Application Deadlines: PhD – January 5, 2027 (Fall 2027 entry) | Postdocs – rolling until filled
| Positions | 4 postdoctoral researchers + 1 PhD student (Fall 2027) |
| University | Virginia Tech – Department of Biological Systems Engineering |
| Location | Blacksburg, Virginia, USA |
| Funding & Salary | Postdocs: NIH-standard salary + benefits, J-1 visa sponsored; PhD: full stipend + full tuition + health insurance |
| Start Date | PhD: Fall 2027; postdocs flexible |
| Application Deadline | PhD: January 5, 2027; postdocs rolling |
| How to Apply | Email one PDF to sunw@vt.edu |
Scholarship Description:
Dr. Wujin Sun’s research group in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering (officially translated as the Department of Biological Systems Engineering) at Virginia Tech is recruiting four postdoctoral researchers and one PhD student (Fall 2027 entry). Virginia Tech is a public land-grant research university whose main campus is in Blacksburg, Virginia. The department integrates biology, chemistry, and engineering around health, sustainability, and bio-based technologies.
Dr. Wujin Sun is an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech. He received his Ph.D. from the joint biomedical engineering department of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and NC State University, and performed postdoctoral research at the University of California, Los Angeles. He was named a 2025 Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher and received the 2026 NIH Director’s New Innovator Award. The group works on biomaterials and microneedle devices, nucleic acid and drug delivery, cell and immune engineering, and in vivo evaluation and bioimaging, developing engineering technologies for therapeutics and regenerative medicine. Group website: https://wsunlab.net
Available Subjects:
- Postdoc Direction 1 – Biomaterials and device engineering: Ph.D. in pharmaceutics, polymer and materials science, chemical engineering, or biomedical engineering; experience with hydrogels, microneedles, micro/nanofabrication, or controlled-release formulations preferred.
- Postdoc Direction 2 – Nucleic acid and nanocarrier delivery: Ph.D. in pharmaceutics, molecular biology, chemical biology, or bioengineering; experience with lipid or polymeric nanocarriers, plasmid and mRNA, molecular cloning, or cell transfection preferred.
- Postdoc Direction 3 – Cell engineering and immune engineering: Ph.D. in immunology, cell biology, or bioengineering; experience with primary immune cell culture, cell genetic engineering, flow cytometry, or immunoassays preferred.
- Postdoc Direction 4 – In vivo evaluation and bioimaging: Ph.D. in pharmacology, pathology, or biomedical engineering; experience with mouse disease models, PK/PD evaluation, histopathology, or in vivo imaging preferred.
- PhD student (1, Fall 2027): backgrounds in pharmacy, pharmaceutical engineering, biomedical engineering, materials, chemistry, chemical engineering, or biology.
Eligibility criteria:
- Postdocs: doctoral degree obtained or expected; first-author publications; good English communication; able to advance projects relatively independently.
- Postdoc compensation follows US NIH postdoctoral standards and Virginia Tech regulations, with full benefits such as medical insurance; the university sponsors J-1 visas; renewals possible.
- PhD: full funding with research assistantship stipend, full tuition, and medical insurance. IELTS or TOEFL at current university standards; GRE not required. Holders of an outstanding bachelor’s degree may apply directly to the PhD program. Entry: Fall 2027; application deadline January 5, 2027 (subject to the program website).
Application Procedure:
Please combine a CV (with publication list), a one-page summary of research experience and interests, and contact information for two to three references into a single PDF and send it to sunw@vt.edu.
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