The laboratory of Dr. Catera Wilder in the Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), which brings together the world’s leading experts in nearly every area of health, is seeking a postdoctoral scholar. The research laboratory of Dr. Catera Wilder is engaged in groundbreaking projects focused on developing quantitative and computational tools to reveal how cells interpret and integrate complex, overlapping signaling cues to make precise physiological decisions during an immune response using shared signaling pathways. By examining cellular mechanisms of signaling specificity—where a single pathway can produce multiple distinct responses—this work will define the fundamental principles that allow for precise, adaptable cellular responses across diverse biological systems. These insights will address a key challenge in cellular physiology: understanding how cells achieve signaling specificity, which is critical for advancing fields from immunology to tissue repair and regeneration. This research promises to allow for effective modulation of specific cellular functions using cell engineering or pharmaceutical approaches by determining which molecular targets are critical for producing stimulus-specific outcomes.

The Wilder Lab is seeking researchers for postdoctoral fellow positions with expertise in the theory of and analytic methods of mathematical and computational modeling, statistics, or a related field (e.g. systems biology, computational biology, data science, applied mathematics). Some experience with experimental lab techniques would also be beneficial for the project but not required. As a member of the Wilder Lab, the postdoctoral fellow will develop predictive, quantitative and computational tools to investigate dynamical cell systems that allow cells achieve signaling specificity within shared pathways. Thus, the hire would be using differential equation-based models to simulate signaling and gene expression responses as well as machine learning models to determine predictive features of immune responses. The hire would also help with teaching and supervising junior lab members. The candidate should be a team player, willing to learn and take risks, and be dedicated.

Dr. Wilder has fostered a boundary pushing and team-oriented group that uses an interdisciplinary approach to uncover cellular and molecular mechanisms causing immune-related pathogenesis and uses this knowledge to develop cell-based immunotherapies. The Wilder group has established expertise in understanding innate immune and inflammatory responses by studying the temporal dynamic regulation of signaling pathways and gene expression programs in lung epithelial cells using an iterative systems biology approach involving mathematical and experimental approaches.