POST DOC FELLOW - Immunology

At Moffitt Cancer Center, we strive to be the leader in understanding the complexity of cancer and applying these insights to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. Our diverse team of over 9,000 are dedicated to serving our patients and creating a workspace where every individual is recognized and appreciated. For this reason, Moffitt has been recognized on the 2023 Forbes list of America’s Best Large Employers and America’s Best Employers for Women, Computerworld magazine’s list of 100 Best Places to Work in Information Technology, Diversity Inc Top Hospitals & Health Systems and continually named one of the Tampa Bay Time’s Top Workplace.

Additionally, Moffitt is proud to have earned the prestigious Magnet® designation in recognition of its nursing excellence. Moffitt is a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center based in Florida, and the leading cancer hospital in both Florida and the Southeast. We are a top 10 nationally ranked cancer center by Newsweek and have been nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report since 1999.

Working at Moffitt is both a career and a mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. Join our committed team and help shape the future we envision.

Summary

The laboratory of Dr. Peter Forsyth is seeking a Postdoc Fellow to conduct independent and collaborative research
focused on the molecular and cellular mechanisms driving cancer progression, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance.

The Forsyth lab is interested in understanding the biology of leptomeningeal disease (LMD), a field in which we are international leaders. In LMD, tumor cells enter the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and seed the pial surfaces of the brain and spine, resulting in death within 2–4 months. Very little is currently understood about the biology of this disease—there are only about eight papers relevant to its underlying mechanisms.

Position Highlights:

• Has significant funding in place from the Department of Defense, available through at least August 2029, with anticipated no-cost extensions for an additional two years.
• Moffitt integrates excellent patient care with cutting-edge clinical and basic research. Having a cancer hospital on-site provides unique opportunities for translational research.
• Outstanding mentorship from expert faculty with wide-ranging funded research programs including T32 Training Grants.
• You will be encouraged and supported to apply for training grants.

The Ideal Candidate:

• Solid understanding of immunology
  , molecular biology
  , and cellular signaling pathways.
• Experienced in a basic or translational immunology lab , with a strong grasp of techniques including cell culture, PCR, flow cytometry, ELISA, cytokine profiling, and immunoassays .
• Hands-on experience with in vivo immunological models (e.g., murine xenograft/allograft models, immune reconstitution studies, or infection/challenge models).
• Proven expertise in immune response characterization , including immune cell phenotyping, cytokine analysis, and antigen-specific response assays .
• Familiarity with data analysis for immunological experiments (e.g., flow cytometry data, multiplex cytokine assays, or immune repertoire sequencing) and comfort using basic computational tools (e.g., Graph Pad Prism, Flow Jo, R) for analysis.
• Basic knowledge in bioinformatics and transcriptomic analysis are a plus.
• Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary immunology or translational research teams .

Responsibilities:

• Design and execute
  hypothesis-driven experiments
  using in vitro, in vivo, and/or omics-based approaches to address key questions in cancer biology.
• Analyze, interpret, and present data in lab meetings, institutional seminars, and scientific conferences.
• Maintain accurate and organized
  research records
  and contribute to
  manuscript preparation
  , grant writing, and peer-reviewed publications.
• Stay current with relevant scientific literature and bring innovative ideas and critical thinking to the lab’s research direction.
• Collaborate with internal and external teams, including clinicians, bioinformaticians, and core facilities, to…