Postdoctoral Associate - Bioengineering

About Rice

Boasting a 300‑acre tree‑lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6‑to‑1 undergraduate student‑to‑faculty ratio and a residential college system that supports students intellectually, emotionally, and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lecture series, courses and student government. The university is highly ranked for quality of life and value among private institutions.

The Department of Bioengineering at Rice University (Houston, TX) seeks a postdoctoral associate working in immunology for novel vaccine development. The McHugh Lab focuses on translational drug delivery platforms that engage the immune system to fight disease, leveraging material properties and advanced manufacturing techniques. The postdoctoral fellow will co‑lead an interdisciplinary project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that employs a controlled‑release vaccine delivery platform, creating combination vaccines with otherwise incompatible components.

The postdoctoral fellow will evaluate vaccine stability and release in vitro, plan and perform in vivo experiments to characterize the immune response to multiple antigens, direct the work of a research technician, and collaborate with a postdoc specializing in new material development for the PULSED platform.

• This position is a one‑year term‑limited, grant‑funded role with an expectation of renewal beyond the initial appointment period with satisfactory performance.
• Funding has been secured through August 2027, with likely continuation beyond that date.
• The position is available immediately; the start date is flexible and may be delayed per applicant needs.
• The posting will remain open until filled, with an expected end date of May 2026.

The ideal candidate is a creative, early‑career scientist with training in immunology and an interest in immunological characterization techniques. Prior experience with animal models is strongly preferred. The candidate should be willing to complete training and certifications, possess strong written and oral communication skills, and have an inclination toward building a record of publications and conference presentations. The postdoc will spend part of their time supporting and training junior lab members and assisting with research proposal preparation, while receiving mentorship for postdoctoral fellowship applications and, if desired, guidance on academic career advancement.

This position is exclusively on‑site and requires all duties to be performed in person at Rice University. Work arrangements may change in accordance with Rice policy 440.

Salary will align with NIH postdoctoral stipend guidelines and be commensurate with experience. Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime. This role is funded by a grant; continued employment depends on funding renewal.

• Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in immunology, biomedical engineering, bioengineering, vaccinology, biology, or related fields.
• No additional experience beyond graduate research is required.
• Skills:
  • Foundational training in humoral and cellular immune characterization assays
  • Familiarity with flow cytometry techniques
  • Familiarity with ELISA‑based assays
  • Exposure to in vivo protocol development and execution, with willingness to complete required training
  • Strong written and oral communication skills, including manuscript preparation or contribution
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a research team

• Experience or strong interest in mentoring early‑career trainees.
• Prior exposure to or interest in drug or vaccine delivery approaches.
• Demonstrated interest in translational research and applying scientific findings to real‑world problems.

• Develop and evaluate in vitro antigen stability using ELISA, with guidance from the PI.
• Design and execute in vivo studies for controlled‑release vaccine formulations.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret…