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 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 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

As a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Zettlitz lab, you will be an integral part of a growing, dynamic, and collaborative team, working on the preclinical development of antibody fragments for theranostic applications. Our research focuses on antibody-based molecular imaging (including immunoPET/CT and optical imaging) with the aim of improving and guiding the development of targeted therapies, such as image-guided surgery, immunotherapy, and radioimmunotherapy.

With an emphasis on the translational potential and the opportunity to gain expertise in antibody engineering, protein conjugation, medical imaging, targeted therapies, and preclinical models of cancer and inflammation, this position will afford you a skill set adaptable for both academic and industry research careers.

As a postdoc in our ambitious new group, you will be given significant autonomy and will help develop future research areas while also benefiting from more facetime with your supervisor.

This postdoctoral fellowship focuses on using anti-CD20 immunoPET to study tumor-infiltrating B-lymphocytes and tertiary lymphoid structures in breast cancer and better our understanding of their role in anti-tumor immune responses and their prognostic and/or predictive value.

City of Hope provides state-of-the-art core facilities including a Small Animal Imaging Core, fully staffed and equipped with a 7T MRI/PET (MR Solutions), PET and CT scanners (Molecubes), optical imaging units (bioluminescence and near-infrared fluorescence, IVIS, Lago and Pearl Trilogy, LI-COR).

Key Responsibilities Include:

· Lead a research project focused on engineered antibody fragments for molecular imaging of tumor-infiltrating immune cell subsets.

· Engage in all aspects of antibody engineering, including design, production, purification, and conjugation.

· Gain expertise in preclinical mouse models (triple-negative breast cancer) and all aspects of preclinical immunoPET/CT imaging (radiolabeling, tracer injection, in vivo PET/CT imaging, and image analysis).

· Independently acquire discipline-specific knowledge (molecular cancer biology, immunology, and molecular imaging methods)

· Present research findings at professional society conferences and publish first-author papers annually.

Basic education, experience and skills required for consideration:

· Ph.D. in a relevant field (e.g., Immunology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry).

· Strong background and expertise in at least one of the following areas: antibody/protein engineering, molecular biology, immunology, or cell biology.

· Experience with molecular imaging techniques, particularly immunoPET and optical imaging, is a plus.

Additional Information:

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

· For more information on Dr. Zettlitz please visit here: https://www.cityofhope.org/research/riggs-institute/immunology-and-theranostics/kirstin-zettlitz-lab