Job Description

The School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy Practice at Chapman University, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Pharmaceutical Sciences, beginning October 2025.

Chapman University has gained national recognition for its commitment to excellence through innovative research and teaching. Located on the Chapman University Rinker Health Science Campus in Irvine, California, CUSP offers a professional PharmD program and MS and PhD programs in Pharmaceutical Sciences. CUSP currently employs 47 full-time faculty with research interests in drug discovery and development, pharmacology, structural biology, immunology, drug delivery, pharmacodynamics, and translational & clinical studies. Chapman University has made significant infrastructure investments to enhance biomedical and pharmaceutical research programs at CUSP. The new facilities consist of state-of-the-art research laboratories, vivarium, core facilities, and equipment. More information about CUSP is available at http://www.chapman.edu/pharmacy

Chapman University is a nationally ranked, R2 Carnegie Classified, private institution offering traditional undergraduate and graduate programs in the heart of Orange County, one of Southern California’s most diverse and vibrant regions. Chapman’s campuses are home to nearly 10,000 students representing 50 states, three territories, and 87 countries. The 11 schools and colleges of Chapman, including Chapman School of Pharmacy, offer 65 bachelors’, 53 masters’, and six doctoral programs, along with nearly 60 minors and 17 accelerated and bridge programs. Classes are taught by more than 1,100 dedicated faculty members who are leaders in their fields, including Nobel Prize recipients, MacArthur Fellows, National Medal of Science honorees, former U.S. Supreme Court clerks, and Emmy, Grammy, and Academy Award winners.

The postdoctoral fellow will be working in Dr. Yang’s lab, which studies the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying tumor development and immune evasion, with the goal of developing new therapies for melanoma and other cancer types. The lab is currently supported by multiple grants from NIH, Merck, and other sources to support these projects.

The fellow will provide support to the principal investigator and lead a project that integrates a variety of research approaches, including CRISPR-based functional genomics, molecular biology, and immunology, to develop novel therapeutic strategies for melanoma.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Plan, design, and conduct highly technical and complex research experiments independently and in consultation with the supervisor.
• Analyze research data and provide interpretations and troubleshooting
• Contribute to the development of research documentation for publication and/or presentations
• Maintain full and clear records of experiment data and images
• Mentor students in the lab in collaboration with the supervisor, and assist with lab operations, ordering, and safety compliance
• Collaborate with internal and external collaborators

The lab is highly collaborative, and there are many additional opportunities available on campus or within our laboratory for training in pharmaceutical sciences, translational, and clinical studies. Learn more about our research focus and publications at https://www.chapman.edu/our-faculty/sun-yang.aspx

Qualifications

Required

• A Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Molecular Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a closely related field is required.
• Demonstrated publication track record. Competitive applicants will have at least one high-quality, first-author publication.
• Highly motivated individual who thinks independently but also enjoys working in a dynamic and highly collaborative team.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional Organizational and time management skills.

Preferred

• Experience in student mentorship and good leadership skills.
• Experience in viral vector design, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, molecular cloning, qPCR, protein biochemistry, flow cytometry, and advanced microscopy.
• Experience using cell lines, mouse models, and human organoids

Application Instructions

Qualified candidates are invited to electronically submit the following:

1. Letter of application: Please describe your prior experience and future goals, and address how you think you can contribute to the overall research direction of the lab.
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Three references with contact information
4. Reprints of publications or other examples of scholarly work

Inquiries can be directed to the Search Committee Chair, Sun Yang (syang@chapman.edu), and use “Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Pharmaceutical Sciences” as the email subject line.

Application reviews will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Successful completion of a background check is required for the final candidate. The salary for this position is $68,640. Salary is competitive and will be commensurate with experience. This position is contingent on final budget approval.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Chapman University is an equal opportunity employer that provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless of their protected characteristics. All qualified applicants and employees are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.