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

We currently have multiple Postdoctoral Fellowship positions within the multidisciplinary research team headed by Dr. Ajay Goel, Professor and Chair, Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Experimental Therapeutics and Associate Director of Basic Sciences, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer. Our multidisciplinary research group comprises of basic biologists, gastroenterologists, surgeons, oncologists and bioinformaticians, undertaking a number of collaborative projects involving large international consortia.

Our research is focused on translational research as it relates to genomic and epigenomic characterization of various gastrointestinal cancers (GI) including colorectal, pancreatic and gastric cancers, and some of the key research topics include: 1) Development of circulating DNA/RNA-based liquid biopsy biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and predictive response to various therapies. 2) Study the epigenetic basis of GI cancers (e.g. aberrant DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNAs. 3) The genetic basis of early-onset and familial/hereditary colorectal cancers. 4) The role of tumor microenvironment, stem cells, immune regulation and identification of novel targeted therapies. 5) The role of extracellular vesicles/exosomes as in cancer pathogenesis and their role as disease biomarkers. Our group performs cutting-edge research in GI oncology, is very productive and publishes in high-impact journals such as Gastroenterology, JNCI, Clinical Cancer Research, Nature Communications, Annals of Surgery etc.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Devise, plan, document and advance basic science and translational projects in the area of precision oncology of gastrointestinal cancers.
• Generate data for grant applications and prepare manuscripts for publication.
• Work in close collaboration with other team members and external collaborators, including presentation of progress internally or externally.
• Train and supervise technical staff.

Basic education, experience and skills required for consideration:

• Recent PhD, MD or MD/PhD, with a strong background and profound knowledge in the field of oncology, cancer biology, immunology or immunotherapy.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced research environment and manage multiple projects and collaborations.
• Previous experience in working with human specimens and development of novel, innovative cancer biomarkers.
• Evidence of scientific rigor and excellence as documented by high-impact peer-reviewed publications.
• Strong team player with excellent communication skills and fluency in English, both spoken and written.
• Commitment to the program for at least two-three years.

Additional Information:

• An opportunity to have the unique possibility to drive research towards a novel cancer therapy at the interface of science and translation to the clinic and publish high-impact journals.
• To apply, please submit your current CV/resume with a cover letter highlighting your research accomplishments, a brief statement explaining how your past research ties in with the goals of our laboratory, and future career plans.
• For more information about the groundbreaking research taking place in the Ajay Goel, PhD lab, please visit www.cityofhope.org/mdet.
• As a condition of employment, City of Hope requires staff to comply with all state and federal vaccination mandates.