We are seeking a driven and accomplished postdoctoral fellow to join the Cancer Immunology Discovery (CID) group within the Oncology R&D (WRD) unit of Pfizer.

The successful candidate with lead a research project to understand how epigenetic mechanisms control the anti-tumor immune response, and to translate the findings into better therapies with curative potential for cancer patients.

The project builds on promising preliminary data and applies cutting-edge technologies to address what is to date a major scientific question with great clinical implications. Guided by experienced mentors with strong academic track records, the successful candidate will study fundamental questions in cancer immunology with the goal of publishing in high-impact journals. The postdoc will also interact extensively with leading scientists in small and large molecule drug discovery, collaborate with computational, early clinical, and translational oncology colleagues across Pfizer, present in internal and external conferences, and receive mentorship to become a prolific independent scientific investigator.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

The successful candidate will work independently, but with guidance by experienced mentors, to:

• Discover the novel mechanisms through which epigenetic enzymes regulate T cell activation, differentiation, trafficking and exhaustion, in combination with I-O agents.
• Design and perform studies to evaluate the anatomical distribution, persistence and function of antigen-specific T cells in preclinical models of cancer.
• Collaborate with teams in tumor biology, protein engineering, computational biology, clinical development to discover novel biology and as a result identify better treatments for cancer patients.
• Present at group meetings, internal and external conferences, and publish in high impact journals.
• Contribute to building a culture that embraces scientific excellence, integrity, effectiveness, humility, continuous learning and team work.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Ph.D. in Immuno-oncology, Immunology, Cancer Biology or a comparable biological science, with a strong track record of scientific publications.
• 0-4 years of postdoctoral experience.
• Solid hands-on experience with conventional immunological techniques: immune cell isolation, multi-color flow cytometry, in vitro immune cell functional assays and in vivo tumor models.
• Experience in assessing T cell function, differentiation, exhaustion and memory development.
• Must have excellent organization and planning skills, the ability to work in a fast-paced environment independently and as part of a team. Excellent verbal and written communication, and strong motivation with a dedicated work ethic.
• Able to master new concepts and techniques quickly.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 2+ years research experience in T cell biology and/or epigenetics.
• Strong understanding of innate and adoptive immune systems.
• Prior experience or a strong interest in developing novel immunotherapies for cancer.
• Hands-on experience in qRT-PCR, ELISA, Western blotting, ChIP-seq, RNA-seq, ATAC-seq and CyTOF is desirable.
• Hands-on experience in CRISPR, RNAi, lentiviral transduction and exogenous gene expression is a plus.
• Hands-on experience in syngeneic and spontaneous tumor models, adoptive cell transfer is desirable.