Postdoctoral Scientist – Cancer Immunology and Tumor Microenvironment
About The Position
Dr. Tracy McGaha is recruiting a highly motivated Postdoctoral Scientist to join the McGaha Lab in the Department of Surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The laboratory investigates cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating anti-tumor immunity, particularly tumor-associated and tissue-resident macrophages, interactions between innate and adaptive immune cells, and metabolic and microenvironmental signals that drive immune suppression in cancer. A major research focus is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), where the immune microenvironment contributes to disease progression and therapy resistance. Research examines how the tumor microenvironment, metabolism, hypoxia, microbiome-derived signals, and interactions with T cells shape macrophage function, with the broader aim of identifying therapeutic targets that may improve anti-tumor immunity. The successful candidate will develop a rigorous mechanistic research program and work across complementary experimental approaches. Projects may involve in vivo tumor models, cellular and molecular immunology, flow cytometry, primary tissue, tumor–immune cell interactions, transcriptomic and single-cell approaches, and other methods appropriate to the scientific question. The Postdoctoral Scientist will work closely with Dr. McGaha on experimental design, data analysis, manuscript preparation, scientific presentations, and developing increasing scientific independence in a highly translational research environment.
Requirements
- PhD, MD, VMD, DDS, or equivalent doctoral degree in immunology, cancer biology, cell biology, molecular biology, biomedical sciences, or a related field.
- Strong record of experimental research and demonstrated ability to design experiments, analyze data, interpret results, and communicate scientific findings.
- Evidence of scientific productivity appropriate to career stage.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment.
- Strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in cancer immunology or tumor microenvironment biology.
- Experience in macrophage or myeloid-cell biology.
- Experience in T-cell biology.
- Experience in pancreatic cancer or other solid tumors.
- Experience with mouse models of cancer or immune disease.
- Experience with flow cytometry and immune phenotyping.
- Experience in tumor metabolism or immunometabolism.
- Experience in microbiome–immune interactions.
- Experience with single-cell, transcriptomic, spatial, or other high-dimensional approaches.
- Experience with organoid, primary-tissue, or tumor–immune co-culture systems.
- Experience with quantitative or computational approaches to biological questions.
- Strong experimental training and interest in applying expertise from an adjacent field to cancer immunology.
Responsibilities
- Develop a rigorous mechanistic research program in cancer immunology and the tumor microenvironment.
- Conduct research using approaches appropriate to the scientific question, potentially including in vivo tumor models, cellular and molecular immunology, flow cytometry, primary tissue, tumor–immune cell interactions, transcriptomic and single-cell methods, and other emerging methods.
- Work with Dr. McGaha on experimental design and data analysis.
- Prepare manuscripts and scientific presentations.
- Develop increasing scientific independence during the postdoctoral period.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
