San Diego State University Research Foundation
Postdoctoral Research Scholar 0-5 yrs Experience

US-CA-San Diego

Job ID: 2026-20514
# of Openings: 1
Category: Research/Project
Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL)

Overview

The College of Sciences is a diverse academic institution encompassing eight academic departments, eight joint doctoral programs, and a multitude of academic program areas. Additionally, it houses the California State University Program, the Education and Research in Biotechnology program, the Coastal Waters Institute, the Center for Research in Mathematics and Science Education, the Molecular Biology Institute, and off-campus sites including the San Diego State University Field Stations and the Mt. Laguna Observatory. Within its ranks, the College boasts a dedicated faculty comprising over 260 full and part-time members, along with a support staff of 80 clerical and technical employees. Their interests span a wide spectrum, encompassing both teaching and research.

Leading the College is the Dean, who is assisted by two Associate Deans, an Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, a Resource Manager, and administrative support personnel. The Dean's Office takes responsibility for overseeing all facets of the College's operations, including the initiation, execution, and ongoing support of instructional and research initiatives, as well as planning for the College's future.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

Postdoctoral Researcher

We seek a skilled and highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to contribute to ongoing projects studying the self-assembly and disassembly of virus-like particles (VLPs), with applications toward engineering VLPs as programmable nanomaterials. The successful candidate is expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy in the laboratory while working within well-defined research directions and actively participating in the training of graduate students and undergrads.

Under supervision of an SDSU Faculty member, this position is intended to provide mentored advanced training to enhance professional skills and research independence in the Post Doc's academic discipline.

Examples of Post Doc responsibilities include assisting in data collection, management, analysis and dissemination; conducting highly specialized and advanced experiments; designing research protocols; summarizing research findings; mentoring undergraduate/graduate students; preparing manuscripts, attending conferences and presenting at conferences; Work may be performed in the field or in a laboratory setting.

Responsibilities

Research Activities 55%

• Execute research projects on VLP assembly, disassembly, RNA packaging and release, both in vitro and in vivo, including
• Expression of recombinant coat proteins and purification of assembled VLPs using sedimentation, ultrafiltration, and affinity- and size-exclusion chromatography
• High-throughput screening of VLP disassembly under biochemical challenges with sequencing-based readouts of barcoded particles
• Characterization of assembly and disassembly products using single-particle techniques, including interferometric scattering microscopy (iSCAT), negative-stain and cryo-electron microscopy (TEM/cryo-EM)
• Design independent subprojects and contribute intellectually to the direction of the research, with growing autonomy over time

Publishing and Presenting 30%

• Contribute to the preparation of manuscripts for publication
• Present results at group meetings and at local and international conferences
• Assist in the preparation of grant reports and research proposals

Mentorship and Lab Environment 10%

• Assist in training and mentoring graduate and undergraduate researchers
• Contribute to maintaining a safe, organized, and efficient laboratory environment
• Participate in the maintenance of laboratory infrastructure, including microscopes, biochemical instrumentation, shared equipment

Other Duties as Assigned 5%

Qualifications

Knowledge and Abilities:

• Highly skilled and motivated postdoctoral researcher to contribute to ongoing projects in organic chemistry, organometallic chemistry, and asymmetric homogeneous catalysis.
• Expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy in the laboratory while working within well-defined research directions.

Education & Experience:

• Doctoral degree or equivalent in an appropriate field

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SPECIAL SKILLS

• Ph.D. in biochemistry, molecular biology, biophysics, chemistry, physics, or a related field, with proficiency in biophysical or structural characterization of macromolecules
• Experience in expression and purification of proteins and/or preparation and handling of RNA
• Demonstrated ability to plan, execute, and troubleshoot experiments independently and to interpret quantitative data
• Ability to work independently with strong attention to detail and reproducibility
• Eagerness to train early career scientists
• Experience working with virus-like particles or protein-nucleic acid complexes
• Experience with electron microscopy (TEM and/or cryo-EM) and image analysis
• Experience with next-generation RNA sequencing
• Experience with quantitative data analysis

ADDITIONAL APPLICANT INFORMATION

• Candidate must reside in California and live within a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including a criminal record check).
• San Diego State University Research Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU Research Foundation provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin or any other categories protected by federal or state law.
• Employment decisions are based on an individual’s qualifications as they relate to the job under consideration. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has equal access to resources and support.
• SDSU Research Foundation complies with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), and other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws including grant or contract terms and conditions related to funded program activities. Further the SDSU Research Foundation maintains a Nondiscrimination Policy that prohibits discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all programs, policies, and practices.
• SDSU Research Foundation makes all employment decisions including, but not limited to, applicant screening, hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions, and terminations on the basis of merit.