Abstract: The present disclosure provides transgenic cells that express memory dimeric antigen receptors (mDARs), where the mDAR constructs comprise a JAK-STAT intracellular region having a cytokine receptor intracellular region which includes Box 1 and Box 2 motifs for binding a Janus kinase (JAK) which can play a role in JAK-STAT cellular signaling pathway to induce effector cell activation and proliferation. In one embodiment, the JAK-STAT intracellular region further comprises a CD3zeta intracellular signaling region having an intact ITAM region, or having ITAM 1 and 3, or having only ITAM 3 with a partial deletion. Transgenic cells expressing the mDAR constructs exhibit potent cytotoxicity, and release reduced levels of cytokines, compared to traditional DARs that lack a cytokine receptor intracellular region. The mDAR constructs have antibody-like properties as they bind specifically to a target antigen. Transgenic cells expressing the mDAR constructs can be used for directed cell therapy.