Postdoctoral Position in Clinical Nutrition - Kulkarni Lab 2026-2027

University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA); Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 69,073 - 82,836; Full time

Job summary

The UCLA Center for Human Nutrition is seeking a full-time Postdoctoral Scholar to join Dr. Devesha Kulkarni's lab in the Division of Clinical Nutrition, Department of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. The role focuses on mucosal immunology and microbiome research within an interdisciplinary team.

The ideal candidate will work with mouse models, organoids, and multi-omics approaches, and contribute to manuscript preparation and grant writing under mentorship. A Ph.D.

Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in immunology, cell biology, development biology, or microbiology is required.
• Experience with intestinal tissues, intestinal organoids, primary human cells, animal models of intestinal inflammation, and multiparameter flow cytometry is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Plan and conduct experiments, analyze data and maintain a detailed notebook of experiments and results.
• Conduct in‑vivo animal experiments, cell culture, flow cytometry and immunological assays (e.g., ELISA and multiplex).
• Contribute to manuscript preparation, conference presentations and grant writing.

Skills

Intestinal tissues

Intestinal organoids

Primary human cells

Animal models of intestinal Inflamm‑ at

Multiparameter flow cytometry

Peer‑reviewed publications

Education

Ph.D. in immunology, cell biology, development biology, or microbiology

Job description

Position Overview

Salary range: See Table 23. A reasonable estimate for this position is $69,073-$82,836.

Application Window:

• Open date: July 1, 2026
• Next review date: Friday, Jul 31, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
• Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
• Final date: Friday, Oct 30, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
• Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position Description

The UCLA Center for Human Nutrition is seeking a full-time Postdoctoral Scholar to join the laboratory of Dr. Devesha Kulkarni in the Division of Clinical Nutrition, Department of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. The successful candidate will work as part of an interdisciplinary research team within the Department.

About the Team:

The focus of the Kulkarni Gut Lab is on immune responses at the intestinal barrier toward changing microbiota, both in the context of normal development and dysbiosis associated with diseases such as IBD. The Lab works extensively with mouse models, intestinal organoids, flow cytometry of mouse and human tissue specimens, single-cell and bulk RNA‑sequencing, and microbiome analysis. More information about the Lab and the research focus can be found at Kulkarni Gut Lab.

The candidate will be working on a project related to mucosal immunology and microbiome research.

• The ideal candidate will be motivated to learn and implement a variety of cutting‑edge computational and experimental techniques in mucosal immunology, and take responsibility for driving the project under the mentor’s guidance.
• Plan and conduct the experiment, analyze the data and maintain a details notebook summarizing experiments and recording research data.
• Contribute to manuscript preparation, conference presentation and grant writing.
• Candidate will be conducting in‑vivo animal experiments, cell culture, flow cytometry and immunological assays (e.g., ELISA and multiplex).
• Candidate must be willing to work both independently and within a collaborative research environment.
• A Ph.D. in immunology, cell biology, development biology, or microbiology is required.

The UCLA Center for Human Nutrition has been working closely with several multi‑disciplinary teams investigating how the diet, gut microbiome interacts with host systems to regulate human health and disease.

The shared values of the DGSOM are expressed in the Cultural North Star, which was developed by members of our community and affirms our unswerving commitment to doing what's right, making things better, and being kind. These are the standards to which we hold ourselves, and one another. Please read more about this important DGSOM program at Cultural North Star.

Qualifications

• Basic qualifications: A Ph.D. in immunology, cell biology, development biology, or microbiology is required.
• Preferred qualifications: Experience in working with intestinal tissues, intestinal organoids, primary human cells, animal models of intestinal inflammation, and multiparameter flow cytometry is preferred. Strong track record of peer‑reviewed publications.

Application Requirements

• Curriculum Vitae – Your most recently updated C.V.
• UCLA Mission Statement – Reflect on your personal and professional experiences, highlighting your past contributions and future commitments to advancing UCLA’s mission as embodied in the 2023‑28 strategic plan. Discuss these accomplishments in the context of teaching, scholarship, and service.

Reference requirements: 3‑5 references (contact information only) – Please provide name and contact information for references.

Apply link: https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF11058

Help contact: [e-mail]

Location

Los Angeles, CA

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law. As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.