Postdoctoral Researcher Position – Llorente Lab

UC San Diego; California (MO); On-site; USD 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

UC San Diego, within the Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher for the Llorente Lab. The role focuses on understanding intestinal homeostasis and gut–liver interactions, using mouse models and human samples to explore translational therapies for liver disease and substance use disorders.

The candidate will engage in cutting-edge omics approaches and collaborate across disciplines, with a strong emphasis on innovation and translational science.

Qualifications

• PhD in neuroscience, gastroenterology, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, pharmacy, immunology, or another biomedical science discipline.
• Experience with mouse models, bacteriophage therapy, FACS/flow cytometry, single‑cell multiomics, or spatial transcriptomics is advantageous.
• We seek highly motivated, innovative scientists with a strong record of productivity and translational interest.

Responsibilities

• Conduct NIH-funded research on gut–liver and gut–brain axes using preclinical models and patient-derived samples.
• Apply cutting-edge approaches such as metabolomics, metagenomics, single-cell sequencing, and spatial transcriptomics.
• Contribute to translational research goals and potential microbiome-targeted therapies.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and mentor junior researchers.

Skills

Microbiology & microbiome research

Biomedical research

Liver disease research

Education

PhD in neuroscience, gastroenterology, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, pharmacy, immunology, or another biomedical science discipline

Tools

Mouse models

FACS/flow cytometry

Single-cell multiomics

Spatial transcriptomics

Bacteriophage therapy

Job description

Postdoctoral Researcher Position – Llorente Lab

The Llorente Lab within the Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine at UC San Diego, is hiring a Postdoctoral Researcher to join our funded NIH research projects.

Our research focuses on understanding the mechanisms that regulate intestinal homeostasis, including interactions among the intestinal epithelium, microbiome, and immune system, and how these processes influence liver disease, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), as well as substance use disorders.

Our projects investigate the gut–liver axis and gut–vagus–brain axis using preclinical animal models and patient-derived samples. We employ cutting‑edge approaches, including metabolomics, metagenomics, single‑cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and intestinal and liver organoid cultures, to uncover mechanisms underlying disease and identify novel therapeutic strategies.

A major goal of our research is translational: to identify and develop innovative therapeutic approaches for liver disease and substance use disorders, including bacteriophage‑based therapies and other microbiome‑targeted interventions.

Qualifications

Applicants must have a PhD in neuroscience, gastroenterology, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, pharmacy, immunology, or another biomedical science discipline.

We particularly encourage applications from candidates with experience or strong interest in:

• Microbiology and microbiome research
• Biomedical research
• Liver disease research

Experience with mouse models, nodose ganglion isolation, bacteriophage therapy, FACS/flow cytometry, single‑cell multiomics, or spatial transcriptomics is advantageous.

The ideal candidate will be highly motivated, intellectually curious, creative, and passionate about science, with a strong record of research productivity and a desire to pursue innovative and translational research.

We look forward to hearing from enthusiastic and motivated scientists interested in advancing our understanding of the gut–liver and gut–brain axes and developing new therapeutic strategies for human disease.