POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE in San Diego, California at Sanford Burnham Prebys

Sanford Burnham Prebys is much more than a research facility and hub for innovation; it’s a vibrant global community of talented scientists and researchers from over 30 countries. This worldwide representation enriches our perspectives and enhances our creative approach to solving complex scientific challenges.

We strive to be leaders not only in biomedical research but also in creating an environment where excellence thrives through collaboration across cultures and backgrounds. Our mission is to advance the biomedical sciences by cultivating the next generation of scientific leaders, providing meaningful opportunities for researchers of all backgrounds to learn, innovate, and make breakthrough discoveries that improve human health.

Together, we translate science into health.

The duties and responsibilities contained in the job description are intended to be examples of the accountabilities for which the person in the position will demonstrate competency through performance. The job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list. Duties and responsibilities are subject to change and other duties may be assigned as necessary.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher or computational biologist to join the Vasciaveo Laboratory at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) in San Diego. The selected candidate will develop computational tools for single-cell and multi-omics analysis to dissect cellular heterogeneity, gene regulatory networks, and epigenetic mechanisms in complex biological systems, including patient-derived tumors. This position offers close collaboration with experimental biologists and clinicians, ownership of high-impact projects, and strong mentorship toward an independent career. Our goal is to translate data-driven models into actionable biological hypotheses and therapeutic strategies. Representative work includes Li, Vasciaveo, et al. Nature 2026; Malagola, Vasciaveo et al., Cell 2024; Stokes, Vasciaveo et al., Cell Chemical Biology 2024; Leuzzi, Vasciaveo et al., Cell 2024; Vasciaveo et al., Cancer Discovery 2023;

Under limited direction, the Postdoctoral Associate will perform duties as outlined by their supervisor. Being a training position, the Postdoctoral Associate will support the lab and experiments, while pursuing their own research.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead, design and perform integrative analyses across diverse datasets to derive novel biological insights.
• Develop computational methods and pipelines for single-cell RNA-seq and multiome data.
• Collaborate with experimental biologists and clinicians to design and interpret studies.
• Contribute to mentoring junior researchers and shaping the lab’s computational strategy.
• Publish research findings in high-impact journals and disseminate results.
• Perform other related tasks, duties and responsibilities as required, assigned or directed.

Minimum Qualifications – Candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Ph.D. in quantitative disciplines (e.g., computer science, physics, computational biology, systems biology).
• Strong proficiency in prog. languages such as Python and R, and familiarity with relevant bioinformatics tools.
• Solid understanding of statistical and computational methods in biology.
• Proven track record of research productivity, including peer-reviewed publications.
• At least one first author paper published at peer-reviewed journal or accepted for publication

Knowledge, Skills and/or Abilities – Preference will be given to candidates with:

• Demonstrated expertise in analyzing single-cell data, including scRNA-seq and multi-omics techniques (e.g., integrating epigenomics and transcriptomics).
• Knowledge of Machine Learning techniques and their application to biological data analysis.
• Familiarity with Deep Learning architectures and applications, including Generative AI and imaging.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to collaborate in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Enthusiasm for solving complex biological problems through computational approaches.

Benefits That Support You

Sanford Burnham Prebys offers a comprehensive benefits package* designed to support employees’ health, financial security, and overall well-being.

Health & Welfare: Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability coverage, and employee assistance resources.

Retirement Savings: A 403(b) retirement plan featuring a generous employer match of $2 for every $1 you contribute (up to 10% of your salary).

Financial & Lifestyle Benefits: Flexible spending accounts, identity theft protection, and employee discounts on entertainment, travel, and more.

Time Off & Holidays: Vacation, sick leave, and other applicable leave benefits, plus up to 13 paid holidays per year.

Wellness & Convenience: Year-round wellness programs and events, free on-site parking, and access to 50 electric vehicle charging stations at competitive rates.

*Benefits eligibility varies by position. Employees must be regularly scheduled to work at least 30 hours per week (0.75 FTE) to be eligible for most benefits.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Direct: None at this time. Will be re-evaluated over time
Indirect: None at this time. Will be re-evaluated over time

Work Location: This is an onsite position; candidates must be willing to work onsite in San Diego. Out-of-state applicants must disclose their willingness to relocate.

Compensation: The expected hiring rate for this position is $70,304.00 - $77,334.40/annually commensurate with Postdoctoral experience.

How to Apply

Please provide the following information with your application:

1. A cover letter highlighting your research interests and fit for this position.
2. Curriculum vitae (CV), including a list of publications.
3. Contact information for at least three references.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

We welcome talented individuals of all backgrounds regardless of gender, sex, religion, race, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, perceived disability, pregnancy, pregnancy-related condition, reproductive health decisions, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS, marital status, covered veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations. We are proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer.

As part of this commitment, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If a reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact our Benefits Team at (858) 646-3100 or via e-mail at accomodations@sbpdiscovery.org