Postdoctoral Fellow in Immunology at Northwestern University

The Choi lab (https://choilaboratory.northwestern.edu) is a T cell biology lab who is interested in improving outcomes for patients with cancer and autoimmune disease. We utilize high dimensional genomic and immunological assays to identify drivers of disease (such as lupus or cancer) and then utilize immune engineering and synthetic biology to identify novel treatments. Our lab is on a roll. In addition to recent manuscripts in Nature Cancer, Blood, and Nature Communications, we have manuscripts in press at Nature, in revision at Nature, and in revision at Cancer Discovery.

We are looking for bioinformaticists, immunologists, and synthetic biologists to join our lab. We are recruiting for three projects.

1) We are looking for postdoctoral fellows who would like to engineer next-generation T cell therapies for solid tumors. Adoptive cell therapies have revolutionized the treatment of aggressive hematological malignancies. However, treatment of solid tumors, which represent 90% of all adult cancers, require additional T cell engineering. To solve this problem we are utilizing evolutionary biology to design potency enhancements that arm T cells. These enhancements enable persistence in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and clearance of solid tumors at extremely low doses. Our first story is in press at Nature and is the foundational IP for a start-up company. 

2) We are looking for postdoctoral fellows who would like to engineer novel therapies for autoimmune disease. We have utilized patient samples to identify pathogenic T cells in lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. We have then utilized CRISPR screens to identify targetable means to reprogram pathogenic autoimmune T cells in lupus. This story is invited for resubmission at Nature. We are working to expand our efforts to other immune cells and/or diseases.

3) We are looking for postdoctoral fellows who would like to study samples from patients with skin cancer and skin lymphoma to identify novel treatments for intractable skin cancers. We utilize single cell RNA-Seq, CRISPR screens, and relevant animal models to elucidate the immunology underlying cancer with the goal of designing novel therapies. This project is summarized in a manuscript recently published in Nature Cancer and a manuscript in revision at Cancer Discovery. 

Position Highlights:

• The position offers outstanding training that combines basic mechanistic and clinically relevant research.
• We utilize both mouse models and human samples to engineer novel therapies. These projects offer opportunities for novel IP.
• An opportunity to work in a dynamic, collaborative research group.
• Most of the lab has been successful in getting competitive fellowships from well-known foundations and the NIH.

The Ideal Candidate:

• Highly motivated
• Substantial laboratory experience (molecular and cellular biology and/or immunology)
• Outstanding communication skills (oral and written)
• Bioinformatics skills are a plus (but not required)

How to apply:

Send the following to Jaehyuk Choi at: Jaehyuk.choi@northwestern.edu

• Cover letter explaining why you are interested and well-suited for the position and a description of career goals;
• Curriculum vitae;
• Names of three references

 

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.