Job ID: 121856

Postdoctoral Positions in brain lymphoma research at Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing city, China

Position: Post-doctoral Position

Deadline: 31 December 2025

Contract Length: 2-3 years with possibility of indefinite-term contract.

City: Chongqing city

Country: China

Institution: Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University

Department:

Description:

Brief Description of the Host Institute

The Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University was established in 1956 by the Department of Pediatrics of Shanghai Medical University. It is a national children’s regional medical center, a national first-class undergraduate professional construction unit, a national clinical medical research center, an output unit of high-quality medical resources of the National Development and Reform Commission. The hospital has been ranked among the top three pediatric comprehensive hospitals in the National Best Hospitals list of Fudan Edition for 14 consecutive years. In the 2022 China Science and Technology Evaluation Metrics (STEM) ranking, the hospital ranked third in the country’s children’s specialty hospitals. In the five-year total Accumulative Science and Technology Evaluation Metrics (ASTEM) of Chinese hospitals from 2018 to 2022, it ranks third among children’s specialized hospitals in China.

Brief Description of the Group

The Laboratory for Excellence in Systems Biomedicine of Pediatric Oncology has been founded in 2022, and it presently includes 3 professors, 2 associate professors, several post-docs and graduate students. We have solid background in cancer biology and clinical oncology, strong interests in brain lymphoma, and hold successful publication records in decent journals such as Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology、Nature Cell Biology、Hepatology、Journal of Hematology & Oncology、Molecular Cell、Cancer Research、Clinical Cancer Research、Nature Communications、Theranostics、Oncogene.

Our brain lymphoma Research

We invite the highly motivated and enthusiastic scientists for several postdoctoral positions with a robust background in related discipline to investigate and elucidate mechanism and therapy development of brain lymphoma at Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing city, China.

We offer full time (100%) postdoctoral positions for 2-3 years, starting as soon as possible. The positions offer excellent training possibilities, outstanding research network and opportunities to interact and collaborate with other leading laboratories and researchers around the world.

Research Line of tumor cell-macrophage/microglia(TAMs)-metabolism-immunity regulatory network

The network refers to the intricate interplay between tumor cells and macrophage/microglia, where metabolic reprogramming within the tumor microenvironment influences immune responses. Tumor cells often alter their metabolic pathways to support rapid proliferation and survival, which in turn affects the polarization and function of tumor-associated macrophage/microglia (TAMs). These macrophage/microglia can adopt either pro-tumor (M2-like) or anti-tumor (M1-like) phenotypes, depending on the metabolic cues they receive. The metabolic cross-talk between tumor cells and macrophage/microglia further modulates the immune landscape, impacting the activity of immune cells such as T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. This dynamic network highlights the critical role of metabolism in shaping immune responses and offers potential therapeutic targets for cancer treatment by disrupting these interactions.

In this project, we aim to systematically investigate the interaction between brain lymphoma tumor cells and macrophage/microglia (TAMs), focusing on the mechanisms driving tumor progression and immune evasion. The study will employ a multi-dimensional experimental framework, including in vitro co-culture systems (Transwell, 3D organoids), gene editing (CRISPR/Cas9), and functional assays (proliferation, migration, phagocytosis) to dissect the bidirectional communication. Key molecular pathways (e.g., STAT3, NF-κB) and intercellular mediators (e.g., exosomes, metabolites) will be identified using techniques such as LC-MS, single-cell RNA-seq, and spatial transcriptomics. In vivo validation, we will utilize mouse models (xenografts, PDX) and advanced imaging (multiphoton microscopy, PET-CT) to assess the functional impact of macrophage/microglia (TAMs)-tumor cell interactions. Clinical relevance will be established through tissue-level analysis (multiplex IHC) and retrospective cohort studies linking macrophage phenotypes to patient outcomes and therapy responses. The ultimate goal is to identify therapeutic targets (e.g., CSF1R, CCL2-CCR2 axis) and develop novel interventions to disrupt tumor-promoting macrophage/microglia (TAMs) functions.

Qualifications:

  1. Aged under 35, have gained doctoral degree in Neuroscience, Software Engineering, Data Science, Medicine or related discipline in last 3 years (Note:If you have a foreign degree, please prepare proof of recognition of your degree in China well in advance. Please note that it may be necessary to obtain a certificate assessment from the CSCSE before the official employment contract. You can find more information at: https://zwfw.cscse.edu.cn/cscse/lxfwzxwsfwdt2020/xlxwrz32/index.html).
  2. Candidates should be highly motivated, energetic, self-motivated, and able to work independently and in collaboration.
  3. Expertise with wet experimental methodologies will be highly positively evaluated.

Salaries and Benefits

  1. Gross Salary including social securities and health insurances will be determined according to the previous scientific merit.

Type A: 0.6 million Chinese RMB/year (around 84000 US dollars/year)

Type B: 0.4 million Chinese RMB/year (around 56000 US dollars/year)

Type C: 0.35 million Chinese RMB/year (around 49000 US dollars/year)

Type D: 0.3 million Chinese RMB/year (around 42000 US dollars/year)

  1. In principle, post-doc scientists will have an opportunity to apply to undergo screening for indefinite-term positions in the final year of their service after appointment.
  2. We will assist in applying for various research grants for postdocs.
  3. Statutory benefits will be provided according to the prevailing labor laws of China.
  4. Flexible working hours and the option of working remote are not applied to post-doc scientists.

Application process

Interested and qualified applications should include a complete CV with publication list, a short motivation letter, a one-page summary of current research including experimental skills, and contact details of 2-3 referees. Applications should be submitted as a single pdf to (youlab@yeah.net). The deadline for receipt of applications is December 31, 2025. Short-listed candidates will be invited for interview.