About City of Hope

City of Hope is an independent biomedical research and treatment organization for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.

Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a leader in bone marrow transplantation and immunotherapy such as CAR T cell therapy. City of Hope’s translational research and personalized treatment protocols advance care throughout the world. Human synthetic insulin, monoclonal antibodies and numerous breakthrough cancer drugs are based on technology developed at the institution.  AccessHope™, a subsidiary launched in 2019 serves employers and their health care partners by providing access to City of Hope’s specialized cancer expertise.

A National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, City of Hope is ranked among the nation’s “Best Hospitals” in cancer by U.S. News & World Report and received Magnet Recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Its main campus is located near Los Angeles, with additional locations throughout Southern California and in Arizona.

City of Hope’s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We believe diversity, equity and inclusion is key in serving our mission to provide compassionate patient care, drive innovative discovery, and advance vital education focused on eliminating cancer and diabetes in all of our communities.  Our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ensures we bring the full range of skills, perspectives, cultural backgrounds and experiences to our work -- and that our teams align with the people we serve in order to build trust and understanding.  We are dedicated to fostering a community that embraces diversity - in ideas, backgrounds and perspectives; this is reflected in our work and represented in our people.

Position Summary

The Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope is looking for a talented Postdoctoral Fellow. This position will be in the laboratory of Dr. Helena Reijonen within the Department of Immunology and Theranostics of the Art Riggs Diabetes & Metabolism Research Institute.

Dr. Reijonen’s research is focused on characterization of autoimmune-mediated Type 1 Diabetes. The lab seeks to identify autoreactive T lymphocytes in the blood of individuals with T1D and to understand the specific features of these cells, how they are activated and how they can be regulated. In this regard, a primary goal of this research is to discover novel “signatures” of autoreactive T cells and pathways leading to autoimmunity. The lab also focuses on extracellular vesicles as a means of communication between immune cells and pancreatic islets. The insights gained are employed to enhance disease prediction and monitoring and evaluate effectiveness of therapy.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and perform experiments and analyze data
• Regularly communicate and interact with the other team members
• Submit abstracts to scientific meetings, present and discuss research findings
• Write and submit manuscripts for publication
• Write and submit grants

Basic education, experience and skills required:

• Ph.D. or M.D. degree in biomedical sciences, or a related discipline
• Experience in tissue culture, cellular and molecular biology, and related methodologies
• Experience of advanced multi-parameter flow cytometry, cell imaging and data analysis
• Experience in statistical methodologies 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Publications in peer-reviewed journals
• Good problem-solving and time management skills, ability to design and conduct independent research, learn new techniques, knowledge of the literature, critical interpretation of data and clear data presentation, ability to work efficiently in a team and with collaborators
• Experience in Single Cell Multi-omics techniques and multiple component analysis programs is an advantage
• Previous experience in immunology research is an advantage

Additional information:

• As a condition of employment, City of Hope requires staff to comply with all state and federal vaccination mandates.

City of Hope is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with disability.