Research Scholar (Postdoctoral Fellowship)

Ncire•San Francisco, CA

21h

About The Position

Dr. Kristine Yaffe and the SFVA/UCSF Center of Population Brain Health are recruiting for an advanced two-year postdoctoral fellowship in data science applications to Alzheimer disease and Alzheimer disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD) and brain health. Potential application areas include bioinformatics, big data, genetic epidemiology, prognostic models, and machine learning. The fellowship is associated with the Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center at the San Francisco VA Health Care System (MIRECC; VISN 21) and affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). It is funded by the Office of Academic Affiliations, Department of Veterans Affairs. The program’s primary goal is to train fellows with a doctoral degree in a quantitative field to become skilled investigators advancing understanding of AD/ADRD and addressing challenges in cognitive and brain health research. Over the two-year program, fellows receive training in bioinformatic concepts and computational methods and have opportunities to develop novel approaches and tools for analyzing AD/ADRD and brain health data. The successful candidate will work with large-scale datasets to investigate risk and resilience factors for brain health, the AD/ADRD exposome across the life course, and mechanisms of AD/ADRD development. Fellows drive an original research agenda while developing the skills and training needed to become independent investigators. Under the guidance of Fellowship Director Dr. Kristine Yaffe, the fellow may collaborate with investigators and participate in didactic sessions. Additional faculty mentors are affiliated with SFVAHCS services for Mental Health, Medicine, Neurology, and Radiology; the UCSF/SFVAHCS Center for Population Brain Health; UCSF departments and institutes in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Neurology, Epidemiology/Biostatistics, Precision Medicine, Neuroscience, the Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, and the Global Brain Health Institute. The multidisciplinary team conducts population-based research to identify risk and protective factors for AD/ADRD, cognitive aging, and brain health, and to optimize cognitive and brain health in aging. Faculty expertise spans epidemiology, neurology, and psychiatry. To apply, complete the UltiPro application and email a letter of interest detailing research experience, interests, and career goals; a CV; and three letters of recommendation to Tina Hoang, Administrative Assistant, at [email protected]. The application deadline is November 15, 2026. Candidates must complete SFVA onboarding in addition to NCIRE onboarding. SFVA onboarding requires a federal background check, occupational health clearance, vaccines and immunizations, and drug testing for certain positions. Drug testing may include marijuana screening; failure to pass required testing disqualifies candidates from employment. Access to U.S. Government research under the Veterans Administration is required. Under VA regulations, qualified U.S. citizens will be selected over other individuals eligible to work in the United States; other eligible candidates may be considered if no qualified U.S. citizens apply. The base wage range is $70,304.00–$79,639.96 per year. Actual compensation will take into account relevant, nondiscriminatory business factors, including geographic location, job-related experience, knowledge, skills, education, and internal equity. A successful candidate may also be eligible for additional compensation, including bonuses. NCIRE is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Requirements

Doctoral degree in epidemiology, statistical genetics, bioinformatics, biostatistics, computer science, data science, or a similar quantitative field.
Complete SFVA onboarding requirements, including a federal background check, occupational health clearance, vaccines and immunizations, and drug testing where required.
Pass required drug testing for positions subject to testing.
Meet Veterans Administration access requirements; qualified U.S. citizens are selected over other eligible candidates, with other candidates considered if no qualified U.S. citizens apply.

Responsibilities

Work with large-scale datasets to investigate brain-health risk and resilience factors, the AD/ADRD exposome across the life course, and mechanisms of AD/ADRD development.
Drive an original research agenda focused on AD/ADRD and brain health.
Develop skills and training to become an independent investigator.
Collaborate with investigators and participate in didactic sessions.
Complete required SFVA and NCIRE onboarding processes.