Research Fellowship in Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy

Collage of photographs showing the Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine team in action

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.

Applications are due July 1, 2023, for a fellowship starting July 1, 2024.

One-year fellowship, potentially renewable for a second year.

None required, but some clinical opportunities may be available if desired.

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.

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

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

The fellow will work with a multi-disciplinary group of scientists and clinicians.

Center Faculty

Collaborators

Partners

  • 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