Post-Doctoral Fellow

University of Colorado Anschutz

Department: Medical Oncology

Job Title: Postdoctoral Fellow

Position #: 00844479 - Requisition #:38740

Job Summary:

The Division of Medical Oncology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Translational Oncology Research in the Concannon Laboratory. This is a full-time, mentored fellowship beginning March-June 2027 with an expected duration of at least three years.

The overarching goal of this fellowship is to prepare outstanding trainees for independent research careers in translational immuno-oncology, with a focus on developing next-generation cellular therapies for lung cancer.

The fellowship consists of two integrated components: scholarly research (85%) and education/training (15%).

The research component will focus on the development and validation of CAR T cell-based therapies designed to eradicate minimal residual disease and treatment-resistant lung cancer. The postdoctoral fellow will play a central role in experimental design, execution, data analysis, and interpretation, and will present findings regularly in one-on-one meetings, laboratory meetings, and multidisciplinary research forums.

Given the highly translational and patient-centered nature of this work, the fellow will also have opportunities to engage directly with patient advocacy organizations, including presenting findings in accessible formats and, when appropriate, contributing to public-facing educational efforts.

The remaining 15% of effort will be dedicated to grant writing, mentoring, didactic education, and structured professional development, with the explicit goal of supporting the fellow's transition to independence.

This position reports to Kyle Concannon, MD, Assistant Professor and physician-scientist in the Division of Medical Oncology and a member of the Thoracic Oncology Research Initiative (TORI). Administrative and human resources support are provided by the Division of Medical Oncology.

Key Responsibilities:

75% - Primary Research

• Design, initiate, and execute independent and collaborative research projects
• Perform rigorous literature review, data analysis, and interpretation with guidance from the PI
• Develop and validate CAR T and CAR-BiTE cellular therapy constructs
• Conduct in vitro and in vivo studies, including mouse models
• Collaborate closely with lab members and local, national, and international collaborators
• Maintain clear, transparent, and reproducible documentation of all research activities, including well-annotated and shareable code where applicable

10% - Communication and Dissemination

• Present research progress at lab meetings, project meetings, and individual PI meetings
• Prepare abstracts and present findings at local, national, and international scientific conferences
• Write and publish manuscripts as first or co-author in peer-reviewed journals
• Actively pursue individual fellowship and career development awards

5% - Training and Mentorship

• Develop and document experimental workflows and protocols
• Train and mentor graduate students and research staff in relevant techniques

5% - Career Development

• Participate in career development seminars, workshops, and networking opportunities
• Develop and review an Individual Development Plan (IDP) annually with the PI

5% - Patient and Community Engagement

• Communicate research progress to patient advocacy groups in accessible formats
• Participate, when appropriate, in public-facing educational or outreach efforts

Work Location:

Onsite - this role is expected to work onsite and is located in Aurora, CO.

Why Join Us:

CU Anschutz is an academic medical campus at the forefront of transformative education, science, medicine, and healthcare. From heart disease to cancer, Alzheimer's to COVID-19, our campus and collaborative partnerships advance the life-changing discoveries of tomorrow. We educate 4,500 degree-seeking future health professionals and see over 2 million patient visits annually with $704 million in annual research grants. In the Department of Medicine alone, we have more than 1,000 faculty, 192 residents and 200 fellows distributed in 14 divisions, our clinical, research and academic programs attract the best providers, investigators, staff, and students from around the world who are transforming the future of health care.

In Medical Oncology, our faculty are acknowledged both nationally and internationally for their innovative work in cancer research, resulting in regular collaborations with a variety of institutions globally in addition to collaborations with colleagues within our own division and institution. The focus of our researchers is centered around the development and application of experimental therapeutics and targeted agents for future cancer patient treatment as well as advancing patient-centered care for those facing cancer. Innovative strides continue to be made in cancer research each day because of the continued passion and dedication by our faculty in the fight against cancer.

Why work for the University?

The University of Colorado offers a comprehensive benefits package. To see what benefits are available for Post-Doctoral Fellows, please visit:

• Payroll & Benefits Orientation for Post-Doctoral Fellows | University of Colorado (cu.edu)
• benefits guide cover-post-doc-2024 (cu.edu)

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

• PhD in biological sciences or a related field, with emphasis on cancer biology and/or cellular therapy
• Demonstrated proficiency in scientific communication, including at least one first-author peer-reviewed publication and oral presentations at scientific meetings

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with R, Python, or similar programming languages
• Prior work in translational or immuno-oncology research

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Experience developing and executing in vitro and in vivo models of cellular therapies
• Experience designing, cloning, and validating CAR T or related cellular therapy constructs
• Proficiency with high-parameter flow cytometry
• Familiarity with bioinformatics workflows (e.g., single-cell RNA-seq analysis)
• Strong background in cell culture, molecular cloning, viral transduction, and molecular biology
• Strong interest in lung cancer therapeutics and targeting drug-resistance mechanisms

How to Apply:

For full consideration, please submit the following document(s):

1. A letter of interest describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position

2. Curriculum vitae / Resume

3. Three professional references including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address

Applications are accepted electronically ONLY at www.cu.edu/cu-careers.

Questions should be directed to: Stephanie Fields, stephanie.n.fields@cuanschutz.edu

Screening of Applications Begins:

Applications will be accepted until finalists are identified, but preference will be given to complete applications received by March 31, 2026. Those who do not apply by this date may or may not be considered.

Anticipated Pay Range:

The starting salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established as HIRING RANGE:

$62,232 to $65,000

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position is not eligible for overtime compensation unless it is non-exempt.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Total Compensation Calculator: http://www.cu.edu/node/153125

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

The University of Colorado (CU) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

ADA Statement:

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at hr.adacoordinator@ucdenver.edu.

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement:

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases. If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program.