell efficacy and safety.
• Analyze experimental data, maintain accurate records in electronic laboratory notebooks, and prepare findings for publication and presentations.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including immunologists, clinicians, and bioinformaticians.
• Mentor junior lab members and contribute to grant writing and progress reporting.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize genetically engineered CAR T cells for improved tumor targeting and persistence.
• Perform molecular cloning, lentiviral vector production, T cell transduction, and functional assays.
• Conduct in‑vitro experiments and use clinically relevant mouse models to evaluate CAR T cell efficacy and safety.
• Analyze experimental data, maintain accurate records in electronic laboratory notebooks, and prepare findings for publication and presentations.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including immunologists, clinicians, and bioinformaticians.
• Mentor junior lab members and contribute to grant writing and progress reporting.

Skills

CRISPR/Cas9

CAR T cell engineering

Molecular biology

Mouse models

Bioinformatics

Education

Doctorate – Required

Job description

Seeking Breakthrough Makers

SHIFT: Day (United States of America)

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) offers countless ways to change lives. Our diverse community of more than 20,000 Breakthrough Makers will inspire you to pursue passions, develop expertise, and drive innovation. At CHOP, your experience is valued; your voice is heard; and your contributions make a difference for patients and families. Join us as we build on our promise to advance pediatric care—and your career.

CHOP does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, or any other legally protected categories in any employment, training, or vendor decisions or programs. CHOP recognizes the critical importance of a workforce rich in varied backgrounds and experiences and engages in ongoing efforts to achieve that through equally varied and non‑discriminatory means.

A Brief Overview

Under the direction/guidance of a mentor (principal investigator), the candidate will assume responsibility for a specific, on‑going research project. The experience will serve to extend, refine and enhance skills necessary for professional and career development, and will enable the individual to broaden their scientific background by acquiring new research capabilities. It is expected that the individual will conduct independent scholarly research and contribute directly to the overall research goals of the project and the research group.

This role will be expected to participate in project planning, record and evaluate data, and communicate results. It will also acquire technical, lab management, and manuscript/grant writing skills; and participate in seminars, lectures, poster sessions and presentations at national meetings. The role may require supervising junior lab members, developing new methods and protocols for research, and assisting with the development of other research projects in the lab.

We seek an innovative postdoctoral fellow or scientist to join a dynamic research team developing next‑generation CAR T cell therapies targeting pediatric solid tumors. The successful candidate will engage in cutting‑edge molecular and cellular immunotherapy research, including genetic engineering, functional evaluation of CAR T cells, and preclinical testing in relevant in‑vitro and in‑vivo models.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize genetically engineered CAR T cells for improved tumor targeting and persistence.
• Perform molecular cloning, lentiviral vector production, T cell transduction, and functional assays.
• Conduct in‑vitro experiments and use clinically relevant mouse models to evaluate CAR T cell efficacy and safety.
• Analyze experimental data, maintain accurate records in electronic laboratory notebooks, and prepare findings for publication and presentations.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including immunologists, clinicians, and bioinformaticians.
• Mentor junior lab members and contribute to grant writing and progress reporting.

What You Will Do

• Conduct independent scholarly research and develop new methods and protocols.
• Participate in project planning, record, and evaluation of data.
• Acquire technical, lab management and grant writing skills.
• Participate in seminars, lectures, poster sessions and presentations at national meetings.
• Supervise junior lab members.
• Assist with other research projects.

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and advanced cell therapy development techniques.
• Experience with bioinformatics analysis, next‑generation sequencing, or epigenetic profiling is a plus.
• Knowledge of pediatric solid tumor biology and translational cellular therapies.
• Demonstrated expertise in molecular biology techniques and cancer immunology.
• Experience with CAR T cell engineering, T cell culture, and mouse models of cancer is highly desirable.
• Strong record of scientific productivity with excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Education Qualifications

• Doctorate – Required

Skills And Abilities

• Ability to wear a respirator device.

EEO / VEVRAA Federal Contractor | Tobacco Statement

To carry out its mission, CHOP is committed to supporting the health of our patients, families, workforce, and global community. As a condition of employment, CHOP employees who work in patient care buildings or who have patient‑facing responsibilities must receive an annual influenza vaccine.

SALARY RANGE

$20,800.00 - $110,400.00 Annually

Salary ranges are shown for full‑time jobs. If you are working part‑time, your pay will be adjusted accordingly.

If you are applying for a Research Post‑Doctoral Fellow role, please refer to this link for salary guidelines (https://www.research.chop.edu/services/hiring-a-postdoctoral-fellow#collapse-accordion-3523-3).

At CHOP, we are committed to fair and transparent pay practices. Factors such as skills and experience could result in an offer above the salary range noted in this job posting. For more information regarding CHOP’s Compensation and Benefits, please consult the CHOP website.