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Join Our Team

The UC Davis Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics is currently hiring several positions. Please click on the links below for details.

Staff Positions

The UC Davis Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics is currently hiring several staff positions.  Please click on the links below for details.

  • Program Coordinator
  • The Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics is looking for a Program Coordinator to manage the operations of the institute.  Please click here to apply for the position.
  • Director of Medicinal Chemistry
  • The Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics will be announcing a search for a Director of Medicinal Chemistry to run the institute’s medicinal chemistry program.  This position will have PI status and will work closely with the institute’s Director, Associate Director, and Director of Pharmacology.  Please check back here for the formal posting soon.  The application materials will include:
    •     Cover Letter
    •     Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
    •     Statement of Research (Optional)
    •     Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion documented in the application file will be used to evaluate applicants. Visit https://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/faculty-equity-and-inclusion for guidelines about writing a statement and why one is requested. (Optional)
    •     References: 3-5 required (contact information only)
    In the meantime, please reach out to David E. Olson (deolson@ucdavis.edu) if you have any questions about the position.
  • Director of Pharmacology
  • The Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics will be announcing a search for a Director of Pharmacology to run the institute’s pharmacology program.  This position will have PI status and will work closely with the institute’s Director, Associate Director, and Director of Medicinal Chemistry.  Please check back here for the formal posting soon.  The application materials will include:
    Cover Letter
    Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
    Statement of Research (Optional)
    Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion documented in the application file will be used to evaluate applicants. Visit https://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/faculty-equity-and-inclusion for guidelines about writing a statement and why one is requested. (Optional)
    References: 3-5 required (contact information only)
    In the meantime, please reach out to David E. Olson (deolson@ucdavis.edu) if you have any questions about the position.


Postdoctoral Positions

The UC Davis Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics is currently hiring several postdoctoral researchers to study various aspects of the mechanisms of psychedelics as well as the development of novel neurotherapeutics.  Several of these positions will involve collaboration and/or joint mentorship with IPN faculty.  Please click on the links below for details:

  • Position 1: Postdoctoral Associate, Olson Lab
  • This NIDA funded project aims to identify modulators of the 5-HT2AR to serve as anti-addictive agents.  The position will involve the development of novel biosensor assays and high-throughput neuroplasticity assays as well as compound screening.  The ideal candidate will have expertise in cellular and molecular neurobiology with experience culturing primary rodent cortical neurons, cloning, and performing fluorescence microscopy studies.
    To apply, please email David Olson (deolson@ucdavis.edu) a cover letter describing the expertise you can contribute to the IPN, what you hope to learn from your postdoctoral experience, and what your ultimate career goals are.  Additionally, please provide a CV, summary of past research, and contact information for three references.
  • Position 2: Postdoctoral Associate, Olson Lab
  • This W. M. Keck funded project aims to develop novel biosensors for assessing the activity of psychedelics in vivo.  The position will involve cloning and screening new sensors in cells prior to their evaluation in vivo using fiber photometry.  The ideal candidate will have expertise in cellular and molecular neurobiology with additional experience performing survival surgeries and fiber photometry experiments.  Candidates whose expertise only partly overlaps with that required for this position are still encouraged to apply, assuming they are interested in learning the other techniques.  This postdoctoral position will benefit from collaboration with Lin Tian and interaction with members of her lab.
    To apply, please email David Olson (deolson@ucdavis.edu) a cover letter describing the expertise you can contribute to the IPN, what you hope to learn from your postdoctoral experience, and what your ultimate career goals are.  Additionally, please provide a CV, summary of past research, and contact information for three references.
  • Position 3: Postdoctoral Associate, Olson and Siegel Labs
  • This W. M. Keck funded project aims to develop novel enzymes for producing psychedelics and related compounds.  The ideal candidate will have expertise in computational biochemistry and enzymology.  The position will involve a combination of computational design of novel enzymes as well as heterologous expression, purification, and in vitro evaluation of the enzymes.  Candidates whose expertise only partly overlaps with that required for this position are still encouraged to apply, assuming they are interested in learning the other techniques.  This postdoctoral position will benefit from joint mentorship from David Olson and Justin Siegel as well as frequent interactions with members of both groups.
    To apply, please email David Olson (deolson@ucdavis.edu) and Justin Siegel (jbsiegel@ucdavis.edu) a cover letter describing the expertise you can contribute to the IPN, what you hope to learn from your postdoctoral experience, and what your ultimate career goals are.  Additionally, please provide a CV, summary of past research, and contact information for three references.
    The ideal skill set for this position includes:
    • Ph.D. in biophysics, computer science, computational chemistry, computational biology, or related field.
    • Experience working with Python is required, and experience with Jupyter notebooks and PyRosetta is preferred.
    • Experience working with SciKit, PyTorch, or other related ML/DL tools is preferred. 
    • Experience working with Cytoscape and related bioinformatics analytical tools is preferred.
    • Experience with molecular modeling, and the Rosetta Molecular Modeling Suite preferred
    • Experience expressing and purifying recombinant proteins from E. coli
    • Experience using common chemical separation equipment (LC and/or GC).
    • Experience running enzyme assays
  • Position 4: Postdoctoral Associate, Fiehn Lab
  • This W. M. Keck funded project aims to develop solid-phase microextraction techniques (SPME) for measuring endogenous psychedelics.  The ideal candidate will have expertise in analytical chemistry and metabolomics.  The position will involve close collaboration with behavioral neuroscientists in the Olson Lab and will have the opportunity to be involved in other projects measuring endogenous psychedelics in various tissue samples.
    To apply, please email Oliver Fiehn (ofiehn@ucdavis.edu) a cover letter describing the expertise you can contribute to the IPN, what you hope to learn from your postdoctoral experience, and what your ultimate career goals are.  Additionally, please provide a CV, summary of past research, and contact information for three references.