We are currently recruiting for two postdoctoral positions with flexible start dates.

Bioactive glycans and host immunity: Supported by the NIH Office of the Director, this project aims to build new chemical approaches to understand how microbial glycans interact with our immune system. Ideal candidates for this position will have experience and/or a strong interest in building their skill set in chemical biology, glycan isolation and characterization, high-throughput screening, and chemoproteomics.

Bioengineering and glycan production: Supported by the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, this project aims to exploit endogenous biosynthetic pathways to decipher biological functions of probiotic polysaccharides. Ideal candidates for this position will have experience and/or a strong interest in building their skill set in synthetic and chemical biology, genome engineering, flow cytometry, glycan-protein binding, and multiplex screening.

Postdoctoral candidates may apply by providing (1) their CV or NIH biosketch, (2) a one-page cover letter describing their current research interests and what they hope to work on in our lab, and (3) the contact information (email and phone number) of at least three references. Particular preference will be made for applicants with experience in organic synthesis, glycoscience, bioinformatics, immunology, high-throughput methods, or in vivo cancer models, but all well-qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. Candidates are encouraged to apply for independent funding before and during their first year in the lab.

We anticipate recruiting two Ph.D. students to join our laboratory in the 2026-2027 academic year and two Ph.D. students in the 2027-2028 academic year.

Prospective students may apply through the UCI Chemistry, Pharm Sci, or CMB Graduate Programs. Once admitted, candidates who are interested in rotating in our lab should contact Matt by email. Rotation students will be admitted through the Fall and Winter quarters. Prospective graduate students applying to UC Irvine are also encouraged to reach out with the CV and transcript.

Our lab welcomes undergraduate students who are interested in chemical biology, host-microbiota interactions, and cancer immunity. Undergraduates are expected to be integral members of the lab and should plan to commit 10-15 hours per week for at least one year. Students will be encouraged to network and present their projects through UCI’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.

Current incoming freshman through rising junior undergraduates can reach out to Matt about joining the lab. Interested candidates should send their CV, unofficial transcript, a brief (~100 word) description of prior research activities or lab experience, and a brief (~100 word) description of their plans after undergrad to griffin [at] uci.edu.

In general, our laboratory only hosts high school students over the summer due to time constraints. High school students are often encouraged to pursue bioinformatics and synthetic biology projects in our lab while shadowing lab members and helping with lab operations.

If interested, send your CV, transcript, and a brief summary (~100 words) of your interests in scientific research to Matt at griffin [at] uci.edu.

The lab currently does not have any openings for research scientists (post-postdoctoral levels) except for those who come with individual funding or sponsorship.

Visiting scientists are always welcome. For any questions, please reach out to Matt.