Faculty:
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Current Postdoc Openings:
Baik Lab
Position Description
The Postdoc will engage in cutting-edge research at the intersection of molecular biology, hypoxia sensing and adaptation, and cardiovascular disease. The Baik Lab at UCSF/CVRI is interested in understanding mechanisms of chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension and heart failure, mechanisms of cardio-toxicities with cancer-directed therapies, and dissecting the roles of the innate vs adaptive immune systems in pericarditis. The lab offers a unique interdisciplinary platform for investigating the interplay between hypoxia, cancer treatments and cardiac health.
The postdoctoral candidate will use in vitro systems (stem cells, primary cells, immortalized cells), rodent models, and patient samples to address unanswered questions in hypoxia adaptation, cardiotoxicities from cancer therapies, and pericarditis. The postdoc candidate will utilize classic molecular biology and biochemistry tools, as well as multi-omics techniques such as spatial transcriptomics and single-cell RNA sequencing. It is expected that the postdoc will independently devise experiments, analyze complex datasets, apply and obtain extramural funding, disseminate findings through high-impact publications, and present preliminary data at leading scientific conferences. This position emphasizes comprehensive professional development, with opportunities to apply for independent research funding, participate in cross-disciplinary seminars, and gain experience in basic and translational medicine.
Position Responsibilities
Postdoctoral scholars shall not perform any clinical duties and shall not have any patient contact. Postdoctoral scholars are defined as -- A postdoctoral researcher is a person professionally conducting research after the completion of their doctoral studies (typically a PhD). The goal of a postdoctoral research position is to pursue additional research, training, or teaching to have better skills to pursue a career in academia, research, or any other fields. Postdocs often, but not always, have a temporary academic appointment, sometimes in preparation for an academic faculty position. They continue their studies and/or carry out research and further increase expertise in a specialist subject, including integrating a team and acquiring novel skills and research methods.
Postdoctoral research is often considered essential while advancing the scholarly mission of the host institution; it is expected to produce relevant publications in peer reviewed academic journals or conferences. Postdocs may not perform any clinical duties. The NIH definition of a postdoc is an individual who has received a doctoral degree (or equivalent) and is engaged in a temporary and defined period of mentored advanced training to enhance the professional skills and research independence needed to pursue his or her chosen career path. The definition emphasizes the importance of mentored training during the postdoctoral period.
How to Apply
To apply please email a Resume/CV to: [email protected]
Posted: 10.27.25
Liu Lab: Functional Genomics of Brain Tumors
Position Description
The Liu Lab at the University of California, San Francisco, Departments of Radiation Oncology and Neurological Surgery is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher (MD, PhD, or MD/PhD). We are a collaborative, basic and translational research laboratory interested in developing new treatments for patients with malignancies of the central nervous system. We are a multi-disciplinary research group with expertise in functional genomics (engineered CRISPR/Cas9 systems), in vivo disease modeling, epigenetics, single cell genomics and multiomics, biochemistry, molecular biology, and bioinformatics. Ongoing projects include, but are not limited to, novel in vivo CRISPR/Cas9 functional genomics screens in brain tumor models using multi-modal and high dimensional readouts, spatial transcriptomics of clinical specimens and experimental model systems incorporating artificial intelligence and foundation models, molecular mechanisms of radiation and chemotherapy resistance with focus on the DNA damage response, and development of novel genetic and epigenetic editing technologies for in vivo therapeutics development.
The candidate will have the opportunity to combine preclinical cancer models and patient clinical samples with advanced functional genomics techniques such as engineered CRISPR/Cas9 systems delivered by lipid nanoparticle or viral methods to perform genetic and epigenetic editing for therapeutic application in brain tumors. The candidate will have opportunities to collaborate with other laboratories in the UCSF Brain Tumor Center, across UCSF, as well as collaborators at Stanford and UC Berkeley. This position is ideal for a motivated individual with strong experimental and communication skills who has the desire to gain extensive research experience as a member of a collaborative, multidisciplinary team, including the resources and opportunity to develop their own independent research.
Position Qualifications
- Experience with molecular biology, genomics, mouse models of cancer, and bioinformatics are desired but not required. Willingness to learn new techniques is expected.
- Job Requirements: MD, PhD, or MD/PhD in the Biological Sciences, Bioengineering, Computational Biology, or another related field.
- Demonstrated experience in experimental techniques and/or genomics or computational biology.
- Previous research experience working in an interdisciplinary academic environment.
Research Environment / Training Context
The Liu Lab is located at the UCSF Mission Bay Campus, Helen Diller Research Building. The lab has a strong track record of mentorship for candidates interested careers in academic, medical, or industry settings. The Postdoctoral Researcher will work alongside Dr. John Liu, PI and Assistant Professor in Radiation Oncology and Neurological Surgery, and other scientists and clinicians across UCSF and will play a pivotal role in supporting the scientific mission of the lab. The position comes with full benefits per UCSF policy, and the salary can be negotiated based on experience and the UCSF payscale listed herein https://postdocs.ucsf.edu/pay-and-benefits.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and list of references, including contact information to [email protected]. More information can be found at liulab.ucsf.edu.
Posted: 10.27.25
Yaffe Team: Epidemiology of AD/ADRD and Brain Health
Position Description
Dr. Kristine Yaffe and the UCSF Center for Population Brain Health are seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Epidemiology of AD/ADRD and Brain Health. The Center for Population Brain Health (CPBH) is a collaboration of multidisciplinary investigators at the University of California, San Francisco. Our mission is to improve brain health over the life course to facilitate healthy aging. We conduct population-based research focused on the epidemiology of cognitive aging and brain health.
The postdoctoral fellow will apply innovative epidemiological methods to support ongoing research studies on Alzheimer disease and Alzheimer disease related dementias (AD/ADRD), cognitive aging, and brain health. The candidate will have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty and investigators at UCSF in epidemiology, neurology, psychiatry, geriatrics, and biostatistics. Under the mentorship of Dr. Kristine Yaffe, the scholar will be responsible for driving original research projects while receiving training to become an independent investigator. Potential projects will be focused on modifiable risk factors including cardiovascular and metabolic disease, traumatic brain injury, sleep, depression, and physical and cognitive activity; multi-domain interventions for dementia prevention; social determinants of brain health; biomarkers of cognitive aging; and risk and resilience factors for brain health across the life course. Ideal applicants would have particular interest in expanding expertise in population-based methods, longitudinal data analysis, and life course models with the opportunity to explore innovative epidemiologic and data science approaches. The training program will include career development seminars, works in progress meetings, manuscript and grant writing opportunities, presentations at scientific conferences, and establishing multidisciplinary collaborations with the goal of transitioning to independence.
Position Requirements
- Ph.D., or Ph.D./M.D in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Psychiatry, Neurology, or Neuroscience
- Prior research experience focusing on cognitive aging, brain health, and dementia
- Experience in epidemiologic and statistical methods for population-based studies
- Proficiency and independence with advanced statistical programming and data analysis using STATA, SAS, R, or other statistical programs
- Experience with scientific writing and manuscript preparation
- Demonstrated track record of scientific productivity including publications and presentations
- Strong oral and written communication skills and organizational skills
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
- Ability to set priorities, meet deadlines and manage multiple tasks simultaneously
How to Apply
To apply, please email the following to Tina Hoang (research manager; [email protected])
- Letter of interest detailing your research experience, interests, career goals, and proposed faculty mentor(s) from list above
- CV
- Three letters of recommendation
Posted: 10.21.25
EpochAI Lab
Position Description
The University of California, San Francisco is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow to join the EpochAI Lab in the Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, sepsis care, and health data science under the leadership of Dr. Romain Pirracchio. This position is part of an NIH-funded multi-site R01 multisite project (including UC Berkeley, UPMC and UPenn) aiming to develop and validate a real-time, AI-driven clinical decision support system (CDSS) to guide early treatment decisions in patients with suspected community-onset lung sepsis (COLS).
The successful candidate will help design and implement advanced machine learning and causal inference models, including conditional average treatment effect (CATE) estimation and simulation-based evaluation of clinical impact. The fellow will also contribute to prospective validation efforts, integration of AI tools into the UCSF EHR (via HIPAC), and cross-disciplinary collaboration with clinicians, statisticians, engineers, and implementation scientists.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and implement AI/ML algorithms to estimate individualized treatment effects using large-scale EHR data
- Collaborate with UCSF HIPAC and clinical teams to deploy and test models in real-time “silent mode”
- Assist with development of an interpretable and EHR-embedded CDSS for early treatment in lung sepsis
- Lead analyses for external validation at collaborating institutions (UPMC, UPenn)
- Co-author publications, conference abstracts, and data science workflows
- Participate in stakeholder engagement and iterative UI design processes
Position Requirements
- PhD (or equivalent) in computer science, statistics, biomedical informatics, computational biology, applied mathematics, epidemiology, or related fields
- Deep understanding of causal inference, heterogeneous treatment effect modeling, or ML frameworks
- Proficiency in programming languages such as R and/or Python
- Experience working with large-scale EHR data or real-world clinical datasets
- Familiarity with TMLE, Super Learner, CATE estimation methods (e.g., T-learner, X-learner), Reinforcement Learning, or generative modeling is highly desirable
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills, including ability to work across disciplines
- Track record of peer-reviewed publications in relevant domains
How to Apply
Please send CV, research interests, and supporting letters via email to [email protected].
Posted: 10.21.25
Ma lab, Immunology/Inflammatory Disease
Position Description
The Ma lab is recruiting two postdocs interested in studying molecular mechanisms of autoimmunity and anti-tumor immunity. We are using small molecules and CRISPR base editor screens to dissect potent regulators of ubiquitin dependent signals at the level of individual residues. We hope to translate these mechanisms into therapeutic strategies.
The lab is located on the 10th floor of the Medical Sciences Building of the Parnassus campus, a multidepartmental floor of immunologists. Ongoing collaborations with immunologists and bioengineers are occurring across the Parnassus and Mission Bay campuses. Postdocs will be mentored for optimal scientific growth and progression to future leadership positions in industry and academia.
Position Requirements
- PhD in immunology, bioengineering, or molecular biology
To apply, email CV to: [email protected]
Posted: 10.29.25
Nosheny Team: Neuroscience Research
Position Description
We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) to join a research group led by Drs. Rachel Nosheny and Michael Weiner. The applicant will be involved in clinical Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia research, utilizing data from the Brain Health Registry (BrainHealthRegistry.org) and the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). The postdoctoral fellow will conduct clinical neuroscience research, with an emphasis on Alzheimer's disease, cognitive aging, and cognitive decline. Areas of particular interest are (1) Remote, digital assessment of cognition and everyday functioning; (2) Characterization of early clinical stages of AD, including subjective cognitive decline; and (3) Improving inclusion and engagement of minoritized populations in research. The postdoctoral fellow will have the opportunity to be involved in many ongoing projects within the Brain Health Registry and ADNI. They will plan and execute data analyses, prepare manuscripts and abstracts, assist with grant writing, and present work at national and international meetings.
Key Responsibilities
- Quantitative analysis of data including in-clinic and online self- and study partner-report questionnaires, neuropsychological tests, imaging and biomarker data from longitudinal, observational studies
- Work with Principal Investigator and Co-investigators to generate hypotheses, plan analyses, and interpret data
- Develop innovative ways to use the Internet for assessment of cognitive aging
- Seek out new funding opportunities and help to write grants and proposals
- Write manuscripts and abstracts
Required Qualifications
- Doctorate degree or its equivalent in the field of neurology, neuroscience, psychology, psychiatry, biostatistics, or a related field
- Research experience, preferably in clinical research
- Data analysis experience
- Biostatistics experience
- Demonstrated success in independent research, including track record of published peer reviewed manuscripts
- Ability to work collaboratively with other research group members and outside collaborators -
- Two-year commitment, with opportunity for extension
Preferred Qualifications
- Interest/experience in dementia and aging clinical research
- Experience with statistical computing and visualization software or program
- Experience writing grants and other proposal
Interested candidates, please send your CV and two references to: Rachel Nosheny, PhD[email protected]
Posted: 11.4.25
NeuroAI Lab: AI Voice Agents in Neurodegenerative Disease Care
Position Description
The NeuroAI Lab at UCSF, led by Assistant Professor Pedro Pinheiro-Chagas, PhD, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow focused on designing AI Voice Agents for Healthcare. The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary team at the intersection of cutting-edge AI and cognitive neuroscience, with the aim to advance discovery, diagnosis, and care of neurodegenerative diseases. The projects will center on designing Autonomous AI Voice Agentic Systems to conduct interviews with patients and caregivers with the ultimate goal of scaling high quality specialist care. In the first project, we are adapting an AI Voice Agent to conduct the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR). The CDR is the most widely used instrument to stage cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s Disease and it is used as an endpoint in ongoing clinical trials. Co-led by experts Michael W. Weiner, M.D. (PI of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, ADNI), and Rachel L. Nosheny, Ph.D. (PI of the UCSF Brain Health Registry, a large platform for remote cognitive assessments), the collaborative project offers unique mentorship and high foundational impact.
The fellow will develop generative AI systems featuring advanced generative AI pipelines, leveraging prompt and context engineering and alignment techniques to optimize reliability, transparency, and safety for CDR administration. Key responsibilities include: design of AI Voice Agents, rigorous benchmarking with real and simulated users, implementing automatic scoring, and maintaining security and regulatory compliance according to UCSF Health AI Oversight. The candidate will be expected to optimize AI alignment by ensuring model outputs robustly serve clinical intent and patient well-being, actively minimizing risks such as model hallucinations, and potential adverse events through regular testing and monitoring. The fellow will also disseminate research through conferences and publications, contributing to both AI and neuroscience fields.
Research Environment / Training Context
The NeuroAI Lab operates within the UCSF Fein Memory and Aging Center (MAC) in the Department of Neurology at the Weill Institute for Neurosciences, and maintains affiliations with the Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute and the Center for Intelligent Imaging (ci2). The Fein MAC, housed in the Sandler Neurosciences Center, a 237,000 sq. ft. five story building, is a world-renowned research and clinical center dedicated to the study of neurodegenerative diseases. Led by Dr. Bruce Miller, the MAC brings together over 333 trainees and employees, including neurologists, neuropsychologists, and specialists from geriatrics, psychiatry, pharmacy, nursing, social work, and speech pathology. The center conducts large-scale research programs on Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and healthy aging, evaluating hundreds of research participants annually. The MAC provides extensive infrastructure including state-of-the-art neuroimaging facilities with multiple MRI scanners, a 25-room clinical research unit, the UCSF Neurodegenerative Disease Brain Bank, and comprehensive computational resources with high-performance computing clusters and secure data storage systems. Combined with the adjacent Weill Neurosciences Building, this forms one of the largest neuroscience complexes in the world. The postdoctoral fellow will benefit from this rich interdisciplinary environment, with opportunities for collaboration across clinical, computational, and basic neuroscience domains, access to large patient cohorts and datasets, and mentorship from leaders in both AI and neurodegenerative disease research.
Required Qualifications
- Ph.D. in Computer Science, Computational/Cognitive Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, Biostatistics, Data Science, or a related discipline.
- Expertise in machine learning, with a strong foundation in deep learning and generative AI, particularly with Python.
- Experience in NLP and LLMs. (Direct experience with AI Voice Agents is highly desirable)
- Experience working with clinical, cognitive, or health-related datasets. (Direct experience with neurodegenerative disease data is highly desirable)
- Track record of scientific publication and strong scientific writing skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with or willingness to learn agentic frameworks for advanced AI workflows
- Knowledge of data security, privacy, and regulatory standards for clinical applications (e.g., HIPAA compliance).
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams, demonstrating adaptability in a fast-paced research environment.
Please send a cover letter explaining your background, relevant experience, and specific fit for our lab and this project, a CV, and three names of references to[email protected]
Posted: 11.4.25
Zinter Lab
Position Description
An NIH-funded postdoctoral position is available to study the molecular, cellular, and microbiologic mechanisms directing pediatric lung injury and repair in the laboratory of Matt Zinter, MD, Associate Professor in Residence, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care Medicine at UCSF.
Current studies in our laboratory leverage BAL fluid and paired blood samples obtained from pediatric HCT patients as well as non-HCT controls. One current project focuses on elucidating peripheral blood correlates of post-HCT lung injury. Here we compare cross-site transcriptomes to identify pulmonary vs. extrapulmonary contributors to patient mortality and measure alveolar and blood peptidomes to support improved diagnostic testing. A second project focuses on determining key pulmonary immune cell populations associated with subtypes of post-HCT lung injury. Here we use flow cytometry and single cell RNA sequencing of BAL cells to determine key lineages and transcriptional states that define lung injury subtypes and predict outcomes. Immune cells are characterized as marrow-derived vs tissue-resident and of patient vs. allograft origin to unravel the specific cellular drivers of post-HCT lung injury. A third project focuses on evaluating the functional capacity of pulmonary mononuclear phagocytes and evaluating the reversibility of hypo- and hyper-activation using ex vivo stimulation.
The Zinter Lab is highly collaborative. In addition to leading their own project, postdoctoral fellows have the opportunity to contribute to all ongoing projects in the lab. The Zinter lab also has numerous, ongoing collaborations with investigators across UCSF and in Children’s Hospitals around the world, providing our postdoctoral fellows additional exposure to leading investigators in lung developmental biology. In the Zinter Lab, we value diversity of background, perspective, and experience. We are committed to creating a highly collaborative, dynamic, and positive environment that fosters intellectual curiosity, creativity and passion for the discovery of new knowledge. The Zinter lab is committed to ensuring an inclusive, safe environment where all lab members feel equally valued.
Position Qualifications
We are seeking highly motivated and driven candidates with a PhD, or MD/PhD and experience in molecular biology, cell biology, immunology or a related field. Expertise in lung biology is required. Expertise in primary cell isolation and culture, flow cytometry, and single cell sequencing is desired. The ideal candidate will demonstrate enthusiasm, passion for research, intellectual creativity, self-directed learning, and a history of working well in teams. Excellent organizational and communication skills and evidence of successful scientific writing are required. UC San Francisco seeks candidates whose experience, teaching, research, or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to diversity and excellence. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status.
Research Environment / Training Context
Zinter Lab Focus: Lung injury in children can occur due to infections, inhalations, aspiration, inflammation, or toxicities from medical treatments such as chemotherapy. Lung injury manifests as difficulty breathing and low oxygen levels and may lead to hospitalization or even intensive care support with mechanical ventilation. One group of children that develop lung injury is patients with leukemia and other disorders that undergo treatment with chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). These treatments can help cure the underlying disease but can also lead to lung injury, which is a major driver of morbidity and mortality. Paradoxically, patients exhibit high levels of systemic inflammation, yet also show limited ability to contain pulmonary infections, suggesting a multifaceted state of both immune activation and dysfunction that is difficult to treat clinically. Thus, a major gap in the field is the limited understanding of lung-specific immune signaling that drives the progression and hinders the resolution of lung injury in patients such as these. The Zinter Lab focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms that influence lung injury in children such as these. As a translational research laboratory, we use primary patient samples such as bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid to understand our patients’ disease courses, response to treatment, and propensity for recovery. Our long-term goal is to leverage this new knowledge into the development of novel therapies to treat lung disease in infants and children.
Interested applicants should send: 1) a letter of interest summarizing their past research experience and career goals; 2) current CV; and 3) contact information for three references to [email protected]
Posted: 11.4.25