Postdoctoral Researcher

The IRACDA Program at the University of Kansas (KU) is accepting applications for postdoctoral scholarships. We are seeking scholars who are excited about a postdoctoral experience that combines both research and teaching/education.

The KU IRACDA (Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Awards) is a postdoctoral training program supported by NIH-NIGMS. We seek to prepare postdoctoral scholars for careers in academia by providing a mentored research experience and opportunities to gain skills in education and teaching. Scholars will spend ~75% of their time conducting biomedical research relevant to the NIGMS mission, and ~25% of their time on teaching-related activities.

Postdoctoral scholars will be mentored in research by a KU faculty member. Faculty in the following departments on the KU-Lawrence campus are affiliated with the KU IRACDA program: Molecular Biosciences, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacology & Toxicology, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, and Medicinal Chemistry. Additionally, faculty in the KU Cancer Center (some of whom are based at KU Medical Center in Kansas City) are also affiliated with the KU IRACDA. All these groups provide an excellent environment for research development in a range of biological and biomedical fields, and these mentored research experiences will be supplemented by skill-development workshops.

In addition, the KU IRACDA provides scholars with an opportunity to gain teaching skills via mentored teaching experiences at one of two partner institutions; Haskell Indians Nations University (based in Lawrence, KS) and Kansas City Kansas Community College.

Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents with no more than 2 years of postdoctoral training at the time of their appointment to the program. We strongly encourage applicants to identify a research mentor prior to applying (see links above), and the program directors can assist in this process. We have 3 open positions, each of which can be supported for up to 3 years. The anticipated start date is 5 January 2026 (but this is very flexible, particularly for candidates who wish to begin sooner).

1. A PhD in biology, chemistry, or a related discipline.
2. A first-author publication/preprint that shows your ability to initiate and execute a research project, as evidenced by application materials.
3. Demonstrated interest in a postdoctoral experience that will combine research and teaching/education, as evidenced by application materials.
4. Excellent communications skills, as evidenced by application materials.

NOTE: To be appointed at the Postdoctoral Researcher title, it is necessary to have the PhD in hand. Appointments made without a diploma or certified transcript indicating an earned doctorate are conditional hires and are appointed on an acting basis not to exceed 6-months.

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A complete online application will include the following:

1. A CV/resume
2. a description of your PhD research (2 pages maximum)
3. a description of your proposed research project at KU (1 page maximum)
4. a document that describes your academic career goals/interests, and that describes your interests in a career that integrates research and teaching (1 page maximum)
5. contact information for 3 academic references.

We strongly recommend applicants confirm a research mentor ahead of applying. In this case, 1 of the 3 referees should be the proposed mentor. (When obtaining reference letters on your behalf we will request that this individual confirm their interest in mentoring an IRACDA scholar, ask that they describe their current/past mentoring activities, and describe their active/pending funding.)
We will also accept applications from individuals who have yet to confirm a research mentor. In this instance, we request candidates provide the names of 2-4 potential mentors, and - following submission of the application - the KU IRACDA program directors will have these individuals review candidate application materials.

Only complete applications will be considered.

Application review begins Monday September 8, 2025, and will continue until a qualified pool of applicants are identified.

Stuart J Macdonald
Program Director, KU IRACDA
sjmac@ku.edu
(785) 864-5362

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Monday September 8, 2025

Monday January 5, 2026