Postdoctoral Associate- Dr. Yanjun Li Lab

University of Florida; Gainesville (FL); On-site; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement options

Paid leave

Job summary

The University of Florida invites applications for a Postdoctoral Associate in the Yanjun Li Lab on AI-driven drug discovery and computational chemistry. The role will involve developing deep learning algorithms and applying computational methods to small-molecule drug design at UF's Main Campus in Gainesville.

The successful candidate will lead algorithm development, assist data analysis, and contribute to publications, grants, and presentations while coordinating with a multi-faculty team.

Qualifications

• Recent Ph.D. in CS, chemistry, ECE, data science, informatics, or related field.
• Experience in AI-driven drug discovery or computational chemistry preferred.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and optimization of AI and/or computational chemistry algorithms for molecule design and interaction modeling.
• Support computational modeling and data analysis for ongoing studies.
• Prepare and write research papers, presentations, and grant proposals.
• Coordinate research progress with a multi-faculty team.

Skills

AI-driven drug discovery

Deep learning

Computational chemistry

Data analysis

Education

Ph.D. in computer science, computational chemistry, electrical and computer engineering, data science, informatics, or related field

Tools

Python

TensorFlow

PyTorch

RDKit

Job description

Postdoctoral Associate- Dr. Yanjun Li Lab

Job No: 539075

Work Type: Full Time

Location: Main Campus (Gainesville, FL)

Categories: Computer Science, Grant or Research Administration, Artificial Intelligence, Physical/Mathematical Sciences

Department: 32030000 - PH-MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY

Job Description

Classification Title: Postdoctoral Associate

Classification Minimum Requirements: A recent Ph.D. degree or equivalent international degree in computer science, computational chemistry, electrical and computer engineering, data science, informatics, biomedical engineering, or a related field.

A Postdoctoral Associate position in AI-driven drug discovery and/or computational chemistry is available in the lab of Dr. Yanjun Li in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry or Department of Computer and Information Science and Engineering at the University of Florida. The postdoctoral associate will work both independently and collaboratively to develop and apply novel deep learning algorithms and/or computational chemistry methods for small-molecule drug discovery targeting RNA or proteins. More details can be found: https://yanjun-li.com.html. Additional duties of the role will include, but are not limited to:

• Leading the development and optimization of the AI and/or computational chemistry algorithms for molecule design and optimization, and molecular interaction modeling;
• Supporting computational modeling and data analysis for the ongoing research studies;
• Preparing and writing research papers, presentations, grant proposals, etc.;
• Effectively coordinating research progresses with other members of a multi-faculty team regularly;

Expected Salary: Commensurate with Education and Experience

Employment Benefits include

• Health Insurance: UF participates in state- and university-sponsored benefits programs for individuals, families and domestic partners, and offers voluntary insurance that includes vision, dental, long-term disability and more.
• Retirement Options: You may be eligible to participate in the FICA Alternative Plan and other deferred retirement plans.
• Leave: Full-time post-doctoral associates earn paid leave bi-weekly.
• To learn more visit: hr.ufl.edu/benefits

Required Qualifications

A recent Ph.D. degree or equivalent international degree in computer science, computational chemistry, electrical and computer engineering, data science, informatics, biomedical engineering, or a related field.

Preferred

• Demonstrated expertise in AI-driven drug discovery, machine and deep learning, computational chemistry, computational biology, or bioinformatics research
• Self-motivation and independence
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Being able to multi-task with multiple projects and keep pace in a dynamic research environment.

Our Commitment

The University of Florida is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Hiring is contingent on eligibility to work in the U.S. The University of Florida is a public institution and is subject to all requirements under Florida Sunshine and Public Record laws. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or visit Accessibility at UF.

Applications Close: 01 November 2026