Associate Research Engineer Jobs in Houston, TX (NOW HIRING)

Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants should attach a resume in the supporting documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities. 

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice's culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name - RICE - Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.

The George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing ranks among the top 20 undergraduate engineering programs (US News & World Report) and is strongly committed to nurturing the aspirations of faculty, staff, and students in an inclusive environment.

We seek greater representation of women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans in disciplines in which they have historically been underrepresented; to attract international students from a wider range of countries and backgrounds; to accelerate progress in building a faculty and staff who are diverse in background and thought, and we support an inclusive environment that fosters interaction and understanding within our diverse community.

Position Summary:

The laboratory of Dr. Caleb J. Bashor in the Department of Bioengineering at Rice University seeks to hire a motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to conduct high-impact research in mammalian synthetic biology and cell-based therapeutic engineering. The successful candidate will contribute to a fast-paced, multi-year research effort focused on building engineered sense-and-respond functions in stem cells, macrophages, and red blood cells. This position is well suited for a researcher with experience in molecular biology, mammalian cell engineering, flow cytometry, and microscopy who is eager to apply these skills to ambitious therapeutic design challenges.

The Bashor Lab develops field-leading synthetic biology platforms for engineering artificial regulatory systems in human cells. The Postdoctoral Research Associate will work in a highly collaborative environment that includes close interaction with graduate students, staff scientists, collaborators in the Texas Medical Center, and research partners through the Rice Synthetic Biology Institute (RSBI) and the Genetic Design and Engineering Center (GDEC). The position offers opportunities to drive independent research directions, generate high-impact publications, and build a strong foundation for a future career in academic, industry, or translational research.

More information about the Bashor lab can be found here: http://bashorlab.rice.edu

Workplace Requirements:

This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in-person at Rice University. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range: $62,232

*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime. 

This position is funded by a grant, soft and/or restricted funds. Continued employment is contingent on the renewal of funding and satisfactory performance. 

Additional Information: 

The preferred start date for this position is June 1, 2026; however, a start date at any point during summer 2026 may be considered based on the selected candidate's availability.

Minimum Requirements:

• Ph.D. in bioengineering, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, biological sciences, or a closely related field

• No additional experience beyond graduate research is required
   

Preferences:

• Experience in mammalian synthetic biology, cell engineering, or related areas of translational or therapeutic research
• Demonstrated experience with molecular biology techniques, mammalian cell culture, and genetic engineering methods
• Experience with flow cytometry, microscopy, and other methods used to evaluate engineered cell systems
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a collaborative research environment and contribute to interdisciplinary projects
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to contribute to manuscripts, presentations, and other scholarly work
   

Essential Functions:

• Design and conduct independent research in support of laboratory projects focused on mammalian synthetic biology and cell-based therapeutic engineering
• Develop, construct, and evaluate engineered cellular systems using established and emerging molecular and cellular engineering methods
• Perform and optimize experimental procedures involving mammalian cell culture, molecular biology, flow cytometry, microscopy, and related laboratory techniques
• Analyze, interpret, and present experimental findings to support project goals and inform future research directions
• Maintain accurate and well-organized research records, protocols, and data documentation
• Collaborate closely with the principal investigator, graduate students, staff scientists, and external research partners on ongoing projects
• Contribute to manuscripts, presentations, reports, and other scholarly and research outputs
• Support general laboratory research operations and perform all other duties as assigned

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits
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Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please get in touch with Rice University's Human Resources Office via email at facstaffada@rice.edu for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu . Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.