Postdoctoral Associate - Bioengineering

Rice University • Houston, TX

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The McHugh Lab in the Departments of Bioengineering and Chemistry at Rice University (Houston, TX) seeks to hire a postdoctoral associate working in the area of chemistry to develop novel materials for controlled vaccine delivery. At a high level, the McHugh Lab is focused on the development of translational drug delivery platforms with the potential to address a variety of conditions ranging from prophylaxis for infectious diseases to cancer therapies. These bespoke delivery systems often leverage a combination of material properties and advanced manufacturing techniques and engage the immune system to fight disease. The postdoctoral fellow selected for this position will co-lead an interdisciplinary project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that aims to employ a controlled-release vaccine delivery platform to create combination vaccines with otherwise incompatible vaccines. Specifically, we aim to encapsulate a next-generation polio vaccine inside particles fabricated using the Particles Uniformly Liquified and Sealed to Encapsulate Drug (PULSED) platform to offset the timing of release from a co-delivered soluble vaccine to prevent immunological interference.

Due to its location at the boundary between Rice University and the Texas Medical Center—the largest medical center in the world—the lab is uniquely positioned to advance its technologies towards the clinic with active collaborations with clinician-scientists at MD Anderson Cancer Center, the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Methodist, and Texas Heart Institute.

This position is a one-year term-limited position funded by a grant with the expectation of renewal beyond the initial appointment period with satisfactory performance. Funding for this project has been secured through August 2027, and funds to support continued employment beyond that date will likely be available. This position is available immediately; however, the start date is flexible and could be delayed based on the needs of the applicant. This position will remain open until filled, with an expected posting end date of May 2026.

The ideal candidate will be a creative, highly motivated early-career scientist with training in chemistry, materials science, drug delivery, and/or polymer science. The candidate should demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills and an interest in building a record of publications and conference presentations. As a senior member of the lab, the postdoc will spend a small portion of their time supporting and training junior lab members and assisting with the preparation of research proposals. In turn, they will receive one-on-one mentorship from the PI, support for postdoctoral fellowship applications, and, if desired, guidance on applying for faculty positions in academia.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or other doctoral degree in chemistry, biomedical engineering, bioengineering, materials science, chemical engineering, or related fields
• No additional experience beyond graduate research is required
• Foundational training in polymer synthesis and related analytical techniques
• Experience in experimental design and data analysis gained through research training
• Experience conducting literature reviews and synthesizing prior work into testable hypotheses or experimental plans
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including experience preparing and submitting manuscripts
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a research team

Nice To Haves

• Experience mentoring early-career trainees (e.g., undergraduate or graduate students, junior staff)
• Familiarity with micro-/nanofabrication and/or 3D printing techniques
• Experience working with animal models in a research setting
• Demonstrated interest in translational research and applying lab findings toward real-world impact

Responsibilities

• Synthesizing and characterizing biodegradable polymers
• Fabricating polymeric microdevices
• Assessing the stability and release of encapsulated vaccines
• Directing the work of a research technician working on the project
• Collaborating with a postdoc specializing in immunology
• Engineers delivery technologies by manipulating polymer properties and/or microstructure
• Designs and performs experiments; collects, analyzes, and interprets data
• Contributes to publishing research papers and presenting findings at national and international conferences
• Mentors junior research team members, including graduate and undergraduate students
• Assists with proposal development to obtain and sustain research funding
• Supports project management, progress reporting, and collaboration across disciplines
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Benefits

• Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools.
• Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.
• Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree