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Postdoctoral Research Associate

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Applicants should include a cover letter, a curriculum vitae and the names of three potential references with their application. Please use “References/Recommendation Request” form to list the three references.

Rice University is a private, comprehensive research university located in the heart of Houston’s dynamic Museum District and adjacent to the Texas Medical Center. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees across eight schools and has a student body of approximately 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Rice consistently ranks among the top 20 national universities and the top 10 in undergraduate teaching (US News & World Report); its endowment ranks among the top 20 of US universities.

The George R. Brown School of Engineering ranks among the top 20 of undergraduate engineering programs and is strongly committed to nurturing the aspirations of faculty, staff and students in an inclusive environment.

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a commitment to diversity at all levels and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.

Posting Details

Position Information

Job Title Postdoctoral Research Associate
Department Bioengineering
Full Time/Part Time Full-Time
Requisition Number P20062
Open Date 01/21/2020
Close Date
Benefits Eligible Yes
Position Summary

The Szablowski Lab for Noninvasive Neuroengineering at Rice University is looking to hire a postdoctoral fellow in the fields of bioengineering and neuroengineering. We offer multidisciplinary training with a high degree of academic freedom in choice of high-impact projects, each of which can form a basis of an independent research program. The projects include development of Acoustically Targeted Chemogenetics (ATAC) and similar tools for noninvasive control and monitoring of neural circuits. These tools will use experience in protein engineering, directed evolution, ultrasound physics, biosensing, and neuroscience.

Many of our projects will have a clear-cut path to clinical translation, taking advantage of our proximity to the country’s biggest medical center. Our department, Rice University’s Department of Bioengineering, is consistently ranked top 10 in the nation with resources and recognition aiding success of our trainees. The department maintains close ties to nearby medical institutions including Baylor College of Medicine and MD Anderson Cancer Center. The campus is located in Houston – the fourth largest and one of the most diverse cities in the US that provides affordable living with warm weather all year round.

Consistent with the National Research Council’s report, Convergence: Facilitating Transdisciplinary Integration of Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering, and Beyond, we are seeking candidates who have demonstrated ability to lead and work in research groups that “… [integrate] the knowledge, tools, and ways of thinking…” from engineering, mathematics, and computational, natural, social and behavioral sciences to solve societal problems using a convergent approach.

We seek greater representation of women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans in disciplines in which they have historically been underrepresented; to attract international students from a wider range of countries and backgrounds; to accelerate progress in building a faculty and staff who are diverse in background and thought; and we support an inclusive environment that fosters interaction and understanding within our diverse community.

The George R. Brown School of Engineering ranks among the top 20 of undergraduate engineering programs (US News & World Report) and is strongly committed to nurturing the aspirations of faculty, staff and students in an inclusive environment.

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity at all levels and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.

Education Required PhD or other Doctoral Degree
Major/Discipline

Bioengineering, chemical engineering, chemistry, neuroscience, biology or a related field

Education Preferred
Experience Required 2 years
Type of Experience

Experience in research in the relevant disciplines, including but not limited to:
- Neuroscience
- Protein engineering and directed evolution
- Ultrasound imaging and stimulation
- Therapeutic engineering and pharmacology
- Biomarker detection and biosensors

Experience Preferred

Experience in working with rodents, ultrasound physics, and/or protein engineering

Skills Required

Skills gained during PhD preparation is acceptable.

Skills Preferred
Physical Demands

Ability to work with animals, and in the experimental work in wet molecular biology lab; office work with several hours of writing at a time.

Working Conditions

Typical academic / laboratory work.

Security Sensitive

As defined under the Texas Education Code and Rice Policy No. 425, this position is security sensitive and employment in this position is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.

Rice University Standard of Civility

Serves as a representative of the University, displaying courtesy, tact, consideration and discretion in all interactions with other members of the Rice community and with the public.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Applicants should include a cover letter, a curriculum vitae and the names of three potential references with their application. Please use “References/Recommendation Request” form to list the three references.

Rice University is a private, comprehensive research university located in the heart of Houston’s dynamic Museum District and adjacent to the Texas Medical Center. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees across eight schools and has a student body of approximately 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Rice consistently ranks among the top 20 national universities and the top 10 in undergraduate teaching (US News & World Report); its endowment ranks among the top 20 of US universities.

The George R. Brown School of Engineering ranks among the top 20 of undergraduate engineering programs and is strongly committed to nurturing the aspirations of faculty, staff and students in an inclusive environment.

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a commitment to diversity at all levels and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.

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Job Duties

Job Duty Name Essential Functions
Description of Job Duty

- Plans and execute original research projects
- Writes papers and presents data at conferences

Percentage of Time 100

Applicant Documents

Required Documents
  1. Cover Letter
  2. Curriculum Vitae
  3. References/Recommendation Request
Optional Documents
  1. Publications

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

  1. * Have you completed all the requirements of a PhD or other doctoral degree in bioengineering, chemical engineering, chemistry, neuroscience, biology or a related field including defense and final submission of thesis?
    • Yes
    • No
    • Will have degree conferred before the start of the appointment
  2. * Do you have two or more years of experience in research in the relevant disciplines, including but not limited to: neuroscience, protein engineering and directed evolution, ultrasound imaging and stimulation, therapeutic engineering and pharmacology, biomarker detection and biosensors?
    • Yes
    • No