Postdoctoral Fellow in Immunology / Chemical Biology, Nanjing University (Jie P. Li Group)

About the lab

The Li Lab at Nanjing University, led by Professor Jie P. Li, focuses on cutting-edge T-cell chemical immunology. The group is jointly affiliated with the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and the Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Institute for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies. ChemBIC integrates chemistry, immunology, and biomedical engineering to tackle key challenges in cancer, autoimmunity, and drug discovery, supported by advanced instrumentation and comprehensive animal facilities.

Professor Li has long been dedicated to advancing the frontiers of T-cell-centered chemical immunology and has received major funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (including the Distinguished Young Scholars program). Recent work from the lab, as corresponding or co-corresponding author, has been published in high-impact journals such as Cell (2020), Immunity (2025), National Science Review (2024), Journal of the American Chemical Society (2023, 2022), Angewandte Chemie (2025, 2024, 2023a–c), Science Advances (2022), and Cell Reports Medicine (2024).

 

Representative work

1.  Deng T, Jiang X, Zhao Z, Zhao X, Bi A, Ouyang S, Sun S, Qiu S, Fan M, Xue Q, Yu W, Yang Y, Li W, Wu Y, Huang X, Zhong D, Qin S, Zhu W, Li JP. CINTER-seq: Chemical profiling reveals interaction-dependent cell landscapes and gene signatures in vivo. Immunity.58(9) (2025) 2336-52.e12.

2.  Liu Z, Li JP, Chen M, Wu M, Shi Y, Li W, Teijaro JR, Wu P. Detecting Tumor Antigen-Specific T Cells via Interaction-Dependent Fucosyl-Biotinylation. Cell.183(4) (2020) 1117-33.e19.

3.  Qiu S, Zhao Z, Wu M, Xue Q, Yang Y, Ouyang S, Li W, Zhong L, Wang W, Yang R, Wu P, Li JP. Use of intercellular proximity labeling to quantify and decipher cell-cell interactions directed by diversified molecular pairs. Sci Adv.8(51) (2022) eadd2337.

4.  Zhao Z, Zhang S, Jiang N, Zhu W, Song D, Liu S, Yu W, Bai Y, Zhang Y, Wang X, Zhong X, Guo H, Guo Z, Yang R, Li JP. Patient-derived Immunocompetent Tumor Organoids: A Platform for Chemotherapy Evaluation in the Context of T-cell Recognition. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl.63(9) (2024) e202317613.

5.  Yu W, Zhao X, Jalloh AS, Li Y, Zhao Y, Dinner B, Yang Y, Ouyang S, Tian T, Zhao Z, Yang R, Chen M, Lauvau G, Guo Z, Wu P, Li JP. Chemoenzymatic Measurement of LacNAc in Single-Cell Multiomics Reveals It as a Cell-Surface Indicator of Glycolytic Activity of CD8(+) T Cells. J Am Chem Soc.145(23) (2023) 12701-16.

 

Research focus

We aim to map T-cell interaction landscapes in complex immune microenvironments, understand how therapeutic agents act from the T-cell perspective, and develop novel chemical immunotherapeutics with clinical potential. Successful candidates will join an interdisciplinary team at the interface of chemistry, immunology, and translational medicine, with a strong emphasis on T-cell immunology. Ongoing projects include:

• Dissecting T-cell interaction networks in tumors and autoimmune diseases using chemical biology tools.

• Elucidating mechanisms by which drugs reshape T-cell functions and immune microenvironments.

• Designing and evaluating next-generation chemical immunomodulators and T-cell–targeted therapeutics.

 

Key responsibilities

• Conduct independent and collaborative research on T-cell interaction profiles in cancer and/or autoimmune disease models.

• Keep abreast of advances in T-cell biology, tumor immunology, immunotherapy, and related technologies, and provide forward-looking input to the group’s research directions.

• Prepare high-quality manuscripts and conference presentations, and, where appropriate, contribute to grant and patent applications.

• Contribute to mentoring junior lab members and to general laboratory duties.

 

Qualifications

• PhD degree (awarded or expected soon) in Immunology is strongly preferred; candidates with training in Tumor Immunology, Cancer Biology, or related disciplines with a solid immunology background are also welcome.

• Strong background in T-cell biology and/or gene editing (e.g., CRISPR) is highly desirable. Additional experience in tumor immunology, transcriptional regulation, chemical biology, or related techniques will be considered a plus.

• Good scientific writing skills and proficiency in reading and communicating in English.

• Hands-on experience with T-cell functional assays, genome editing, or transcriptional-regulation studies is particularly valued.

• Excellent teamwork spirit, good communication skills, and a high level of motivation and independence.

Outstanding postdoctoral researchers will be strongly supported for promotion to Assistant Professor (or equivalent) in accordance with Nanjing University policies and performance evaluations.

 

Salary and benefits

• Annual salary: Competitive and commensurate with Nanjing University regulations and the candidate’s experience; the typical basic annual salary for postdoctoral researchers is in the range of CNY 300,000–500,000 before tax, with the possibility of performance-based supplements.

• Research environment: Access to state-of-the-art instrumentation platforms, experimental animal facilities, and strong internal and external collaborations.

• Funding support: Full support and strong recommendation for applications to national and regional postdoctoral fellowships and research grants.

• Benefits: Eligibility for social insurance and housing fund (“five insurances and one fund”), postdoctoral/staff apartments or housing subsidies in accordance with university policies, and additional benefits such as paid annual leave, staff canteen, and festive allowances.