"Postdoctoral Associate - Bioengineering"

Position Summary

The Veiseh Lab in the Department of Bioengineering at Rice University is seeking a highly motivated and collaborative Postdoctoral Researcher to lead the development of cell-based therapeutic devices for the treatment of diseases such as cancer, lymphedema, wound infections, diabetes, or infectious diseases. This position supports a clinically oriented, translational research program at the intersection of synthetic biology, biomaterials, and immunoengineering.

In this role, the postdoctoral researcher will lead an independent project focused on engineering and evaluating therapeutic devices in relevant preclinical models. Key responsibilities include conducting cellular engineering experiments, biomaterial characterization, data analysis, and evaluating therapeutic outcomes in translational models. The researcher will also contribute to scientific writing, grant proposals, and present findings at national and international conferences. The role includes mentoring junior team members and supporting collaborative efforts across disciplines and institutions.

The ideal candidate has strong foundational knowledge in molecular biology, bioengineering, and chemistry, along with expertise or demonstrated interest in at least one relevant disease area. They are driven by scientific curiosity, excited to tackle complex biological challenges, and committed to producing high-impact, peer-reviewed research. Strong communication skills, professionalism, and enthusiasm for leadership and collaboration are essential.

For more information about our research and goals, please visit the Veiseh Lab website.

Workplace Requirements

This is an on-site position, requiring all responsibilities to be carried out in person at Rice University Campus. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range

$61,008

*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

This is a benefits-eligible, full-time position funded by grant, soft, and/or restricted funds. The appointment is for one year, with the option for renewal for up to three years contingent upon satisfactory performance and the availability of continued funding.

Additional Information

Up to five hires will be made from this posting. One position is expected to start as soon as possible, a second in October 2025, and the remaining positions no later than January 2026.

Minimum Requirements

• Ph.D. in Bioengineering or a closely related field.
• No experience required

Skills

• Knowledge of biomaterials, cellular engineering, or preclinical disease models
• Familiarity with translational research and clinically oriented project design
• Ability to conduct laboratory experiments and characterize therapeutic devices in relevant disease models
• Strong scientific writing and data presentation skills for publications and conferences
• Ability to support grant writing, proposal development, and collaborative research efforts
• Commitment to rigorous scientific methods, lab safety, and accurate record-keeping
• Professional communication skills and ability to collaborate across disciplines and institutions
• Strong organizational and project management skills in a fast-paced research environment

Preferences

• Knowledge of one or more of the following disease areas: cancer, lymphedema, wound infections, diabetes, or infectious diseases
• Curiosity, enthusiasm, and drive to solve challenging technical problems and complex biological questions
• Ability to analyze and interpret data from peer-reviewed literature, experiments, and disease models
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting in group meetings and conferences and an understanding of the manuscript and peer review process
• Ability to work independently, collaboratively, and professionally within diverse research teams
• Enthusiasm for leadership, mentoring, and fostering a collaborative and supportive lab environment
• Experience mentoring or training junior researchers in a laboratory setting
• Interest in developing independent research interests and long-term project leadership

Essential Functions

• Leads a project focused on developing a cell-based therapeutic device for the treatment of cancer, lymphedema, wound infections, diabetes, or infectious diseases
• Investigates the impact of the therapeutic device on disease outcomes using translational research models
• Designs and executes clinically translatable research projects
• Conducts laboratory experiments involving preclinical models, cellular engineering, and biomaterial characterization
• Develops an independent line of research with the goal of future academic or industry leadership
• Publishes research findings in peer-reviewed journals and presents at national and international conferences
• Mentors and trains junior research team members, including Ph.D. candidates, master's students, and undergraduates
• Assists with proposal development and grant writing to support research funding
• Supports equipment setup, protocol development, and models best practices in scientific rigor, record-keeping, lab safety, and team collaboration
• Contributes to project management and facilitates collaboration across disciplines and institutions
• Performs other duties as assigned

Special Instructions to Applicants

All interested applicants should attach a resume in the supporting documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.