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Position Summary

The McHugh Lab in the Department of Bioengineering at Rice University (Houston, TX) seeks to hire a postdoctoral associate working in the area of genome editing for cancer immunotherapy. The successful candidate will be able to leverage their previous experience in genome editing, nanotechnology, and/or immunotherapy to advance a project focused on the development of personalized mutation-based approaches to cancer immunotherapy with the potential to be translated to the clinic.

The postdoctoral researcher selected for this position will lead an interdisciplinary project that aims to develop a personalized immunotherapy using genome editing tools; therefore, expertise in CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing is required.

The ideal candidate is creative, highly motivated, possesses strong written and oral communication skills, and has experience with nanoparticle delivery, immunological studies, and/or preclinical tumor models. As a senior member of the lab, the candidate will have the opportunity to mentor graduate students and participate in writing research proposals. The postdoctoral fellow will benefit from personalized mentorship from the PI, and gain new technical skills.

This position is a one-year term-limited position funded by a grant with the expectation of renewal beyond the initial appointment period with satisfactory performance. This position is available immediately; however, the start date could be delayed for the right candidate. Applicants should also specify if they would require visa sponsorship within their applications.

Due to its location at the boundary between Rice University and the Texas Medical Center--the largest medical center in the world--the lab is uniquely positioned to advance its technologies towards the clinic with active collaborations with clinician-scientists at MD Anderson Cancer Center, the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Methodist, and Texas Heart Institute, lowering the barriers to first-in-human clinical trials.

Dr. McHugh's research areas include Biomaterials, Biofabrication & Mechanobiology and Cellular, Molecular and Genome Engineering & Synthetic Biology applied to Immunoengineering & Cancer; Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine; Global Health Technologies; Drug Delivery; Gene & Cell Therapies; and Nanomedicine.

Hiring range - Minimum salary $61,008

Requirements

• Ph.D. or other doctoral degree in biomedical engineering, bioengineering, genetics, molecular biology, or related fields
• No experience required

Skills Required

• Deep expertise using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing tools
• Familiarity with nanoparticle and immunotherapy
• Knowledge of animal models relevant to genome editing
• Knowledge of experimental design, data analysis, manuscript preparation, and submission
• Ability to overcome challenging technical problems through literature review and careful experimentation
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including experience preparing and submitting manuscripts
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively

Preferences

• Experience using prime editing and prime-editing-assisted site-specific integrase gene editing (PASSIGE)
• Experience in cancer immunotherapy, immunology, or nanoparticle preparation
• Experience working with preclinical cancer models
• Experience with flow cytometry
• A passion for translational research
• Experience mentoring early-career trainees

Essential Functions

• Utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 to edit primary cell and cell lines in vitro
• Designing CRISPR guide RNAs and donor DNA templates
• Planning and performing in vitro cell culture studies
• Planning and performing in vivo experiments with relevant animal models
• Publishing papers and presenting findings at national and international conferences
• Helping to develop collaborations across institutions and disciplines
• Performing all other duties as assigned

Additional Information

• This posting will remain open until a candidate is hired or until November 30, 2025.

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits

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If you have any questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu. Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.