Postdoctoral Research Associate

Online applications must be received before 11:59pm on:
January 4, 2026
If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.

Available Title(s):
306-YN_FACULTY - Postdoctoral Research Associate

Business Title:
Postdoctoral Research Associate

Employee Type:
Faculty (+) (Fixed Term)

Position Term:
12 Month

Position Details:

The Opportunity:

The Sharma Lab (Translational Nanomedicines Research Laboratory webpage) in Department of Chemistry at Washington State University (WSU) invites applications for a full-time, twelve-month, fixed-term postdoctoral research associate appointment in Pullman, WA, with a specialty in the in the areas of nanomedicine, targeted drug delivery, and polymer/dendrimer chemistry. The Sharma lab is developing rationally designed, smart, clinically translatable novel cell-targeted nanotechnologies for target-specific drug/gene delivery and imaging applications to help diagnose and treat unmet medical problems in the areas of brain and eye diseases, and cancer.

We are seeking a highly motivated scientist to join our dynamic, multidisciplinary research team. The ideal candidate will bring strong expertise in polymer/dendrimer synthetic approaches, linker chemistry, conjugation techniques, drug release studies, nanomaterial synthesis, purification, and characterization. The successful candidate will conduct independent research while thriving in a collaborative environment, also contributing to manuscript preparation, and support grant writing.

This position offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of translational science and innovation, tackling impactful biomedical challenges with access to state-of-the-art facilities

This 12-month position is renewable on yearly basis for up to an additional 2 years. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will begin the appointment on November 1, 2025. Renewal depends on satisfactory performance, the continued need for the position, and funding continuation.

Job duties:

• Design, synthesize, and characterize polymer and dendrimer-based nanomaterials for targeted drug, and gene delivery.
  
• Develop and optimize linker chemistries and conjugation strategies for attaching therapeutics, targeting ligands, and imaging probes to nanocarriers.
  
• Conduct drug release, stability, and degradation studies under physiologically relevant conditions.
  
• Purify and characterize nanomaterials using HPLC, SEC, NMR, FTIR, UV-Vis, fluorescence spectroscopy, MALDI-TOF, and DLS/zeta potential analysis.
  
• Collaborate with biology team members to translate chemical constructs into in vitro and in vivo evaluation pipelines.
  
• Maintain meticulous records of experimental procedures, data, and analytical results in electronic laboratory notebooks.
  
• Analyze data, interpret findings, and contribute to manuscript writing, conference presentations, and grant applications.
  
• Mentor and train graduate and undergraduate researchers in synthetic chemistry techniques and characterization methods.
  
• Stay current with advances in nanomedicine, polymer chemistry, and click chemistry relevant to the lab's research directions.
  
• Adhere to laboratory safety protocols and ensure compliance with university and federal regulations.
  
• Perform other related duties as assigned to support the lab's research and translational objectives.
  

Additional Information:

Annual Salary: $55,000 - $60,000 | Commensurate with experience and qualifications | In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.

Benefits: WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation and optional supplemental retirement accounts. For a more detailed summary of benefits offered by WSU for Faculty please review the summary of benefits for WSU Faculty and Total Compensation

Required Qualifications:

• Successful candidates must possess a PhD in Chemistry or a related field and be able to work independently with high self-motivation.
  
• Experience in modern purification and characterization techniques for small molecules and macromolecules.
  
• Experience with nanoparticle uptake and efficacy studies in cells, and/or in vivo models is a plus.
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior research experience in polymer/dendrimer synthetic approaches and drug conjugation, carbohydrate chemistry, bioconjugation chemistry, and/or hydrogels.
  

About Pullman:

Washington State University, a land grant, multiple-campus Research 1 institution. This position will serve on the Pullman campus, which has an enrollment of around 20,000 students and is located in Southeastern Washington on the homelands of the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) Tribe and Palus people. Located 80 miles south of metropolitan Spokane, Pullman is also a quick drive away from the scenic Idaho panhandle and Moscow Mountain. The rolling hills of the Palouse offer a wide range of activities and a true four-season climate. The area provides ample opportunity to enjoy the cultural and academic hub of both Washington State University and the University of Idaho, in the neighboring town of Moscow, Idaho. For more information about the region, please see https://pullmanchamber.com.

About College of Arts and Sciences:

Encompassing more than 19 departments, schools, and programs, and 19 centers, institutes, museums, and research stations across five campuses statewide, the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) is the heart of WSU. Together over 700 CAS faculty and staff deliver more than 50% of WSU's total undergraduate and graduate instruction, including the vast majority of WSU's core curriculum. We drive disciplinary and transdisciplinary research, scholarship, and creative activities across the arts, humanities, social sciences, sciences and mathematics. The College of Arts & Sciences seeks to lead a reimagining of WSU's land-grant mission for the 21st century, expanding the boundaries of creativity and discovery while simultaneously recognizing more completely our obligations to the State and the communities we serve. For more about the College of Arts & Sciences at WSU, please see https://cas.wsu.edu.

About Department of Chemistry:

The Department of Chemistry at Washington State University is a vibrant, research-intensive unit with internationally recognized strengths in areas such as radiochemistry, materials chemistry, and chemical biology. With a strong commitment to graduate mentorship and a large undergraduate instructional footprint, the department plays a central role in advancing the university's land-grant mission through cutting-edge research, teaching, and statewide collaboration.

About Campus:

WSU acknowledges that its locations statewide are on the homelands of Native American peoples, who have lived in this region and have been caretakers of the land from time immemorial. The Morrill Act of 1862 established our land-grant institution by providing public and federal lands that are traced back to the disposition of Indigenous lands, often taken by coercive and violent acts, and the disregard of treaties. For that, we extend our deepest apologies. We owe our deepest gratitude to the Native peoples of this region and maintain our commitment towards reconciliation. And as a land-grant institution, WSU is deeply committed to the land-grant mission, its Memorandums of Understanding with Native tribes in the region, and a tradition of service to society. To read the full WSU land acknowledgement, please see https://wsu.edu/about/wsu-land-acknowledgement/.

Application Instructions: Applicants must upload the following required documents to their online application. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements.

• Cover Letter addressing qualifications for this position
  
• Curriculum Vitae
  
• Short research statement that summarizes your scholarly work and includes your future plans
  

Inquiries should be directed to Dr. Anjali Sharma (Anjali.sharma@wsu.edu)

Professional reference contact information (e.g. Names, addresses, and contact information of at least three references who can address your history of and potential for excellence in research) will be requested later in the recruitment process through Workday.

External candidates, upload all documents in the 'Application Document' section of your application.
Current WSU Employees (internal candidates), before starting your Workday application, please use these instructions to update your education and experience in your worker profile in Workday. Internal candidates, upload all documents in the 'Resume/Cover Letter' section of your application.

Documents may be submitted as one file or separate files. Applicants are encouraged to upload as a PDF, if possible.

Background Check: This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.

Time Type:
Full time

Washington State University encourages all qualified candidates to apply, including members of the military and veterans, and persons with disabilities.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or hrs@wsu.edu.

Notice of Non-Discrimination

In matters of admission, employment, housing or services, or in the educational programs or activities it operates, WSU does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, mental disability, sensory disability, use of a trained service animal, age, religion, creed, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, honorably discharged veteran, member of the military, or immigration or citizenship status except as authorized by federal or state law, regulation, or government contract.

Inquiries about the application of federal and state laws and regulations (including inquiries regarding the application of Title IX, ADA/Section 504, and implementing regulations), as well as reports and complaints of discrimination and harassment, can be made verbally or in writing to WSU's Compliance and Civil Rights, the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights, or both.

More information, resources, and contact information are available here: https://ccr.wsu.edu/notice-of-nondiscrimination/

To apply, visit https://wsu.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/WSU_Jobs/job/Pullman-WA/Postdoctoral-Research-Associate_R-14176

Washington State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Educator and Employer.







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