Cellular Engineering Postdoctoral Fellow

At Moffitt Cancer Center, we strive to be the leader in understanding the complexity of cancer and applying these insights to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. Our diverse team of over 9,000 are dedicated to serving our patients and creating a workspace where every individual is recognized and appreciated. For this reason, Moffitt has been recognized on the 2023 Forbes list of America’s Best Large Employers and America’s Best Employers for Women, Computerworld magazine’s list of 100 Best Places to Work in Information Technology, DiversityInc Top Hospitals & Health Systems and continually named one of the Tampa Bay Time’s Top Workplace. Additionally, Moffitt is proud to have earned the prestigious Magnet® designation in recognition of its nursing excellence. Moffitt is a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center based in Florida, and the leading cancer hospital in both Florida and the Southeast. We are a top 10 nationally ranked cancer center by Newsweek and have been nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report since 1999.
Working at Moffitt is both a career and a mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. Join our committed team and help shape the future we envision.

Summary

Dr. Patrick Hwu’s lab at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida is seeking a highly motivated post-doctoral fellow to join his multi-disciplinary laboratory team focused on understanding the underlying mechanisms of cancer-immune system interactions and developing novel translational cellular immunotherapies with the goal to improve current treatments for cancer patients.

Dr. Hwu’s research is engaged in developing innovative immunotherapy approaches to trigger potent adaptive antitumor immunity to overcome resistance to cancer immunotherapy. His studies are focused on gene-modified T-cells, development of translational combinatorial therapies which include immune checkpoint blockade and adoptive T-cell therapy, and identification of targetable T-cell molecules to boost the proliferation, migration and function of tumor reactive T-cells.

Position Highlights: 
•    The candidate will be given the opportunities for developing new skills, professional growth, and career goals.
•    The candidate will receive outstanding mentorship from expert faculty and participate in multiple academic activities. 

The Ideal Candidate: 
•    Must have extensive practical experience with in vitro and in vivo techniques in a research lab setting.
•    Experience in biomedical engineering, assay development, molecular biology techniques, and gene editing methodologies, including CRISPR technology is strongly preferred. 
•    Experience working with adoptive T-cell therapies, chimeric antigen receptor (CART-T) and/or transgenic T-cell receptor (TCR) development is strongly preferred. 

The Candidate is Expected to: 
•    Execute genetic in vivo and in vitro CRISPR screen with our team.
•    Develop chimeric antigen receptors for T-cell therapy in a mentored role.
•    Work reliably with a team to execute projects, complete routine laboratory duties, and maintain excellent records.
•    Design experiments, develop independent projects, and draft manuscripts
•    Mentor undergraduate and PhD students, as appropriate 
•    Collaborate professionally and collegially with others in the lab and with other laboratories from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
•    Be enthusiastic about their role in improving the lives of cancer patients
•    be well-organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to effectively and reliably document protocols and experiments in ways that can be understood and replicated by others.

Credentials and Qualifications: 
•    Must have completed an MD or PhD in biomedical engineering, biomedical sciences, immunology, or similar field. 
•    Candidates with less than 3 years prior postdoctoral experience will be given preference. 
•    Should have at least one first author publication.

How to apply:
Please be sure to attach a single PDF file that includes a cover letter summarizing your previous research experience and accomplishments. A personal statement of scientific interests and goals, current CV with recent publications, and contact information for three references for Dr. Patrick Hwu to review. Questions regarding the position can be sent to the lab manager Ana Dominguez at Ana.Dominguez@Moffitt.org. 

 
You will be eligible for benefits offered to our Team Members – Medical, Dental, Vision, Paid Time Off, Retirement, Parental Leave and more. With a move to Tampa, you may be eligible for relocation allowance. Reason to relocate, aside from the sunshine, beaches and year-round outdoor recreation associated with the Gulf Coast of Florida, Tampa is a thriving metropolitan city with unique cultural attractions, low cost of living and a high quality of life. We strive for work/life balance.