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
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.
Research Focus
The successful candidate will contribute to an interdisciplinary research program integrating:
- 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
- Integration of predictive algorithms with 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
The program emphasizes mechanistically informed enzyme engineering, quantitative design principles, and translational relevance. We value candidates who are intellectually rigorous and interested in bridging theory, AI/ML tools, and state-of-the-art computational protein design methods with experimental implementation.
Qualifications
Required:
- 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
Document 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 . As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct. “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
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Job location: Irvine, CA