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Postdoctoral Scholar in the Tarvin Lab, Department of Integrative Biology and Museum of Vertebrate Zoology University of California, Berkeley in United States
Degree Level
Postdoc
Field of study
Physiology
Funding
NSF-funded project; postdoctoral salary follows UC postdoc salary scales with a current minimum range of $71,491-$79,727 per year; two-year appointment with possibility of extension based on performance and funding availability.
Deadline
Nov 15, 2026
Country
United States
University
University of California, Berkeley
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About this position
A postdoctoral scholar position is available in the Tarvin Lab in the Department of Integrative Biology and the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the University of California, Berkeley. The project focuses on the genetic and physiological basis of kleptocnidy in nudibranch mollusks, a striking biological process in which these animals steal and store microscopic stinging structures (nematocysts) from their prey.
The postdoc will work in a collaborative research environment that connects Berkeley’s Department of Integrative Biology with the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, alongside research on animal adaptations to naturally occurring toxins. The position is part of an NSF-funded project in collaboration with Jessica Goodheart at the American Museum of Natural History. The central goal is to identify the molecular processes underlying kleptocnidy in Californian nudibranchs, with a particular interest in whether this trait evolved through specialization of phagocytosis, an ancient cellular process involved in immune defense and intracellular digestion.
The selected scholar will conduct original research using RNA-sequencing and pharmacological inhibition assays, and the role also includes animal husbandry, genomics, molecular biology, physiology, and field work in the United States. The postdoc will be expected to publish the results in peer-reviewed journals and present findings at scientific meetings and to broader audiences. The project offers room to develop new research directions within the lab’s broader interests in toxin biology, evolutionary biology, and animal adaptation.
Funding details
NSF-funded project; postdoctoral salary follows UC postdoc salary scales with a current minimum range of $71,491-$79,727 per year; two-year appointment with possibility of extension based on performance and funding availability.
What's required
Applicants must have a PhD (or equivalent international degree) by the start date. At the time of application, a PhD or enrollment in a PhD program is required. Applicants must have no more than three years of post-degree research experience by the start date. Preferred qualifications include a track record of research productivity as evidenced by first-author publications, demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and independently, experience in experimental design, physiology and/or genomics, willingness to work with live animals in the lab and field, and familiarity with nudibranch mollusks or other marine invertebrates.
How to apply
Apply through the UC Berkeley recruitment portal using the provided application link. Submit a current CV, cover letter, and contact information for three references. For full consideration, apply by the review date.
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Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.