Postdoctoral Fellow – Gamma-Herpesvirus Vaccine and Immunotherapy Research

About the role

The laboratory of Javier Gordon Ogembo, Ph.D., at the Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope is seeking two postdoctoral scholars to join a dynamic team focused on developing prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines and immunotherapies against oncogenic gamma-herpesviruses.

Responsibilities

• Develop and evaluate next-generation vaccine platforms, including circular RNA (circRNA), mRNA, lipid nanoparticle (LNP), and MVA viral-vector vaccines.
• Advance gamma-herpesvirus infection and vaccine development studies, including work focused on EBV, KSHV, and rhLCV.
• Support antibody discovery and immunotherapeutic research, including monoclonal and neutralizing antibody development.
• Investigate vaccine-induced humoral and cellular immunity, including antibody, B-cell, and T-cell responses.
• Use advanced in vivo models for vaccine and antibody testing, including conventional and humanized mice, transgenic models, rabbits, non-human primates, and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models.
• Study viral pathogenesis, host-virus interactions, viral entry, and mechanisms of immune evasion.
• Conduct preclinical evaluation of vaccines and immunotherapies for infection and virus-associated cancers.

Requirements

• Ph.D., M.D., Ph.D./M.D., Ph.D./D.V.M., or equivalent doctoral degree.
• A strong record of peer-reviewed publications.
• Demonstrated ability to independently design, execute, and interpret research.
• Strong expertise in four or more of the following:
• Molecular biology, genetic engineering, virology, or RNA biologymRNA, circRNA, LNP, or viral-vector technologiesProtein expression, purification, structural biology, or protein engineeringMonoclonal antibody generation and characterizationImmunological assays, including ELISA, flow cytometry, neutralization, and T-cell assaysVaccine development and formulationIn vivo modelsCancer biology, tumor immunology, or infectious disease modelsQuantitative analysis, experimental design, and interpretation of complex datasets

Qualifications

• Intellectually curious, technically rigorous, highly independent, and motivated to develop into scientific leaders.

Skills

• Intellectually curious, technically rigorous, highly independent, and motivated to develop into scientific leaders.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Health insurance
• Retirement savings plans
• Flexible spending accounts
• Telemedicine services
• Employee assistance programs

Pay

City of Hope employees' pay is based on their work experience, qualifications, and work location.

Schedule

Our schedule is flexible to accommodate your needs.

Additional Information

We are especially interested in scientists who are intellectually curious, technically rigorous, highly independent, and motivated to develop into scientific leaders. The successful candidates will have opportunities to publish in high-impact journals, develop grant applications, participate in multidisciplinary collaborations, work with people from multicultural backgrounds, and contribute to translational programs advancing vaccine candidates toward clinical development.

To learn more about our Comprehensive Benefits, please CLICK HERE.

City of Hope is an equal opportunity employer.