Postdoctoral Scholar, Radu Laboratory, Nuclear Medicine and Theranostics

Postdoctoral Scholar, Radu Laboratory, Nuclear Medicine and Theranostics

Salary range: $71,491/yr. – $85,736/yr.

Position overview

The laboratory of Professor Caius Radu in the Department of Nuclear Medicine and Theranostics and the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology at UCLA is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Scholar to contribute to the development of novel RNA-lipid nanoparticle (RNA-LNP) cancer immunotherapy platforms.

Our research investigates the mechanisms governing innate and adaptive antitumor immunity, with a particular emphasis on dendritic cell biology, antigen-specific CD8⁺ T-cell responses, and murine and human immunology. We integrate mechanistic studies in human and murine immune systems with preclinical cancer models to develop innovative RNA-based immunotherapies for future clinical translation.

The Radu laboratory is affiliated with the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) and the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC). Professor Radu also directs JCCC's Cancer Molecular Imaging, Nanotechnology, and Theranostics (CMINT) Research Program. These affiliations provide opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations spanning fundamental cancer biology, immunology, and translational therapeutics.

We seek exceptional scientists who are passionate about fundamental discovery and driven to translate scientific insights into transformative cancer treatments.

The successful candidate will: Design and conduct mechanistic and translational studies of RNA-LNP-based cancer immunotherapies. Characterize innate and adaptive immune responses in human and murine systems. Evaluate therapeutic efficacy in preclinical tumor models. Analyze and interpret experimental data. Contribute to manuscript preparation and publication. Participate in collaborative and multidisciplinary research projects.

Research Environment and Mentorship Our laboratory emphasizes scientific creativity, intellectual rigor, and collaborative discovery. We operate through a “team of teams” model, bringing together complementary expertise from academic laboratories and industry to address important scientific problems. Postdoctoral Scholars have substantial freedom to develop innovative approaches within our shared research objectives. We encourage unconventional ideas supported by strong scholarship and rigorous experimentation. We place particular importance on recruiting scientists who contribute to the success of their colleagues. Trainees are expected to engage intellectually beyond their own projects and learn how to build productive scientific collaborations. Our mentorship strategy emphasizes the development of scientific independence and leadership. We seek individuals with the potential to become leaders in the field of cancer immunotherapy who can identify important scientific problems, make significant discoveries, and ultimately build and lead successful research teams.

Applicants should submit: A curriculum vitae (CV) A brief statement of research interests and career goals Contact information for three references

Qualifications

Basic qualifications • PhD in Immunology, Cancer Biology, or a closely related field.

Additional qualifications • Strong background in cellular immunology, particularly T-cell biology, antigen presentation, or cancer immunotherapy. • Experience with multiparameter flow cytometry, immune cell culture, and functional immunological assays. • Experience with murine models of cancer or vaccination. • Demonstrated scientific productivity and strong analytical and communication skills.

Preferred qualifications • Experience with human primary immune cells, including dendritic cells and T cells. • Expertise in antigen-specific T-cell assays, cytotoxicity measurements, and immune cell functional characterization. • Experience with high-dimensional flow cytometry, single-cell transcriptomics, or TCR repertoire analysis. • Familiarity with RNA therapeutics, lipid nanoparticles, or cancer vaccines.