Postdoctoral Position in Clinical Nutrition – Kulkarni Lab 2026-2027 Full-time

Postdoctoral Position in Clinical Nutrition – Kulkarni Lab 2026-2027

Job #JPF11058

Medicine-Center For Human Nutr / David Geffen School Of Medicine / UCLA

Position Overview

Salary range: See Table 23. A reasonable estimate for this position is $69,073-$82,836.

Application Window

Open date: July 1, 2026

Next review date: Friday, Jul 31, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Friday, Oct 30, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position Description

The UCLA Center for Human Nutrition, is seeking a full-time Postdoctoral Scholar to join the laboratory of Dr. Devesha Kulkarni in the Division of Clinical Nutrition, Department of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. The successful candidate will work as part of an interdisciplinary research team within the Department.

About the Team: The focus of the Kulkarni Gut Lab is on immune responses at the intestinal barrier response towards changing microbiota, both in the context of normal development and dysbiosis associated with diseases such as IBD. The Lab works extensively with mouse models, intestinal organoids, flow cytometry of mouse and human tissue specimens, single-cell and bulk RNA- sequencing, and microbiome analysis. More information about the Lab and the research focus can be found at Kulkarni Gut Lab.

The candidate will be working on a project related to mucosal immunology and microbiome research. The ideal candidate will be motivated to learn and implement a variety of cutting-edge computational and experimental techniques in mucosal immunology, take responsibility for driving the project under the mentor's guidance. Plan and conduct the experiment, analyze the data and maintain a details notebook summarizing experiments and recording research data. Contribute to manuscript preparation, conference presentation and grant writing. Candidate will be conducting in vivo animal experiments, cell culture, flow cytometry and immunological assays (ie. Elisa and multiplex). Candidate must be willing to work both independently and within a collaborative research environment. A Ph.D. in immunology, cell biology, development biology, or microbiology is required.

The UCLA Center for Human Nutrition has been working closely with several multi-disciplinary teams investigating how the diet, gut microbiome interacts with host systems to regulate human health and disease.

The shared values of the DGSOM are expressed in the Cultural North Star, which was developed by members of our community and affirms our unswerving commitment to doing what's right, making things better, and being kind. These are the standards to which we hold ourselves, and one another. Please read more about this important DGSOM program at Cultural North Star.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications: A Ph.D. in immunology, cell biology, development biology or microbiology is required.

Preferred qualifications: Experience in working with intestinal tissues, intestinal organoids, primary human cells, animal models of intestinal inflammation and multiparameter flow cytometry is preferred. Strong track record of peer-reviewed publications.

Application Requirements

Document requirements:

• Curriculum Vitae – Your most recently updated C.V.
• UCLA Mission Statement – As the nation's premier public research university, UC's mission is the creation, dissemination, preservation and application of knowledge for the betterment of our global society. We have a particular responsibility to the people of California which we express in the excellence of the education we provide, the impact of the research we do, the comprehensive, life-saving medical services we provide, and the public service mission we are devoted to. The University of California promotes the social mobility of its students, equips them with the tools and experience that furthers their ambitions, and regards their accomplishments across the life span as evidence of the profoundly positive impact of higher education.

  The UCLA campus has expressed these goals in its strategic plan as follows:

  Deepen our engagement with Los Angeles Expand our reach as a global university Enhance our research and creative activities Elevate how we teach Become a more effective institution

  Prompt for candidates for recruitment:

  Reflecting on your personal and professional experiences, highlight your past contributions and future commitments to advancing UCLA's mission as embodied in the 2023-28 strategic plan. These accomplishments and ambitions may be discussed in the context of describing your teaching, scholarship, and service.

Reference requirements:

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

Please provide name and contact information for references.

About UCLA

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
• APM – 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Job Location

Los Angeles, CA