Postdoctoral Associate - Bioengineering

Postdoctoral Associate

The McHugh Lab in the Departments of Bioengineering and Chemistry at Rice University (Houston, TX) seeks to hire a postdoctoral associate working in the area of chemistry to develop novel materials for controlled vaccine delivery.

At a high level, the McHugh Lab is focused on the development of translational drug delivery platforms with the potential to address a variety of conditions ranging from prophylaxis for infectious diseases to cancer therapies. These bespoke delivery systems often leverage a combination of material properties and advanced manufacturing techniques and engage the immune system to fight disease.

The postdoctoral fellow selected for this position will co-lead an interdisciplinary project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that aims to employ a controlled-release vaccine delivery platform to create combination vaccines with otherwise incompatible vaccines. Specifically, we aim to encapsulate a next-generation polio vaccine inside particles fabricated using the Particles Uniformly Liquified and Sealed to Encapsulate Drug (PULSED) platform to offset the timing of release from a co-delivered soluble vaccine to prevent immunological interference.

The responsibilities of the postdoctoral fellow selected for this position will include synthesizing and characterizing biodegradable polymers, fabricating polymeric microdevices, and assessing the stability and release of encapsulated vaccines. Additionally, this postdoc will be responsible for directing the work of a research technician working on the project and collaborating with a postdoc specializing in immunology.

Due to its location at the boundary between Rice University and the Texas Medical Center—the largest medical center in the world—the lab is uniquely positioned to advance its technologies towards the clinic with active collaborations with clinician-scientists at MD Anderson Cancer Center, the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Methodist, and Texas Heart Institute.

This position is a one-year term-limited position funded by a grant with the expectation of renewal beyond the initial appointment period with satisfactory performance. Funding for this project has been secured through August 2027, and funds to support continued employment beyond that date will likely be available. This position is available immediately; however, the start date is flexible and could be delayed based on the needs of the applicant.

This position will remain open until filled, with an expected posting end date of May 2026.

The ideal candidate will be a creative, highly motivated early-career scientist with training in chemistry, materials science, drug delivery, and/or polymer science. The candidate should demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills and an interest in building a record of publications and conference presentations. As a senior member of the lab, the postdoc will spend a small portion of their time supporting and training junior lab members and assisting with the preparation of research proposals.

In turn, they will receive one-on-one mentorship from the PI, support for postdoctoral fellowship applications, and, if desired, guidance on applying for faculty positions in academia.

This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in-person at Rice University. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change. Hiring Range:
Salary will be set in accordance with NIH postdoctoral stipend guidelines and commensurate with experience. This position is funded by a grant, soft and/or restricted funds. Continued employment is contingent on the renewal of funding.

Minimum Requirements:

• Ph.D. or other doctoral degree in chemistry, biomedical engineering, bioengineering, materials science, chemical engineering, or related fields
• No additional experience beyond graduate research is required
• Skills:
• Foundational training in polymer synthesis and related analytical techniques
• Experience in experimental design and data analysis gained through research training
• Experience conducting literature reviews and synthesizing prior work into testable hypotheses or experimental plans
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including experience preparing and submitting manuscripts
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a research team

Preferences:

• Experience mentoring early-career trainees (e.g., undergraduate or graduate students, junior staff)
• Familiarity with micro-/nanofabrication and/or 3D printing techniques
• Experience working with animal models in a research setting
• Demonstrated interest in translational research and applying lab findings toward real-world impact

Essential Functions:

• Engineers delivery technologies by manipulating polymer properties and/or microstructure
• Designs and performs experiments; collects, analyzes, and interprets data
• Contributes to publishing research papers and presenting findings at national and international conferences
• Mentors junior…