What are the responsibilities and job description for the postdoctoral researcher, a PhD-level research associate, or a visiting scholar position at University of California, San Francisco?
The Komatsu Lab at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is currently recruiting a postdoctoral researcher, a PhD-level research associate, or a visiting scholar, depending on experience, career stage, and funding status. Our laboratory is part of the Department of Surgery, Division of Transplant Surgery, and is located on the Parnassus campus, the main clinical and research hub of UCSF. We conduct translational research with a strong emphasis on clinical application, with the goal of developing cell-based therapies that provide a curative treatment for diabetes. (https://profiles.ucsf.edu/hirotake.komatsu)
Islet transplantation, which involves isolating insulin-secreting islets from the pancreas and transplanting them into patients with diabetes, is currently performed clinically as one of the treatment options. However, its broader clinical adoption remains limited due to several unresolved challenges. Our research focuses on improving the engraftment efficiency of transplanted cells and developing less invasive transplantation strategies, particularly subcutaneous approaches, to reduce patient burden.
Our work integrates transplant surgery, metabolic endocrinology, and engineering. Through both domestic and international collaborations, we are developing technologies that improve the microenvironment of transplanted cells, with a particular focus on enhancing engraftment through optimized oxygen delivery. In parallel, we collaborate with stem cell researchers to address donor shortages by enabling the transplantation of stem cell-derived islets.
We are also advancing our research toward the fabrication of insulin-secreting pancreatic organoids. These organoids require complex three-dimensional structures and present significant engineering challenges. A major focus of our work is to understand and control oxygen transport within organoids to enable the survival of larger constructs without hypoxia-induced cell death. More broadly, our laboratory focuses on oxygen physiology in pancreatic cells and related systems.
The Principal Investigator (PI) has over 10 years of clinical surgical experience in Japan and previously held postdoctoral and faculty positions at City of Hope National Medical Center in Los Angeles (https://hirnetwork.org/investigator-profile-hirotake-komatsu). In 2024, the PI joined UCSF. Our research is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), major disease-focused foundations such as Breakthrough T1D, and industry funding.
The PI holds joint appointments at the UCSF Diabetes Center (https://diabetes.ucsf.edu/; https://diabetes.ucsf.edu/people/hirotake-komatsu) and the UCSF Liver Center, providing extensive opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. We also maintain active collaborations with institutions including UCLA, Caltech, UC Irvine, and the University of Cincinnati, as well as international collaborations with Kyoto University (CiRA) and the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS).
As part of these activities, the PI serves on the Young Investigator Committee of the International Pancreas and Islet Transplant Association (IPITA) (https://www.tts.org/ipita-about/ipita-committees/717-ipita-yi-committee-2), fostering connections with early-career researchers worldwide. A position in our lab offers a highly supportive environment for career development and international networking. Notably, a current postdoctoral fellow in our lab was recently selected to serve on the IPITA Young Investigator Committee, reflecting the strong mentorship provided by our group.
We welcome applicants from a wide range of fields, including surgery, metabolic and endocrine medicine, biology, and engineering. Prior experience in transplant research is not required; however, basic in vivo experience is preferred, and a strong foundation in basic research is expected. This includes experience with in vitro techniques such as cell culture, as well as protein, RNA, and DNA assays. Experience in histology and microscopic imaging is also required. The postdoctoral researcher will be expected to lead projects independently, with strong support from the PI and other lab members. Positions at the level of PhD-level research associate or visiting scholar may also be considered depending on experience and qualifications. Proficiency in standard software tools (Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and basic statistical analysis skills is also required.
For international applicants, fluency in English is not strictly required; however, basic communication skills in English are essential.
If you are interested, please submit the following materials as a single PDF to komatsulabucsf@gmail.com (Hirotake Komatsu)
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- A brief description of your research interests and past experience (1–2 pages)
- Contact information for 2–3 references (including names, affiliations, and email addresses)
We seek highly motivated candidates with a strong track record in basic and/or translational research, demonstrated ability to work independently, and a clear commitment to scientific excellence. We value intellectual curiosity, enthusiasm, and resilience, and we welcome applicants who are motivated to take on new scientific challenges. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.