Postdoctoral Position in Digestive Diseases – Church Lab 2026-2027 Full-time

Postdoctoral Position in Digestive Diseases – Church Lab 2026-2027

Position overview

Salary range: See Table 23. A reasonable estimate for this position is $69,073- $79,881.

Application window

Open date: May 26, 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: Tuesday, Dec 1, 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 Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center and the Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience in the Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine at UCLA, are seeking full-time postdoctoral scholars for R01-funded projects studying the brain-gut microbiome mechanisms of action underlying stress-based disorders such as obesity and cognitive decline. The Centers are comprised of multidisciplinary teams conducting clinical, translational and basic research with human populations. The postdoctoral scholars will work directly with Dr. Arpana Church, and other faculty collaborators.

The projects use multimodal MRI sequences combined with measures of the gut microbiome and dimensional neuropsychiatric, behavioral and/or diet measures (i.e., tasks, questionnaires, heart rate variability, digital phenotyping, cognitive, diet, and clinical measures) to study structural and functional circuit dynamics in various diseases. There will be opportunities to develop translational and clinical research skills (e.g., target discovery, individualized treatment development and biomarker/predictor development), in addition to analysis methods and pipelines to address basic and pathophysiological systems biology questions. There will be many opportunities to lead high impact publications starting on day one. We will be working with existing unique datasets in addition to creating new ones. Extensive mentorship will be provided to facilitate the transition to an independent research career.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Model complex datasets including imaging, gut microbiome, inflammation, metabolic markers, behavioral, diet, and clinical data.
2. Coordinate the acquisition of data working with a team of research assistants.
3. Be able to contribute to grants and publish manuscripts.

Qualifications:

1. Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Psychology, Microbiome/Molecular Biology, Engineering, Epidemiology, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science or a related field.
2. Strong proficiency and independence with large data analysis platforms (such as neuroimaging or microbiome platforms), multivariate modeling strategies and network connectivity analyses.
3. Established quantitative and statistical skills, including strong programming skills and comfort with diverse computing environments. Comfortable using R and/or Python.
4. A demonstrated capacity to write first author publications.
5. Great writing skills, motivated and driven to publish.

Additional Qualifications:

1. Background in bioinformatics systems, connectomics network analysis and machine learning modeling confer a very significant advantage.

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 Neuroscience, Psychology, Microbiome/Molecular Biology, Engineering, Epidemiology, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science or a related field is required.

Preferred qualifications: The following qualifications are preferred: • Background in bioinformatics systems, connectomics network analysis and machine learning modeling • Strong proficiency and independence with large data analysis platforms (such as neuroimaging or microbiome platforms), multivariate modeling strategies and network connectivity analyses. • Established quantitative and statistical skills, including strong programming skills and comfort with diverse computing environments. Comfortable using R and/or Python. • A demonstrated capacity to write first author publications. • Great writing skills, motivated and driven to publish.

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 the state 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: None

Apply link: [Please click the Apply button for the link or address]

Help contact: kgray@mednet.ucla.edu

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