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Postdoctoral Scholar-Infectious Diseases & Vaccinology-School of Public Health

Position overview Position title: Postdoctoral Scholar Employee
Salary range: The UC postdoc salary scales set the minimum pay determined by experience level at appointment. See the following table for the current salary scale for this position: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2025-26/represented-oct-2025-scales/t23.pdf. The current minimum salary range for this position is $69,073-$82,836. Salaries above the minimum may be offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions.

Percent time: 100%

Anticipated start: October 2025

Position duration: The initial appointment is for two years with the possibility of extension based on satisfactory performance and availability of funding.

Application Window
Open date: August 20, 2025

Next review date: Thursday, Sep 4, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Monday, Oct 6, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

The Pandemic and Epidemic Threat Analytics Lab (PETAL) at UC Berkeley School of Public Health is recruiting two Postdoctoral Scholars to advance quantitative research that lowers the risk of future epidemics and pandemics.

Working at the intersection of infectious disease modeling, viral phylodynamics, and public health decision support, you will work closely with Professor Charles Whittaker to co-create a research project that aligns your expertise with PETAL's mission and current research streams. These include modeling efforts focused on:

• Characterizing the evolution, ecology, and epidemiology of viruses with epidemic and pandemic potential (including dengue, yellow fever, influenza, SARS-CoV-2, Ebola, and Marburg).
• Supporting the design of novel pathogen surveillance systems with a focus on wastewater-based monitoring and metagenomic sequencing.
• Advancing the development of broad-spectrum medical countermeasures, particularly novel multivalent vaccines and antivirals.
• Evaluating the potential impact of interventions deployed in the built environment, such as far UVC and other efforts to improve indoor air quality.

You will join a diverse, open-science lab with a proven record of real-world impact and a strong commitment to supporting the career goals of lab members. PETAL's projects are conducted in close partnership with scientists and public health agencies across Africa, the Americas, Europe, and Asia. These positions are expected to involve international travel for conferences, workshops, and collaborative visits.

This is a unique opportunity to shape global pandemic-preparedness research from first principles to implementation, and to translate cutting-edge analytics into tools and policies that strengthen preparedness and promote health equity worldwide.

We are seeking candidates who bring a blend of infectious disease insight and quantitative or computational skills. This may include experience in infectious disease modeling, viral phylodynamics, machine learning, statistics, or related analytic fields. What will matter most is your ability to work with data, some familiarity with public health and infectious disease-related questions, and your enthusiasm and commitment to PETAL's mission to use analytical tools in service of pandemic preparedness.

Note that you do not need to match every item to be a competitive candidate. If you have the drive, technical aptitude, and a passion for applying analytics to pandemic preparedness, we encourage you to apply.

Division: https://publichealth.berkeley.edu/academics/infectious-diseases-and-vaccinology

Lab: https://whittakerlab.com/

Bargaining Unit: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/resources/employment-policies-contracts/bargaining-units/postdoctoral-scholars/contract/

Benefits Package: https://vspa.berkeley.edu/resources/be-well/postdoc-benefits

Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

• Doctoral degree (or equivalent international degree), or enrolled in a doctoral degree (or equivalent international degree) program.

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

• Doctoral degree (or equivalent international degree)
• Candidates should have no more than three years of post-degree research experience by the start date.

Preferred qualifications

• Doctoral in epidemiology, biostatistics, computational biology, applied mathematics, computer science, or a related quantitative field.
• Strong coding skills in R, Python, or similar, plus experience analysing infectious-disease data or building transmission models.
• A track record of completing and communicating research projects (e.g., peer-reviewed papers, open-source software, policy reports).

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter - 1-2 Pages
• Research Statement

Reference requirements

• 2-5 required (contact information only)

Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF04994

Help contact: cwhittaker@berkeley.edu

About UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our public mission of research, teaching, and service, consistent with UC Regents Policy 4400 and University of California Academic Personnel policy (APM 210 1-d). These values are embedded in our Principles of Community, which reflect our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation, and our deep commitment to contributing to a better world. Every member of the UC Berkeley community has a role in sustaining a safe, caring and humane environment in which these values can thrive.

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

For more information, please refer to the University of California's Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy and the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy.

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Job location
Berkeley, CA

To apply, visit https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF04994













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