Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Vallurupalli Lab, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA, USA is hiring a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Vallurupalli Lab. The wet-lab position requires a recent PhD, MD or MD/PhD. The closing date is 1 December 2026.

Job Details

Company: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Vallurupalli Lab

Location: Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Experience: Postdoctoral (early-career; Freshers eligible as recent doctorates)

Qualification: PhD / MD / MD-PhD in Immunology / Cancer Biology / Molecular Biology / Chemical Biology / Biochemistry / Cell Biology

Closing Date: 1 December 2026

Job Reference: careers.dana-farber.org job 2221; Workday JR-8133

Job Description

The Vallurupalli Lab at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is recruiting postdoctoral fellows for wet-lab positions at the intersection of cancer immunology, glycobiology, and functional genomics. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute welcomes postdoctoral fellows interested in applying functional genomics and cutting-edge tools to dissect leukemia and immune cell interactions.

Key Responsibilities

  • Design, execute, and interpret a program of independent wet-lab research, with mentorship from the principal investigator.
  • Develop and optimize experimental systems, including CRISPR screening platforms, glycoengineered cell models, and immune co-culture assays.
  • Analyze complex, high-dimensional datasets in collaboration with computational scientists, and develop sufficient computational fluency to interrogate your own data.
  • Present results at lab meetings, institutional forums, and national and international conferences.
  • Prepare first-author manuscripts for publication and contribute to collaborative projects.
  • Contribute to fellowship and grant applications and be supported in applying for independent funding (F32, K99/R00, and foundation awards).
  • Mentor research associates, graduate students, and summer scholars, and contribute to a supportive lab culture.

Eligibility Criteria

  • PhD, MD, or MD/PhD in immunology, cancer biology, molecular biology, chemical biology, biochemistry, cell biology, or a related field.
  • A record of productive, rigorous research, including at least one first-author publication or preprint.

Required Skills

  • Strong hands-on experience in mammalian cell culture and molecular biology.
  • Demonstrated ability to drive a project independently, troubleshoot, and think creatively about experimental design.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Salary

Pay Range: $72,000–$76,385

Postdoctoral fellows receive salary and benefits per Dana-Farber Cancer Institute postdoctoral guidelines, along with dedicated support for conference travel, career development, and the transition to independence.

Additional Information

Particularly relevant experience (not required):

  • Primary human immune cell culture and functional immune assays (T cell, NK cell, or macrophage).
  • CRISPR screening, including library design, screen execution, and analysis.
  • Glycobiology, carbohydrate chemistry, or lectin-based methods.
  • Cell surface or proximity-labeling proteomics and mass spectrometry.
  • Antibody engineering, protein engineering, or CAR design.
  • Advanced microscopy, including live-cell or super-resolution imaging.
  • Programming in R or Python for the analysis of genomics or proteomics data.

Environment and support: The lab sits within a highly collaborative scientific community. Fellows have access to Dana-Farber’s clinical and translational infrastructure and patient samples, the Broad Institute’s genomics, proteomics, and imaging platforms, and a wide network of collaborators across Harvard and MIT.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law. EEO Poster.

About Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is united in its mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS, and related diseases. It strives to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where it provides compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and designs programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. It conducts groundbreaking research that advances treatment, educates tomorrow’s physician/researchers, and works with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

CLICK HERE FOR THE ORIGINAL NOTIFICATION / APPLY ONLINE

Closing date: 1 December 2026. Apply through the official Dana-Farber Cancer Institute careers board.