Postdoctoral Associate - Zhang Lab - Molecular and Cellular Biology

ABOUT US

Scripps Research is a nonprofit biomedical institute ranked as one of the most influential in the world for its impact on innovation. We celebrated our 100-year legacy in 2024. This significant milestone marks a century of seminal discoveries in immunology, infectious diseases (such as COVID-19, flu, HIV), neuroscience, heart disease, cancer and more. Located in La Jolla, California, the institute houses six research departments, multiple Nobel laureates, a top‑ranked graduate school and a leading postdoctoral training program.

Scripps Research encompasses two elite and highly innovative institutes, the Cali ‑Skaggs Institute for Innovative Medicines and the Scripps Research Translational Institute, which merge foundational studies in biology, chemistry and computer science with translational science to produce pioneering drugs and advances in digital and precision medicine. Together, we cultivate new scientific leaders and expand the frontiers of knowledge to deliver medical breakthroughs impacting human health around the globe.

If you have a passion for making a difference, this could be your opportunity to join our transformative team.

POSITION TITLE: Postdoctoral Associate

The Zhang Lab at Scripps Research is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Associate to develop innovative imaging tools aimed at advancing our understanding of tissue function across spatial and temporal scales.

As a newly established lab in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, the Zhang lab studies how cells organize, interact, and maintain homeostasis within their native environments, and how these dynamics are altered in aging and disease using a combination of cutting‑edge imaging technologies and sophisticated computational tools. Our primary focus is on developing spatial multi‑omics tools that enable high‑resolution, genomic‑scale profiling of cells in situ, capturing cellular states and interactions at the single‑cell level across various time scales.

Our long‑term goal is to harness these insights to inform approaches in precision medicine, contributing to advancements in tissue regeneration, disease intervention and cell‑based therapies.

Our research program is highly interdisciplinary. We are seeking candidates with a strong background in molecular and cell biology, chemical biology, bioinformatics or optical bioimaging and spectroscopy. Projects in the lab will be tailored to the applicant's expertise and interests and could include:

• Understanding how single‑cell molecular landscapes and cell‑cell interactions change in aging and brain tumors using spatial multi‑omics;
• Developing imaging‑based methods for high‑throughput proteome and metabolome profiling;
• Developing machine learning approaches to bridge live‑cell imaging and genomic‑scale molecular profiling in tissues.

A successful candidate should hold a Ph.D. in biophysics, bioengineering, biochemistry, neuroscience or related disciplines. Candidates with prior experience and expertise in single‑cell technologies, spatial biology or microscopic imaging are especially encouraged to apply. Scientific competence includes a strong sense of curiosity, the ability to conduct independent research and the ability to work in a culturally and scientifically diverse, team‑oriented and stimulating environment.

Please apply with your CV, a brief statement of research interests and the names of three supervisors and mentors who can be contacted for references.

Postdoctoral Associates are appointed positions for the purpose of developing scholarly competence, working under the supervision of a Scripps Research faculty member. These appointments are normally not renewed beyond a total of five years. Postdoctoral Associates cannot apply for external funding either as a Principal Investigator or co‑Principal Investigator without prior approval from a departmental chair. Postdoctoral Associates do not have consulting privileges.

Make Scripps Research your next step to advance and develop your career.  to learn more about our postdoctoral program and services: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./

• Must possess a…