Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Our Mission
Formerly known as the Ellison Institute of Technology Los Angeles, the Ellison Medical Institute strives to spark innovation, leverage technology, and drive interdisciplinary, patient-centered research to continually enhance health, reimagine and redefine cancer care, and transform lives.

Established in 2016 as a medical research and development center, the Institute features innovation labs for artificial intelligence and molecular analytics and was among the first organizations to vertically integrate the interdisciplinary study and treatment of disease. We offer multifaceted programs, including a preventative medicine and cancer clinic, cross-disciplinary research laboratories, a health policy think-tank, and community outreach and educational programs.

Please visit emila.org for more details.

Job Summary
The Convergent Systems Research Department is a interdisciplinary team of engineers, scientists, and technicians working collaboratively across the Ellison Medical Institute's intellectual ecosystem to accelerate the development of novel therapeutics. The department develops innovative therapeutic assays, imaging systems, and analytical tools, with responsibilities spanning the full design lifecycle-from ideation and protoyping to piloting, validation, and the establishment of standard operating procedures (SOPs).

As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow , you will play a central role in both technology development and therapeutic research at EMI. You will apply your immunology expertise to interpret and contextualize data generated by a newly developed instrument aimed at advancing our understanding of T cell activation in research and clinical settings. In parallel, you will contribute to the evaluation and advancement of therapeutic development efforts, working closely with cross-functional teams to ensure these technologies and insights translate effectively to healthcare applications.

This is a two-year appointment, with the possibility of extension based on research progress. Periodic travel to the UK will be required, typically 1-3 times per year.

Why You Should Join Us:

• Advance Translational Immunology: Leverage expertise in immunology-particularly T cell activation and immune functional assays-to support the development of innovative biotechnology platforms with direct clinical and translational relevance.
• Operate at the Intersection of Biology, Engineering, and Medicine: Partner closely with engineers, data scientists, and clinicians to define how immune responses are measured, analyzed, and translated into real-world biomedical applications.
• Build Industry-Ready Research Skills with Clinical Impact: Develop experience in system validation, assay robustness, and biologically meaningful readouts within a fast-paced, rigorous environment focused on patient-facing outcomes.

• Design and Execute T Cell Activation Experiments: Plan, perform, and interpret T cell activation studies using novel imaging-based approaches, including optimization of activation conditions and functional readouts.
• Develop and Validate Imaging Assays: Lead the refinement, qualification, and validation of imaging-based assays to interrogate immune cell behavior in both research and translational settings.
• Integrate Multimodal Data: Synthesize imaging data with flow cytometry, molecular, and functional assay outputs to build a comprehensive understanding of T cell activation and function.
• Analyze High-Dimensional Datasets: Independently analyze complex datasets and collaborate with engineering and data science teams to enhance data quality, throughput, and interpretability.
• Serve as Immunology Subject-Matter Expert: Provide scientific leadership in assay design, troubleshooting, and experimental execution across multiple programs.
• Drive Experimental Optimization and Reproducibility: Perform root-cause analyses to identify technical or biological sources of variability and implement strategies to improve robustness and reproducibility.
• Lead Projects from Concept to Milestones: Define and execute project plans with clear objectives, timelines, and success metrics to advance program goals.
• Document and Communicate Scientific Results: Maintain detailed experimental records, contribute to SOPs and validation documentation, and present findings to internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate and Contribute Scientifically: Partner with cross-functional teams and clinical collaborators, contributing to publications, presentations, and scientific discussions that shape platform and assay development.

• Required Education: PhD in Immunology, Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Pathology, Translational Medicine, Biomedical Engineering, or related field or MD with substantial research experience in a relevant discipline.
• Required Experience:
  • 4-6 years of hands-on immunology research experience (including doctoral training), with demonstrated expertise in T cell biology and activation.
  • Proven track record designing and executing cellular assays, analyzing complex datasets, and contributing to experimental strategy in fast-paced, collaborative, and multidisciplinary research environments.
• RequiredSkills:
  • Strong hands-on experience with T cell activation assays and core immunological techniques (e.g., flow cytometry, cytokine measurements). Demonstrated ability to design, execute, and interpret quantitative biological experiments with rigor and reproducibility.
  • Experience analyzing complex biological datasets; effective collaboration with engineers, data scientists, and clinicians; and proficiency in experimental troubleshooting, documentation, and scientific reporting. Ability to work both independently and as part of multidisciplinary teams, with excellent communication and organizational skills.

The Ellison Medical Institute is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that an inclusive, collaborative team environment is just as important to our mission as stethoscopes and microscopes. We strive to always provide employees a supportive atmosphere, so they feel confident taking creative risks toward innovation. The Ellison Medical Institute values emotional intelligence and communication with empathy and respect for others. We seek to build a diverse group of people who are curious, have a deep sense of responsibility, and the grit needed to achieve excellence.