Position: Postdoctoral Fellow
Location: MaRS Centre, Toronto 
Department: Clinical Translation 
Reports To: President and Scientific Director  
Salary: Commensurate with level of experience 
Hours: 35 hours/week 
Job Type:  On-site
Status: Full-time, Temporary (two years with potential renewal)

The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) is looking for an experienced professional to fill the key role of Postdoctoral Fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Laszlo Radvanyi. Dr. Radvanyi is the President & Scientific Director of OICR and is also a Professor in the Department of Immunology at the University of Toronto.

This position is temporary, full-time for two years with potential renewal. 

The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) is a collaborative research institute that conducts and enables high-impact translational cancer research. We help to accelerate the development of discoveries for patients around the world while maximizing the economic benefit of this research for the people of Ontario. OICR strives to turn insights in cancer research into precision medicine innovations that are implemented into Ontario’s health system to transform patient outcomes for the better. In collaboration with our partners in healthcare, research, government, and the private sector, we:

• Conduct cross-disciplinary cancer research in fields such as genomics, immuno-oncology, informatics, drug discovery and molecular pathology
• Enable research in Ontario and worldwide by building collaborative networks, securely sharing data, and making tools and resources available to the research community
• Translate our research findings to the clinic by developing clinical guidelines, supporting clinical trials and working with our strategic partner FACIT to advance the commercialization of our innovations and IP

The laboratory of Dr. Laszlo Radvanyi at OICR and the University of Toronto is seeking a post-doctoral scientist to join our research efforts on several projects focusing on the expression and role of non-coding regions composed of retroelements or retro-transposable elements, including LINEs, SINEs, Alu elements and human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), in cancer development and their role in modulating anti-tumour immune responses in biliary tract, pancreatic, and prostate cancer. The lab is also working on new cancer immunotherapies targeting the tumour-specific expression of LINEs and HERVs in cancer using mRNA vaccines as a form of “cancer interception” to curtail early cancer development.

Our work employs a variety of cutting-edge techniques in human immunology, cell biology, molecular biology, gene modification, and bioinformatics and takes advantage of a rodent model of spontaneous breast cancer to study the role of retroelements in early tumour development to invasive cancer focusing on role of inflammation-mediated events induced by retroelement activation during the tumorigenic process and how these can be modulated.

To learn more about working at OICR, visit our career page.

Qualifications: 

• PhD degree, obtained within the last four (4) years, in immunology, molecular biology, or related field.
• Experience in cell culture, basic handling of human blood products for research and human immunological assays
• Experience with basic molecular biology techniques, next-generation sequencing, and data analysis
• Experience and/or willingness to work with pre-clinical animal models
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills, along with a high degree of independence and the flexibility to thrive in a novel and rapidly evolving research environment
• Proven track record of publication and written communication skills
• Ability to coordinate and work effectively with a diverse team of clinicians, senior scientists, post-docs, graduate students, and technicians.

Interested applicants should submit the following:

• Your CV with a list of publications
• A short summary of your present and future research interests
• The names of three references and their contact information

OICR is a group of dedicated professionals who bring expertise to each of our roles. We are looking for individuals who share our values of excellence, innovation, collaboration, impact, responsibility and community.

Launched in December 2005, OICR is an independent institute funded by the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

For more information about OICR, please visit the website at www.oicr.on.ca.

CLOSING DATE: Until Filled

OICR is committed to fostering a climate of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. This commitment is central to, and mutually supportive of, our research excellence mandate. We welcome and respect the diversity of all members of our community and we support an inclusive culture for all. We welcome all applicants, and encourage applications from racialized persons, Indigenous Peoples, women, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S persons, and others who may contribute to furthering a diversity of ideas within our community. OICR is committed to fair assessment of a candidate’s abilities, and consideration for diversity of thought, method, and experience. Providing an accessible workplace and recruitment process is important to us, as described in our Accessibility Plan (https://oicr.on.ca/accessibility/).  Should you require accommodation during any stage in the recruitment process, please complete the form at the bottom of page https://oicr.on.ca/careers/. Information received related to accommodation will be handled confidentially.  

The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research thanks all applicants. However, only those under consideration will be contacted.

Resume Format: If you elect to apply, you will need a text or HTML version of your resume so that you can cut and paste it into the application box provided. Before you submit the completed application, you will be asked to attach one or two files to your application. Please attach your resume as a .pdf or .doc file.