Two Postdoctoral Scholar Positions, Pathobiology Dept, Dr. Nicola Mason Lab
Location: University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine. Open date: Oct 23, 2026.
About the role
The Mason Lab in the Department of Pathobiology, at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) is recruiting Postdoctoral Scholars to join our team within the Comparative Immunotherapy Program. Our work focuses on developing comparative immunotherapeutic approaches to study correlative biomarkers of immune response in canine patients with spontaneous disease processes including cancer and autoimmunity. Our comparative approach leverages naturally occurring diseases in client owned, pet dogs to inform human and veterinary medicine. Our lab has a particular interest in engineered cell-based therapeutics (e.g. CAR-T, TIL therapeutics), checkpoint inhibitors and bi-specific T cell engagers. In collaboration with partner labs at the University of Pennsylvania, we are working to identify biomarkers of immune response within canine patient populations, including phenotypic and functional characteristics of various immune cell populations and their interactions with immune suppressive and stromal elements within the tumor microenvironment, serum metabolites and gut microbiome.
Research techniques
- Flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, ELISA, ELISpot, cytotoxicity assays
- CRISPR/Cas9 editing and gene transfer technologies (lentiviral, retroviral, electroporation)
- Advanced sequencing technologies, at single cell and bulk levels
- Seahorse flux assays, LC/MS analysis
- Clinical in vivo assessments (client owned animals with spontaneous disease processes)
Research aims
- Advance novel immunotherapeutics for cancer and autoimmunity both in companion animal and human species
- Baseline markers of prognosis for patient stratification to immunotherapeutic clinical trials
- Novel technologies applied to veterinary species to address outstanding biological questions centered on immune response and immunological fitness
Disease areas of focus
- B cell lymphoma
- Osteosarcoma
- Histiocytic sarcoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Auto-immunity including pemphigus and hemolytic anemia
Training opportunities
- Developing engineered autologous and allogeneic cell-based therapies for assessment in canine patients with cancer or autoimmunity
- Developing novel biologics centered on bi-specific T cell engagers and identifying correlative biomarkers of response in canine patients
- Investigate mechanisms of resistance to checkpoint inhibitors in solid tumors
- Studying cancer-immune cell interactions within the primary and metastatic tumor microenvironment using functional biology approaches & advanced in-situ sequencing/data analytics
What we offer
- Mentorship
- Freedom
- Resources
- Exciting Science
- Fun