Postdoctoral Research Fellow, BioMedicine Design
About The Position
BioMedicine Design (BMD) group at La Jolla, CA is seeking a highly driven and innovative Ph.D.-level scientist to join our Biotherapeutics Discovery group as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow. This role focuses on driving therapeutic innovation through the development of a next-generation T cell engager (TCE) designed to improve tumor selectivity and minimize on-target, off-tumor toxicity. It offers a unique opportunity for training at the intersection of protein engineering, cell biology, and immunology, with collaborative work across diverse research teams within Pfizer. The program aims to equip the Postdoc with proficiency in antibody discovery and engineering, cellular assays, and preclinical evaluation, preparing them for early-stage therapeutic discovery and modality selection. The ideal candidate should possess solid training in molecular biology, cell biology, immunology, or structural biology, with a strong understanding of biology/oncology.
Requirements
- PhD in cancer biology, immunology, molecular or cellular biology, biochemistry, chemical and biomolecular engineering or a related discipline is required
- Provide two letters of recommendation with your application (e.g. professors/PI)
- Willingness to commit to the fixed‑term full-time postdoctoral fellowship (duration: 2–4 years)
- Less than 2 years post-doctoral experience
- At least 1 first-author scientific research article in high-quality specialty or general readership journals
- Technically proficient in (at least) some molecular and cell biology tools, including construct design, molecular cloning, recombinant protein expression/purification, mammalian cell culture and cell line engineering, cell line transfection and characterization, development of cell-based assays (e.g. cytotoxicity proliferation, cytokine production), and flow cytometry
- Proficient with data reporting and analysis software, strong planning and organizational skills
- Strong motivation, passion and commitment to science and engineering of novel entities
- Ability and desire to multitask and work in a fast-paced, interdisciplinary scientific team both independently and as part of a team, strong problem-solving and analytical skills
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Permanent work authorization in the United States
Nice To Haves
- Prior experience with antibody discovery, protein engineering, and/or display technology (e.g., yeast and/or phage display) is highly desirable
- Experience with bispecific antibodies or T cell engagers
Responsibilities
- Demonstrate strong technical and scientific rigor in project planning and gap identification
- Proactively conduct literature searches to gather relevant information and form hypotheses for testing experimentally
- Design and produce constructs to further our understanding of underlying biology and mechanism of action; develop and utilize cell-based assays to test hypothesis and screen and rank molecules
- Generate and effectively communicate results regularly at internal meetings, make data-driven decisions in shaping direction of research project
- Participate in developing creative approaches to discover and optimize therapeutics
Benefits
- 401(k) plan with Pfizer Matching Contributions
- additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution
- paid vacation
- holiday and personal days
- paid caregiver/parental and medical leave
- health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage
- Relocation assistance may be available
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
