Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs in California

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Women’s Health – San Francisco VA / UCSF

San Francisco VA Health Care System | University of California, San Francisco

Location: San Francisco, CaliforniaAppointment: Full-time, two-year fellowshipApplication cycle: 2027–2028Compensation: [Insert approved VA fellowship stipend range]

About the Fellowship

The San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS), in affiliation with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), is accepting applications for its Advanced Postdoctoral Fellowship in Women’s Health.

This interdisciplinary, two-year fellowship prepares physicians, psychologists, and other doctoral-level researchers for independent careers in women’s health research, clinical care, and academic medicine.

Fellows receive individualized mentorship from established investigators across multiple research programs at SFVAHCS and UCSF. The program is designed to support each fellow’s research interests, scientific development, and long-term career goals.

Research Areas

Opportunities span a wide range of women’s health topics, including:

• Reproductive and midlife health: Menopause, ovarian aging, reproductive health, and hormonal influences on health.
• Cancer and prevention: Breast cancer risk, screening, prevention, and epidemiology.
• Mental health: PTSD, depression, trauma exposure, substance use, and mental health treatment.
• Cardiovascular and metabolic health: Cardiovascular risk, aging, osteoporosis, and related health outcomes.
• Sleep and biological mechanisms: Insomnia, psychophysiology, neuroendocrinology, inflammation, and sex differences in health.
• Other women’s health concerns: Urinary incontinence, chronic pain, and related conditions.

Fellows can pursue projects within a single research area or collaborate across disciplines, drawing on existing datasets, ongoing studies, and opportunities for new research.

Fellowship Training and Career Development

The fellowship provides mentored research and education, with clinical training opportunities for eligible fellows.

Training opportunities include:

• Developing and conducting independent research projects.
• Analyzing clinical, epidemiological, and biological datasets.
• Preparing first-author manuscripts and scientific presentations.
• Developing competitive research grants and career development awards.
• Participating in research seminars, workshops, and UCSF coursework.
• Receiving individualized mentorship and guidance toward an independent academic or research career.

Clinically qualified fellows may spend up to 25% of their time in supervised clinical activities, including care for women Veterans, depending on professional background and individualized training goals.

Mentorship and Research Environment

The program is co-directed by Karla Kerlikowske, MD, and Sabra Inslicht, PhD, and provides access to multidisciplinary faculty mentors across SFVAHCS and UCSF.

The San Francisco VA offers a substantial research infrastructure, a strong academic partnership with UCSF, and opportunities to collaborate with investigators across women’s health, primary care, psychiatry, epidemiology, and clinical research.

Fellows are encouraged to pursue their own research interests and identify mentors whose expertise best aligns with their goals.

Eligibility

Applicants must have:

• An MD with completed approved residency training; or
• A PhD in clinical or counseling psychology, nursing, neuroscience, epidemiology, health psychology, data science, or another relevant allied health field.

Clinical and counseling psychology applicants must have completed an APA-accredited doctoral program and APA-accredited internship.

All doctoral requirements must be completed before the fellowship begins. U.S. citizenship is required for the VA appointment.

Both clinical and nonclinical researchers are encouraged to apply.

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit:

• A letter of interest describing research experience, research interests, career goals, and potential faculty mentor(s).
• A curriculum vitae.
• Three letters of recommendation, including at least two from current or recent research mentors.

Please combine the letter of interest and CV into a single PDF. Recommendation letters should be sent directly by the recommenders in accordance with program instructions.

For psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience applicants:

Sabra Inslicht, PhD: Sabra.Inslicht@va.gov

For medicine and other allied health applicants:

Karla Kerlikowske, MD: Karla.Kerlikowske@va.gov

For further information about the fellowship, visit:

https://www.womenshealth.va.gov/fellowship/

Applications are being accepted for the 2027–2028 fellowship cycle. Contact the program for current review dates.

Help advance women’s health research and improve care for women Veterans through interdisciplinary research, mentorship, and clinical training.

Pay: $68,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person