A postdoctoral position is available for a joint appointment in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology and the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, within Dr. Kole Roybal’s laboratory at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). This position also includes a joint appointment in the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, in the laboratory of Drs. Jaehoon Shin and David Wilson at UCSF. The primary goal of this postdoctoral position is to lead the development and application of new engineered T cell imaging techniques and cell-based radioisotope therapy. We recently developed a novel method for tracking activated engineered T cells using imaging, which can be directly applied to radioisotope therapy. This breakthrough led to a publication and the awarding of an R01 grant.  The fellow will contribute to creating new engineered T cells to improve imaging, radioisotope uptake, and in vivo tumor targeting and destruction. The target tumor systems for this research are solid tumors, such as pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma multiforme. The results from this study will directly enhance the safety of T cell-based therapies and provide novel therapeutic approaches for treating locally invasive, non-resectable solid cancers. Additionally, the fellow will have the opportunity to work on other clinically oriented T cell-based locoregional therapy projects.

Facilities: The Parnassus Campus hosts the majority of investigators from the world-renowned Immunology Program at UCSF. The building's design, along with the diverse staff, scientists, and students, fosters a dynamic, creative, and collaborative research and learning environment. The Center for Molecular and Functional Imaging (CMFI) at China Basin Campus includes a comprehensive suite of imaging and interventional laboratories. These facilities feature state-of-the-art preclinical imaging, a radiopharmaceutical laboratory, and small and large animal facilities.

Job description and Responsibilities: Drs. Roybal, Wilson, and Shin have established an exciting interdisciplinary group focused on developing novel approaches to enhance the safety and efficacy of T cell-based cancer therapy using radioisotopes and image-directed locoregional delivery. The postdoctoral scholar in this position will be responsible for developing new engineered T cell imaging techniques and locoregional therapies. In addition, the fellow will have significant freedom to explore and participate in exciting developments at the forefront of synthetic immunology, with potential industrial applications.