Job Details
Job Summary
The Evans Laboratory at the Salk Institute seeks to understand the molecular mechanisms that regulate pancreatic islet development, function, and survival, and to translate these discoveries into new therapeutic approaches for diabetes. Our research integrates human pluripotent stem cell biology, genome engineering, organoid differentiation, and transplantation models to develop functional and immune-protected insulin-producing cells.
We are currently seeking a highly motivated junior postdoctoral fellow to join a research program supported by a newly awarded five-year NIH R01 grant. The successful candidate will study the differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells into pancreatic beta cells and islet-like organoids and evaluate their function, immune compatibility, and therapeutic potential in vitro and through transplantation in preclinical diabetes models.
The candidate will develop and optimize protocols for pancreatic progenitor and beta-cell differentiation, characterize stem cell-derived islet cells using molecular and functional assays, and perform islet transplantation studies. The project may also involve genome editing and the development of immune-evasive human islet-like organoids for cell replacement therapy.
The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. in stem cell biology, developmental biology, diabetes research, bioengineering, or a related field. Prior experience with human embryonic stem cells or iPSCs, pancreatic or beta-cell differentiation, three-dimensional cell culture, or islet transplantation is strongly preferred. Experience with genome editing, flow cytometry, single-cell analysis, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion assays, or mouse models of diabetes would be an additional advantage.
Candidates should be intellectually curious, highly motivated, productive, and committed to rigorous and collaborative science. The postdoctoral fellow will join a multidisciplinary team of stem cell biologists, molecular biologists, genome engineers, and diabetes researchers working to advance stem cell-derived islet replacement therapies toward clinical translation.
Job location is in Salk Main Campus
What We Can Offer
The full postdoctoral salary range for wet lab opportunities is $70,500-$78,000 (see below). This range covers the entire postdoctoral training period; recent Ph.D. graduates should expect an offer at or close to $70,500 (minimum of the salary range). Salk Institute provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the institute reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs.
| Experience Level/Tier | Salk Postdoc Salary |
|---|---|
| 0 | $70,500 |
| 1 | $72,000 |
| 2 | $73,500 |
| 3 | $75,000 |
| 4 | $76,500 |
| 5 | $78,000 |
Benefits
Salk Institute offers competitive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, retirement, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, patient advocacy services, and transit/parking program.
Salk Values
The Salk Community, both scientists and administrators, worked together to define values that we believe support Salk’s pursuit of excellence. To be truly the best scientific institution requires not only incredible discoveries, but a common understanding of how we should work together to enable those discoveries.
The acronym “I CARE” provides a simple way to remember each of the values and reminds each of us of the importance of what we do each day.
Organization
Working at Salk Institute for Biological Studies
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is one of the world's preeminent basic research institutions, where internationally renowned faculty probe fundamental life science questions in a unique, collaborative, and creative environment. Focused on both discovery and mentoring future generations of researchers, Salk scientists make groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of cancer, aging, Alzheimer's, diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders by studying neuroscience, genetics, cell and plant biology, and related disciplines.
Faculty achievements have been recognized with numerous honors, including Nobel Prizes and memberships in the National Academy of Sciences. Founded in 1960 by polio vaccine pioneer Jonas Salk, M.D., the Institute is an independent nonprofit organization and architectural landmark.
