Postdoctoral Fellow, Tumor Immunology & Microenvironment (GI Cancers Focus)

The Team

Our immune cell reprogramming team integrates foundational research on immunology and disease biology with AI-modeling to develop engineered cells that harness our own immune system to detect and treat early signs of age-related diseases, like cancer, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. These technologies will enable precise, context-dependent therapeutic responses only when and where it is needed. You can learn more about our work here. 

Our work brings together three powerhouse universities - Columbia University, The Rockefeller University, and Yale University - into a single collaborative technology and discovery engine.

Our Vision

• Pursue large scientific challenges that cannot be pursued in conventional environments
• Enable individual investigators to pursue their riskiest and most innovative ideas
• Facilitate research by scientists and clinicians at our home institutions and beyond

We are a team of passionate individuals powered by technology, guided by scientific research, and driven by collaboration, working toward a mission to cure or prevent all disease.

The Laboratory of Immunogenomics at Biohub in NY (www.mahatlab.com) studies the non-coding regulatory genome to understand and address immune dysfunction in diseases like cancer, autoimmune disorders, and aging. We focus on enhancers—non-coding, highly cell–type–specific transcriptional regulatory elements—and their role in shaping immune responses.

We develop and utilize genomic technologies, including bulk and single-cell nascent RNA sequencing, genome editing, immune engineering, and CRISPR-based functional screens in patient biopsies, organoid systems, and mouse models. Through computational analysis integrating machine learning and AI, we map enhancer–gene networks and identify disease-driving elements. Our goal is to advance enhancer-guided precision genomic medicine for diseases involving immune dysfunction.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to lead research on the immune and stromal components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in gastrointestinal cancers. The goal is to identify and characterize the cancer-cell intrinsic and extrinsic regulatory mechanisms that influence pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory immune dynamics, with the aim of developing new therapeutic targets and improving existing treatments such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and combination therapies.

This role will involve in vivo studies using genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs), syngeneic and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, and human patient-derived organoids. The project integrates immunology, cancer biology, stromal biology, and translational research in close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.

What You'll Do

• Immune Dynamics in the TME
• Profile immune cell populations in TME using flow cytometry, single-cell RNA-seq, and spatial transcriptomics.
• Assess immune cell function via cytokine/chemokine measurement, cytotoxicity assays, and antigen presentation studies.
• Characterize the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cell populations during tumor progression and treatment.
• Stromal and Fibrosis Biology
• Characterize cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) subtypes and their impact on immune modulation and therapy resistance.
• Study extracellular matrix remodeling and fibrosis-associated immunosuppression in tumors.
• Identify stromal targets that could enhance immune infiltration or therapy delivery.
• In Vivo Models
• Maintain and use GEMMs, syngeneic, and PDX models of GI cancers.
• Conduct orthotopic and subcutaneous transplantation studies.
• Perform pre-clinical therapeutic studies with ICIs, stromal modulators, and other immunotherapies.
• Monitor tumor progression using in vivo imaging and histopathology.
• Human-Derived Models
• Establish and genetically manipulate patient-derived organoids from primary and metastatic tumors.
• Co-culture organoids with immune cells to model tumor–immune interactions.
• Apply CRISPR editing to test candidate genes, regulatory elements, and pathways.
• Data Analysis and Dissemination
• Collaborate with computational teams to integrate multi-omics datasets and apply machine learning to identify biomarkers and predictive signatures of therapy response.
• Link experimental findings to patient datasets for translational prioritization.
• Present at scientific conferences, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and contribute to grant proposals.

What You'll Bring

Essential 

• PhD in Immunology, Cancer Biology, Molecular Biology, or a related field.
• Expertise in tumor immunology and/or stromal biology, ideally in GI cancers or other solid tumors.
• Experience with mouse cancer models (GEMMs, syngeneic, PDX).
• Proficiency in immune profiling and functional assays.
• Skills in primary immune cell and organoid culture.
• Strong publication record in relevant fields.
• Ability to lead projects independently and work in collaborative teams.

Preferred

• Experience with CAF biology, fibrosis, and ECM biology.
• Familiarity with immune checkpoint blockade and combination therapy studies.
• Skills in spatial transcriptomics, multiplex IHC/IF, or advanced imaging.
• Experience analyzing single-cell sequencing data and integrating bulk omics datasets.
• Working knowledge of CRISPR editing in primary cells or organoids.
• Interest in translational research and collaboration with clinical partners.

Compensation

The New York, NY base pay for a new hire in this role is Postdoctoral Fellow = $93,000.00

Benefits for the Whole You 

We’re thankful to have an incredible team behind our work. To honor their commitment, we offer a wide range of benefits to support the people who make all we do possible. 

• Provides a generous employer match on employee 401(k) contributions to support planning for the future.
• Paid time off to volunteer at an organization of your choice. 
• Funding for select family-forming benefits. 
• Relocation support for employees who need assistance moving

If you’re interested in a role but your previous experience doesn’t perfectly align with each qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply as you may be the perfect fit for this or another role.

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