Postdoctoral Research Fellow, BioMedicine Design at Pfizer in San Diego, CA

Job description

Last day to apply: Oct. 13th, 2026 *Must include two letters of recommendation, one from your PI, and 1 from an additional professor. BioMedicine Design (BMD) group at La Jolla, CA is seeking a highly driven and innovative Ph.D.-level scientist to join our Biotherapeutics Discovery group as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in driving therapeutic innovation through the development of a next-generation T cell engager (TCE) designed to improve tumor selectivity and minimize on-target, off-tumor toxicity. This is a unique opportunity to be trained at the interface of protein engineering, cell biology, and immunology, to work collaboratively with diverse research teams within Pfizer, and to publish in high-impact journals. By the end of the program, the Postdoc will be proficient in antibody discovery and engineering, cellular assays, and preclinical evaluation, and will be fully prepared to contribute to early-stage therapeutic discovery and modality selection. The ideal candidate should have solid training in molecular biology, cell biology, immunology or structural biology, with a good understanding of biology/oncology. Key Responsibilities: Demonstrate strong technical and scientific rigor in project planning and gap identification Proactively conduct literature searches to gather relevant information and form hypotheses for testing experimentally Design and produce constructs to further our understanding of underlying biology and mechanism of action; develop and utilize cell-based assays to test hypothesis and screen and rank molecules Generate and effectively communicate results regularly at internal meetings, make data-driven decisions in shaping direction of research project Participate in developing creative approaches to discover and optimize therapeutics BASIC QUALIFICATIONS (must-have): PhD in cancel biology, immunology, molecular or cellular biology, biochemistry, chemical and biomolecular engineering or a related discipline is required Provide two letters of recommendation with your application (e.g. professors/PI) Willingness to commit to the fixed‑term full-time postdoctoral fellowship (duration: 2–4 years) Less than 2 years post-doctoral experience At least 1 first-author scientific research article in high-quality specialty or general readership journals Technically proficient in (at least) some molecular and cell biology tools, including construct design, molecular cloning, recombinant protein expression/purification, mammalian cell culture and cell line engineering, cell line transfection and characterization, development of cell-based assays (e.g. cytotoxicity proliferation, cytokine production), and flow cytometry Proficient with data reporting and analysis software, strong planning and organizational skills Strong motivation, passion and commitment to science and engineering of novel entities Ability and desire to multitask and work in a fast-paced, interdisciplinary scientific team both independently and as part of a team, strong problem-solving and analytical skills Excellent written and oral communication skills PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS (nice-to-have): Prior experience with antibody discovery, protein engineering, and/or display technology (e.g., yeast and/or phage display) is highly desirable Experience with bispecific antibodies or T cell engagers ADDITIONAL INFORAMATION Work Location Assignment: On Premise Last day to apply Oct. 13th, 2026 The annual base salary for this position ranges from $64,600.00 to $107,600.00. In addition, this position is eligible for participation in Pfizer’s Global Performance Plan with a bonus target of 7.5% of the base salary. We offer comprehensive and generous benefits and programs to help our colleagues lead healthy lives and to support each of life’s moments. Benefits offered include a 401(k) plan with Pfizer Matching Contributions and an additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution, paid vacation, holiday and personal days, paid caregiver/parental and medical leave,