Postdoctoral Fellow – Chao Ma Lab

NIH NRSA Postdoctoral Salary Scale

Years of Experience: Stipend for FY 2026

0: $63,480
1: $63,900
2: $64,380
3: $66,948
4: $69,180
5: $71,748
6: $74,424
7 or More: $77,076

Principal Investigator: Chao Ma, PhD

Cleveland Clinic Research Department: Cancer Sciences

Lab Research Topics:

• Organ-on-a-Chip, Microfluidics, Microphysiological system
• Hematopoietic Biology and Hematological malignancies
• Disease Modeling and Cancer Bioengineering
• Stem cell Biology, Synthetic Biology, Systems biology, Spatial Omics
• Biomedical/Mechanical/Tissue Engineering, 3D Printing

For more information about the lab's research, please visit: https://www.lerner.ccf.org/immunotherapy/ma/ or contact Dr. Ma at mac7@ccf.org 

Responsibilities:

• Independent project design with the goal of data generation, analysis, interpretation and manuscript preparation
• Publish research articles in high-impact journals and present research results in national and international scientific meetings.
• Contribute to project development and collaboration, grant writing, progress reports, and papers.
• Contribute to lab management, protocol development and maintenance, and mentoring of junior trainees.

Education:

• PhD or MD/PhD required
• MD with relevant laboratory experience may substitute for PhD

Languages:

• English Proficiency proof required for candidates arriving on J-1, J-2, or F1 + OPT visa status

Work Experience:

• Previous experience in a research or academic setting.  Graduate student experience meets this requirement.
• Scientific writing experience

Additional Preferred Qualities:

• Excellent writing and communication skills, able to work independently and effectively with other members in a productive team.
• Strong research expertise in molecular, cellular, or tissue engineering are preferred.
• Strong research expertise in immunology, immune-oncology, or immune-engineering are preferred.
• Strong research expertise in culture of stem cell or organoid are preferred.
• Strong training background in biomedical engineering, microfabrication, bioprinting, lab-on-a-chip and microfluidics are preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to perform work in a stationary position for extended periods
• Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment
• Ability to communicate and exchange accurate information
• Ability to distinguish color
• Manual dexterity to handle specimens and repair equipment
• Ability to lift and transport equipment or specimens weighing up to 20 pounds
• May be exposed to hazardous chemicals, bio-hazards, radioactive materials, etc.

Personal Protective Equipment:

• PPE per institutional requirements; may vary by laboratory

Preferred Application Materials:

• A cover letter summarizing past research experience and accomplishments
• Current and future research interests
• Career goals (2-page maximum)
• Current CV with publications
• Contact information of three references

All application materials should be submitted directly via email to Chao Ma at mac7@ccf.org 

Keywords: Postdoc, Research, Cleveland Clinic Research, Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology (CITI), Cell therapy and immune-engineering program (CTIP), Biomedical engineering, Cancer Bioengineering, Disease Modeling, Immunotherapy, Microfluidics, Organ-on-a-Chip/Lab-on-a-Chip, Pluripotent stem cell, CAR T-cell therapy