Postdoctoral Scholar Lung Injury and Transplant Biology at UCSF Full-time

The Calabrese Lab within the UCSF Lung Transplant Research group is recruiting a postdoctoral fellow motivated to tackle fundamental, mechanistic questions in transplant immunology and airway biology with clear paths to clinical translation. Lung transplantation creates a uniquely informative human setting with a defined mismatch between host and donor genetics plus predictable peri-transplant injury and immune perturbations that enable high-impact discovery with immediate relevance to patient outcomes.

Scientific environment

Dr. Calabrese runs an established lab within the Lung Transplant Research group that is well supported through a variety of funding mechanisms. The lab’s research centers on innate immune inflammation in lung transplant outcomes, combining mouse models and human observational samples to understand primary graft dysfunction (PGD), acute lung injury, antibody-mediated rejection, and chronic lung allograft dysfunction, with the goal of improving post-transplant outcomes. You’ll also be embedded in the broader UCSF immunology ecosystem, including robust immunology and department of medicine groups positioned to accelerate immune-focused discovery across diseases.  

Research areas in the Calabrese Lab

Projects may include (tailored to candidate interests and strengths):

• NK cell immunology in lung transplantation and lung injury (e.g., activation pathways, receptor–ligand biology, trafficking, and interactions with airway compartments).
• Cytomegalovirus infection and reactivation in the lung
• Airway/epithelial cell biology and mechanisms of barrier injury and repair relevant to PGD and other transplant-related injuries.
• Mechanistic studies and translational work related to Cystic Fibrosis and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) within the lab’s broader lung injury portfolio.
• Opportunities to leverage single-cell genomics and advanced profiling to build an independent research niche.

Training and methods you can gain

This role is designed to support strong career development and increasing independence, with opportunities to master:

• Cutting-edge immunology and airway biology approaches
• Genomics and single-cell profiling  
• Metagenomic or microbial community profiling approaches where relevant to airway disease and transplant outcomes
• Collaborative, team-science research  

What you’ll do

• Lead and execute an independent, hypothesis-driven project  
• Design experiments integrating mouse models and human clinical samples
• Present findings in lab meetings, seminars, and conferences; contribute to manuscripts and grants
• Work closely with collaborating basic science and clinical teams in the UCSF lung research ecosystem

Job requirements

• MD or PhD in immunology or life sciences  
• Hands-on experience with cell culture, molecular biology, and flow cytometry
• Bioinformatics interest: experience in or willingness to learn R
• Strong communication skills and comfort working in collaborative, cross-disciplinary teams
• Willingness to work with mouse models and human clinical samples
• Detail-oriented, organized, and independent

How to apply

Please submit:

1. CV
2. Brief cover letter describing research interests and fit (½–1 page)
3. Optional: 1-page research statement or a representative figure/paper preprint

Tagged as: Life Sciences