Assistant Research Professor - Brain Tumor Immunology and Therapeutic Delivery

Join the forefront of groundbreaking research at City of Hope where we''re changing lives and making a real difference in the fight against cancer, diabetes, and other life-threatening illnesses. Our dedicated and compassionate faculty and staff are driven by a common mission: Contribute to innovative approaches in predicting, preventing, and curing diseases, shaping the future of medicine through cutting-edge research.

The laboratory of Dr. Behnam Badie has an opportunity to join his team as an Assistant Research Professor. Dr. Badie is a physician‑scientist and neurosurgeon who leads a highly translational research program focused on immunology, neuroinflammation, and therapeutic innovation for malignant brain tumors.

As a successful candidate, you will:

• Investigate the role of myeloid-derived cells, neuroinflammation, and tumor-immune interactions in malignant brain tumor progression and therapeutic resistance.

• Identify therapeutic opportunities through Receptor for Advanced Glycation End products (RAGE) pathway targeting, gene regulation, and evaluation of novel small-molecule RAGE inhibitors in preclinical models.

• Develop and optimize cell-penetrating oligonucleotides, including siRNA and antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), to modulate gene expression in tumor cells and myeloid populations.

• Design, validate, and advance nanoparticle-based delivery systems for siRNA, ASOs, gene-editing tools, and small molecules.

• Engineer delivery strategies that enhance blood-brain barrier penetration, tumor specificity, cellular uptake, and immune compatibility.

• Evaluate pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, efficacy, and toxicity in relevant in vitro and in vivo brain tumor models.

• Apply CRISPR-based gene editing, gene regulation, functional genomics, transcriptomics, and immunophenotyping approaches to study tumor progression and immune response.

• Develop translational therapeutic strategies, including nucleic-acid-based immunotherapies, immune-cell-based drug delivery approaches, CAR T-cell collaborations, and bioengineering/device development efforts.

Your qualifications should include:

• PhD, MD, or MD/PhD in oncology, cancer biology, immunology, immunotherapy, biomedical engineering, or related fields.

• Expertise in siRNA/ASO therapeutics, nanoparticle delivery systems, gene editing technologies, protein engineering, antibody or fusion-protein design, and translational immunology.

• Strong publication record and evidence of scientific independence.

• Experience mentoring postdoctoral fellows and technical staff.

• Demonstrated or potential ability to obtain extramural funding.

City of Hope employees pay is based on the following criteria: work experience, qualifications, and work location.

City of Hope is an equal opportunity employer.

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