Job Description

The laboratory of Dr. Minah Kim in the Department of Pathology and Cell Biology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center invites applications for one full-time Postdoctoral Research Scientist position. Candidates with expertise in either neuroscience and neuroimmunology or cancer immunology and tumor vascular biology will be considered, with the research focus determined by the selected candidate’s expertise and interests. The project will investigate either brain endothelial dysfunction, blood–brain barrier disruption, and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease, or how tumor blood vessels shape immune evasion in the tumor microenvironment. Working with Dr. Kim, lab members, and collaborators, the postdoctoral scientist will lead mechanistic studies and integrate experimental findings with relevant human specimens and molecular datasets. We seek a motivated, rigorous, and collaborative scientist with strong analytical and communication skills.

Job Function:

• Design and conduct independent research on vascular mechanisms in Alzheimer’s disease or cancer, in consultation with Dr. Kim.
• Investigate how brain endothelial dysfunction affects blood–brain barrier integrity and neuroinflammation, or how tumor endothelial cells regulate immune cell recruitment, localization, function, and immune evasion.
• Use appropriate experimental models, including mouse models, cell culture systems, and human specimens, to test mechanistic hypotheses.
• Perform molecular, cellular, imaging, and immunological analyses relevant to the project, including flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), and functional immune assays where applicable.
• Analyze and interpret experimental data and, independently or with collaborators, integrate RNA-seq, single-cell RNA-seq, and spatial transcriptomics datasets to characterize vascular and immune cell states and interactions.

Lab Mission:

The Kim Lab studies how blood vessels regulate tissue function and disease through interactions with immune cells and the surrounding microenvironment. Research in neuroscience focuses on brain endothelial dysfunction, blood–brain barrier disruption, neuroinflammation, and Alzheimer’s disease. Research in cancer focuses on how tumor blood vessels promote immune exclusion and immune evasion, and how vascular pathways may be targeted to improve antitumor immunity. The lab integrates mechanistic experiments with human specimens and transcriptomic approaches to identify disease-relevant vascular and immune pathways.

Lab website: www.minahkimlab.com

Qualifications

Minimum Education Requirements:

• A PhD, MD, or equivalent doctoral degree in neuroscience, immunology, cancer biology, vascular biology, biomedical sciences, or a related discipline, completed by the appointment start date.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Candidates should have strengths relevant to their intended research area; expertise in both areas is not required.
• Neuroscience and neuroimmunology: Experience studying Alzheimer’s disease, neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, blood–brain barrier function, or cerebrovascular biology. Experience with relevant mouse models, endothelial cell systems, imaging, or human tissue analysis is desirable.
• Cancer immunology and tumor vascular biology: A strong immunology background with hands-on experience in multiple immunological assays, particularly multiparameter flow cytometry, FACS, and functional immune cell assays. Experience investigating antitumor immunity, immune evasion, or interactions between endothelial and immune cells is desirable.
• Relevant to either research area: Experience analyzing single-cell RNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics, or bulk RNA-seq data and integrating these analyses with experimental studies. Evidence of research productivity through publications is also preferred.

Minimum Skills Required:

• Demonstrated research experience in neuroscience, neuroimmunology, immunology, cancer biology, vascular biology, or a related field.
• Ability to design experiments, evaluate results critically, troubleshoot methods, and conduct research with appropriate guidance.
• Experience with molecular, cellular, or immunological methods relevant to the proposed research area, and competence in quantitative data analysis.
• Strong scientific writing, communication, organization, and collaborative skills.

Application Instructions

Hiring Salary Plan:

• Postdoctoral Research Scientist: $72,116- $72,116

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Pay Transparency Disclosure

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.