The UCSF Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine offers a one- or two-year, full-time fellowship to support research focused on fetal diagnosis and fetal molecular therapies. This opportunity is ideal for physician/scientists in Surgery or Obstetrics/Gynecology.
Eligibility
The fellowship is open to exceptional postdoctoral candidates from relevant fields, general surgery residents (PGY2+), and obstetrics/gynecology fellows (PGY5+) that are interested in the Center’s mission to improve fetal diagnosis and fetal molecular therapies for genetic diseases. Individuals interested in genome editing are encouraged. This is a postdoctoral training position, and the candidate must hold a PhD, MD, or equivalent when the position commences. There is no citizenship requirement.
Deadline
The annual deadline is June 1 for a fellowship beginning July of the following year.
UCSF implemented a hiring freeze on March 20, 2025 due to proposed changes in federal research funding policy. It is not clear how long this freeze will be in place. If you are considering this fellowship for July 2026, please email your CV to our program manager, Valerie Dougherty (dougherv@ucsf.edu), in advance of submitting an application.
Duration
One-year fellowship, potentially renewable for a second year.
Clinical responsibilities
None required. Some clinical opportunities may be available if desired.
Compensation
The individual will be appointed as a research fellow through the Department of Surgery or Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco. This is a fully funded position with benefits. Salary will be commensurate with training and experience.
Application
To apply, please email the following material to Valerie Dougherty (dougherv@ucsf.edu), Program Manager for the Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine. Please give careful consideration to the personal statement.
- Curriculum Vitae
- Personal Statement: 1-2 pages regarding your experience, your research interests as they relate to fetal diagnosis and therapy, and your career aspirations
- Contact information for three professional references
Research opportunities
Projects undertaken during the fellowship will depend on the interests and experience of the fellow and may range from basic to translational to clinical research. The main areas of investigation are prenatal diagnosis, bioinformatics, and the development and implementation of new fetal molecular therapies (such as stem cell or gene therapy).
The Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine pursues an ambitious agenda to transform the field of maternal-fetal medicine. Research activities of the Center are organized around genetics, fetal immunology, and molecular therapies. We aim to:
Genetics
- Develop accurate and rapid prenatal diagnosis strategies to determine genetic causes of fetal abnormalities
- Determine the efficacy of exome sequencing and other molecular tests to find underlying genetic causes of non-immune hydrops fetalis
- Identify disorders for which fetal therapeutic strategies show promise
Fetal immunology
- Investigate the immune basis of preterm labor and various congenital anomalies
- Identify opportunities to intervene during fetal development to improve the prognosis for a fetus
Molecular therapies
Develop molecular therapies to treat genetic disorders in the fetal environment, including:
- Enzyme replacement therapy
- Stem cell transplantation
- Genetic therapies, including antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), gene replacement, and CRISPR-based approaches
Mentors & Collaborators
The fellow will work with a multi-disciplinary group of scientists and clinicians.
Center Faculty
- Tippi MacKenzie, MD – Pediatric and Fetal Surgery
- Mary Norton, MD – Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
- Kyle Cromer, PhD – Surgery, Genome Editing
- Betsy Crouch, MD, PhD – Pediatrics, Neurovascular Development
- Barbara Koenig, PhD – UCSF Bioethics Program
- Stephan Sanders, BMBS, PhD – Psychiatry and Bioinformatics
- Teresa Sparks, MD, MAS – Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
Collaborators
- Bruce Conklin, MD – Gladstone Institutes, Genome Editing
- Renata Gallagher, MD, PhD – Pediatrics, Biochemical Genetics
- Petros Giannikopoulos, MD – Innovative Genomics Institute, Genome Editing
- Douglas Gould, PhD – Ophthalmology
- Paul Harmatz, MD – Pediatrics
- Amar Nijagal, MD – Pediatric Surgery
- Fyodor Urnov, PhD – Innovative Genomics Institute, Genome Editing
- Elliott Vichinsky, MD – Pediatrics
Partners
Highlights
- Exposure to cutting-edge fetal diagnostics and therapies
- Training in clinical research, including practical and regulatory aspects of starting and running clinical trials
- Vibrant training program with MD and PhD scientists working together to solve clinically relevant problems
- Ample opportunities for professional development by participating in formal and informal lectures, symposia, and journal clubs
- Multidisciplinary training in the collaborative environment at UCSF
- UCSF is a member of the NICHD Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network