Postdoctoral Research Position - Li Lab

Position Overview

Salary range: The salary range for this position is between $69,073-$82,836 depending on experience. The posted UC salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See Table [link] for reference.

Application Window

Open date: March 2, 2026
Most recent review date: Wednesday, Apr 1, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Final date: Monday, Mar 1, 2027 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Position Description

Postdoctoral Research Position
Position: Postdoctoral Scholar
Salary: Depends on experience
Starting date: July 1, 2026 (preferred)

Research Focus

The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of California, Irvine invites applicants for a Postdoctoral Scholar to join Dr. Han Li's laboratory of Metabolic Engineering and Synthetic Biology. This postdoctoral position is available in the area of Integrated Computational–Experimental Enzyme Engineering, focused on advancing biocatalysts through tightly coupled in silico design and high-throughput experimental validation.

• Sequence- and structure-based enzyme mining and design
• Homology-based discovery, SSN-guided mining, and ML-assisted sequence exploration
• Structure-guided active-site remodeling and conformational engineering
• De novo and semi-rational enzyme design
• Directed evolution theory and workflow development
• Library design strategies (focused, combinatorial, and machine-learning-guided)
• Evolutionary trajectory analysis and fitness landscape modeling
• Predictive algorithms integration and experimental iteration cycles
• High-throughput screening and selection platform development
• Microplate, droplet, cell-free, or growth-coupled systems
• UPLC, LC, and GC-MS based screening assay development
• Automation and data-driven optimization
• Design, synthesis, and interface biology with small molecules
• Enzyme kinetics characterization and mechanistic enzymology
• Biocatalytic process development and translation
• Cell-free and whole-cell systems
• Kinetic and thermodynamic analysis
• Scalability and industrial feasibility

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Computational Biology, or a related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in enzyme engineering, protein design, or related areas as closely related to the research areas mentioned above.
• Experience spanning both computational and experimental domains is preferred.
• Strong organization and communication skills.

Application Requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter
• Statement of Research (Optional)
• Reflective Teaching and Mentoring Statement - See our guidance for writing a reflective teaching statement . (Optional)

Reference Requirements

• 3 required (contact information only)

About UC Irvine

The University of California, Irvine 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 categories covered by the UC anti-discrimination policy .

Job location

Irvine, CA