Postdoctoral Researcher

Union: Non-Union
Number of Vacancies: 1 
New or Replacement: New
Site: PMCRT / Princess Margaret Cancer Research Tower - 101 College St, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7
Department: Medicine - Ajmera Transplant Centre 
Reports to: Principal Investigator 
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Salary: $54,902 - $71,372 Per Annum
Shifts: Monday - Friday 
Status: Temporary Full-time
Closing Date: March 01, 2026

Position Summary
Working under the direction of Dr. Victor Ferreira, the successful candidate will work within a translational immunology and cell therapy research program focused on developing antiviral CAR T cells and engineered virus-specific T-cell (VST) therapies for use in ex vivo organ perfusion and transplantation. The incumbent will lead experimental efforts to screen therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, generate and engineer VST libraries, and evaluate their function, tissue retention, and antiviral activity using in vitro and ex vivo models

Duties

• Screen and validate monoclonal antibodies targeting surface viral antigens 
• Establish and optimize virus-specific T-cell (VST) libraries 
• Engineer VSTs using viral and non-viral gene delivery approaches
• Perform functional assays to assess antiviral activity.
• Evaluate engineered T-cell retention, migration, and phenotype using precision-cut lung or kidney slice models, declined organ models, longitudinal imaging, and flow cytometry.
• Translate in vitro work into ex vivo organ models of lung and kidney 
• Help train junior trainees 

• Awarded a PhD within the previous 5 years, in immunology, virology, biochemistry, or a related discipline
• Strong experimental background in one or more of the following:
  1. Cell culture and manipulation of immune cells, particularly T cells
  2. Genetic engineering
  3. Virology
  4. Flow cytometry and cell sorting 
• Demonstrated ability to design, execute, and interpret experiments independently
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Why join UHN?

In addition to working alongside some of the most talented and inspiring healthcare professionals in the world, UHN offers a wide range of benefits, programs and perks. It is the comprehensiveness of these offerings that makes it a differentiating factor, allowing you to find value where it matters most to you, now and throughout your career at UHN.

• Competitive offer packages
• Government organization and a member of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP https://hoopp.com/)
• Close access to Transit and UHN shuttle service
• A flexible work environment
• Opportunities for development and promotions within a large organization
• Additional perks (multiple corporate discounts including: travel, restaurants, parking, phone plans, auto insurance discounts, on-site gyms, etc.)

Current UHN employees must have successfully completed their probationary period, have a good employee record along with satisfactory attendance in accordance with UHN's attendance management program, to be eligible for consideration.

All applications must be submitted before the posting close date.

UHN uses email to communicate with selected candidates.  Please ensure you check your email regularly.

Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate. Should it be determined that any information provided by a candidate be misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, UHN reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of their application.

UHN is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive recruitment process and workplace. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their requirements known.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.