Postdoctoral Positions 3 Openings
We are recruiting three postdoctoral researchers for distinct research directions. Competitive salary, research budget, and international collaboration opportunities are provided. Appointment is initially for 2 years, renewable.
AI Agent for Automated Drug Discovery
We are building next-generation autonomous AI agent systems that close the loop between molecular design, property prediction, synthesis planning, and experimental feedback. The successful candidate will develop multi-step reasoning agents and human-in-the-loop frameworks to accelerate lead compound discovery. This project interfaces with our existing platforms (Leadmaster, MolMap) and has strong prospects for high-impact publication and industry translation.
The project draws on large-scale in-house datasets covering target activity, cellular phenotypes, and molecular metabolic properties. Close collaboration with wet-lab teams supports experimental validation, druggability assessment, and industry translation.
Candidate profile
- Ph.D. in CS, AI, Cheminformatics, or related field
- Strong experience with LLMs, tool-use agents, or RLHF
- Familiarity with molecular representations (SMILES, graphs)
- Strong publication record in top AI/ML venues
- Experience in molecular generation or virtual screening is a plus; interdisciplinary backgrounds combining computation with chemistry or biology are especially welcome
AI for Chemistry & Reaction Discovery
This position focuses on applying machine learning to chemical reaction space exploration and property prediction. We have access to a proprietary million-scale reaction dataset enabling novel research on reaction outcome prediction, condition optimization, and retrosynthesis. The candidate will develop graph-based and transformer models tailored to chemical reaction data, with opportunities to co-design experiments with wet-lab collaborators.
Research also addresses reaction feasibility assessment, with wet-lab validation supporting the design and optimization of drug molecules.
Candidate profile
- Ph.D. in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or ML
- Experience with reaction prediction or synthesis planning models
- Proficiency in deep learning frameworks (PyTorch preferred)
- Background in organic chemistry is a strong plus
- Experience in reaction feasibility prediction or in pharmaceutical, chemical, or AI companies is a plus
AI for Multi-Omics & Precision Medicine
Building on our COMPASS immunotherapy prediction framework, this project advances target discovery, predictive model development, and clinical validation in precision oncology. The candidate will work with large-scale multi-center patient cohorts, developing multi-omics AI models that integrate genomics, transcriptomics, and clinical data. Strong translational potential with direct clinical research partnerships.
Resources include internal and external cancer immunotherapy cohorts with single-cell and bulk multi-omics data. Clinical AI research spans systems biology, novel therapies, diagnosis, and precision treatment, with translation opportunities through collaborations with ZJU-affiliated hospitals, Roche, and Harvard Medical School.
Candidate profile
- Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or ML
- Experience with multi-omics analysis (RNA-seq, WES, proteomics)
- Familiarity with survival analysis and clinical data
- Prior work in cancer genomics or immunotherapy is a plus
- Biology or medicine backgrounds and experience in clinical diagnostics are welcome; familiarity with LLMs and foundation-model development is a plus
General Postdoctoral Eligibility
- Applicants who have completed or are about to complete a relevant Ph.D. are welcome. Related backgrounds include bioinformatics, drug design, medical informatics, cheminformatics, and computational chemistry, depending on the research direction.
- Ability to think independently, solve problems creatively, and proactively advance research.
- High-quality publications as first or co-first author, strong academic integrity, and a collaborative approach.
- Full-time commitment to postdoctoral research is required. The recruitment announcement specifies no age restriction.
Other Opportunities
We maintain a continuous pipeline of positions for students and researchers at all career stages.
PhD Students
Long-term recruitment via ZJU's doctoral program in Pharmaceutical Sciences or Computer Science. Strong programming background and research motivation required.
Master's Students
Open positions for M.Sc. students in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bioinformatics, or Computer Science. Project-based with co-supervision options.
Research Assistants
We recruit 1 RA (full-time or part-time). Strong Python and ML skills required. Ideal for gap-year students or those preparing for Ph.D. applications.
The recruitment announcement also describes an assistant researcher role (助理研究员; application label: RA) for applicants with a bachelor's degree or above in AI, computer science, cheminformatics, statistics, mathematics, automation, or a related field. Programming experience (such as Python) and a strong interest in AI for Science are expected; research or industry experience is a plus. The role offers independent research with direct PI mentorship, ZJU recruitment procedures and benefits, and support for further study or continued work in the lab according to individual goals.
Visiting Scholars
Visiting researchers from partner institutions are welcome for 3–12 month stays. Bring your own project or collaborate on one of our ongoing research directions.
Undergraduate Interns
ZJU undergraduates and students from peer institutions are welcome for semester-long or summer research internships. No prior research experience required—enthusiasm counts.
Internship allowances are provided according to applicable standards. Please contact us using the application email below.
High School Students
Exceptional high school students interested in AI and biosciences are welcome to explore short-term exposure programs. Please include a recommendation letter from your school.
A Research Environment That Supports You
Postdoctoral Compensation & Benefits
- Compensation follows ZJU and national postdoctoral policies, with an individually negotiated package based on qualifications and competitive with industry.
- Social insurance and housing provident fund contributions, employee health examinations, and eligibility to apply for university postdoctoral apartments.
- Strong research facilities and international collaborations, with encouragement to attend leading academic conferences in China and abroad.
- Support for applications to the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and local research and postdoctoral funding programs.
- Outstanding postdoctoral researchers may receive recommendations for opportunities at ZJU or leading institutions in China and abroad.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted year-round, with interviews prioritized for qualified candidates.
Send your CV, a brief statement of research interest (1 page), and representative work (publications / GitHub / portfolio) to:
shenwx25@zju.edu.cnFor postdoctoral and RA applications, please combine your materials into a single PDF, including your CV (education, work experience, and publication list) and the full text of 1–3 representative papers or research outputs.
Subject line: [Position] – Your Name
e.g. "Postdoc 01 – Jane Smith" or "PhD Application – Li Wei"