The first regulatory science and innovation center on the West Coast
UCSF/Genentech Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Pharmacology
Overview
In the past decade, a plethora of new healthcare products have been developed, including innovative drugs and biologics, genome and cell-based therapies, mobile health products, and implantable devices. Corresponding to the surge in these innovative products, there has been a scarcity of well-trained individuals to expertly develop and evaluate them for safe and effective use. Importantly, there is a new need for individuals who have computational training to apply their skills to the development of drugs, biologics, and medical diagnostics. The educational mission of UCSF in regulatory science is to train a new generation of scientists by providing opportunities to broaden their knowledge about tools, methods, and standards to support regulatory science, medical product development, and clinical pharmacology.
The UCSF/Genentech Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Pharmacology is an experiential program that will provide the most outstanding postdocs with unique immersion experiences in regulatory science research and drug development, with a particular emphasis on pharmacometrics and clinical pharmacology.
Training Components
Our objective is that the fellow should have a sufficient foundation and breadth in his/her training to engage in and serve as an ambassador for regulatory science research and education. The fellow will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with education level and experience. In general, fellows will spend the first year at UCSF and the second year at Genentech, though the fellowship may be extended for a total of three years. The anticipated start date of the first year of the fellowship at UCSF will be on or around July 1, 2025. The fellowship components are:
Research and Training at UCSF (1 year)
During the first year, the fellow is expected to spend at least 90% of his/her time on a scientific research project. The research project will either extend an existing project or will be an entirely new one-year project. Many of these projects are collaborative research projects with the FDA, so fellows may also gain experience collaborating with FDA scientists. In addition to research, the fellow will take the UCSF-Stanford CERSI Immersion Course in Drug Discovery, Drug Development, and Regulation. The fellow is also expected to actively participate in all UCSF-Stanford CERSI seminars, meetings, and events.
Immersion Experience in Industry (1 year)
Following the completion of the academic portion, fellows will be placed at Genentech to complement and extend his/her training in regulatory science, drug development, clinical pharmacology, and pharmacometrics. The fellow will be assigned a Genentech mentor and work alongside scientists in the Department of Clinical Pharmacology at Genentech. The mentors will help the fellow design the research project. The fellow is required to attend the annual UCSF-Stanford CERSI Innovations in Regulatory Science Summit.
Statement of Completion and Employment
Fellows will receive a document certifying their participation in the UCSF/Genentech Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Pharmacology upon completion of all training components. Please note that this fellowship does not guarantee job placements upon completion.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must hold a doctoral degree (PhD in pharmaceutical sciences, chemical/biomedical engineering, applied mathematics, biomedical sciences, machine learning, or another related field, OR hold a PharmD with laboratory or clinical investigational experience or hands-on experience performing quantitative PK/PD data analyses [such as NCA using Phoenix WinNonlin, Population PK and PBPK] and computational skills [e.g., R, Python]).
The candidate must have an excellent record of scientific productivity as evidenced by publications, poster presentations, or talks.
Preferably, the candidate will have a strong interest in pursuing a career in quantitative clinical pharmacology, a strong scientific curiosity, a passion for constant learning, a science- and data-driven mindset, and a drive for patient impact. With guidance, the candidate has the ability to work effectively and collaboratively on cross-functional teams. The ideal candidate has excellent oral, presentation, and written communication skills.
Should the fellow have the opportunity to rotate the FDA, they must be U.S. citizens or otherwise meet the ORISE Non-U.S. Citizen Requirements (see https://orise.orau.gov/fda/applicants/default.html#immigrant). Applicants may not be current FDA employees, contractors, or fellows.
2024-2025 Application Process
How to Apply
The UCSF/Genentech Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Pharmacology is no longer recruiting for the 2025-2027 cohort due to budget constraints.
Please be prepared to enter the following information:
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Personal Information | Name, address, email, phone number. |
| Application Cover Page | The pdf must contain the applicant’s full name, highest degree obtained (and date obtained or anticipated), degree-granting institution, current institutional affiliation, email address, cell phone number, and complete mailing address. |
| Statement of Purpose | (1000 words maximum) Describe the applicant’s professional background and qualifications, regulatory science interests, skills to be acquired, and career goals, including how the fellowship would support those goals. |
| Curriculum Vitae | Upload a file that is 5 pages maximum. |
| Professional/graduate school transcripts | Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. |
| Scientific Publications or Other Writing Samples | (Submit up to 2 publications). Applicant should include a cover sheet preceding the writing samples that describes the samples and the applicant's role. Publications are intended to gauge the research and writing capability of applicants and do not necessarily need to be on the topic of regulatory science. |
| One Letter of Reference |
Must be from the applicant's current or most recent research advisor. Letter writers who wish to submit their letters directly may email them to Holly Ly ([email protected]). |
| Names of two additional references | Must provide full name, title, affiliation, and complete contact information. |
Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed by UCSF faculty and Genentech scientists. UCSF will be the home institution for all fellows.
Learn more
Attend one of our fellowship webinars to:
- Learn more about our fellowship opportunities.
- Hear answers to common questions.
- Connect with current and former fellows.
The UCSF/Genentech Postdoctoral Fellowship in Regulatory Science is supported by Genentech, Inc.
Contact
Please email Holly Ly ([email protected]) with any questions.