UC Irvine Postdoctoral and Project Scientist Openings 2026–27

Scope and status

This is a UC Irvine guide. Other University of California campuses use their own recruitment pages and calls.

Verified open recruitment examples

Search the job numbers below in UCI Recruit. This is a selected list, not the complete vacancy inventory. All times listed are Pacific Time.

Goulding Lab: a defined research project

This structural-biology role uses single-particle cryo-EM to investigate bacterial competition, in collaboration with the Hayes Lab at UC Santa Barbara. It requires cryo-EM experience, protein expression/purification and relevant software skills. A related PhD or final-stage doctoral status is accepted. The initial appointment is two years, with a negotiable anticipated January 2027 start.

The advertised annual salary range is US$71,491–85,736, linked to experience and UC scales. This is not a take-home estimate. Required materials are a CV, project-focused cover letter and three reference contacts; research and reflective teaching/mentoring statements are optional.

Review dates and final deadlines serve different purposes

The reviewed pool records say applications received after the review date are considered only if positions remain unfilled. A portal accepting applications until June does not mean a lab will wait until then to hire.

CareerAidHub advice: prioritise a suitable recruitment with an upcoming review date. For a pool whose review date has passed, check current availability with the department while following the official application route.

Eligibility and documents differ by recruitment

The Developmental and Cell Biology postdoc and Project Scientist pools require a current CV and three-to-five reference contacts. Cover letters and research statements are optional in their application checklists. Their basic-qualification fields say they are accepting all applicants; this should not be read as a promise of appointment without a role-specific assessment.

The Computer Science pool requires a doctorate in Computer Science or a related field at application. Its appointments depend on individual investigators’ external funding and research contracts. The record states an initial two-year appointment, a negotiable start and a five-year total postdoctoral-service limit, including service elsewhere. It requests a CV and three reference contacts; a cover letter and research statement are optional.

Tissue engineering: upcoming review on 16 November

JPF10418 seeks a PhD in biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering or biology, with relevant research experience. Areas include biomaterials, immunoengineering, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal engineering, neuroengineering, spatial cell biology, and urinary or gastrointestinal engineering.

This is a funding-dependent recruitment for anticipated openings. It advertises an initial two-year appointment and an annual salary estimate of US$71,491–76,881. Required materials are a CV, cover letter and two reference contacts. Confidential letters are requested later for candidates under serious consideration.

Clean energy and materials research

JPF10200 covers energy research such as electrochemistry, combustion, fuel cells, gas turbines and smart grids. It lists relevant engineering PhDs; its basic-qualification field specifies Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or a related field. Confirm your degree’s fit against both sections.

JPF10325 requires a Materials Science and Engineering PhD or related qualification. Its research scope includes manufacturing, characterisation, biomaterials, energy materials, structural materials, modelling and nanoscale materials.

Both recruitments depend on external funding and describe initial two-year appointments. Each requires a CV, cover letter and three-to-five reference contacts; research and teaching statements are optional. Their stated five-year total postdoctoral-service limits include time at other institutions.

Pay and appointment terms

Do not apply one salary range to all titles. Postdoctoral and Project Scientist records use different scales, and some older advertisements link to later scale updates. Confirm the current rate, appointment percentage, rank, step, benefits and duration with the hiring unit before accepting an offer.

How to apply through UCI Recruit

1. Open the official portal at the end of this guide.
2. Search by job number, department, title or research keyword.
3. Read the complete record, including basic qualifications and document requirements.
4. Use the recruitment’s application control and complete the requested materials.
5. Check whether the record needs reference contacts, letters or another form of evidence.
6. Submit before the relevant review date where possible, and save the acknowledgement.

CareerAidHub editorial guidance: show the connection between the project and your methods. Describe your own contribution to selected papers or research tasks. Keep optional statements concise and relevant; do not present proposed work as completed research.

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