Postdoctoral Research
Postdoctoral training in aging research
An opportunity to put yourself at the forefront of the field.
Postdoctoral Fellow programs
At the Buck Institute, you will find a place to thrive through daily collaboration with the top scientists in the field. The Buck Institute currently administers two programs that help provide funding for Buck postdocs and their projects: The Glenn Foundation for Medical Research and an NIH-sponsored postdoctoral research training program in basic aging research and age-related disease. These programs, available to US citizens and permanent residents only, provide postdoctoral fellows with stipends to work in any of the laboratories at the Buck Institute and selected laboratories at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Stanford University, and University of California at Berkeley.











Fellowships
There are two programs that help provide funding for Buck postdocs and their projects.
The Glenn Foundation for Medical Research partners with the Buck Institute to provide project-based Research Training Fellowships. Projects are chosen for funding by a Faculty steering committee. . Glenn Fellows work under the supervision of a faculty mentor and receive a stipend (based on NIH recommended levels), training, professional development, and mentorship during their appointment, which lasts for up to three years.
The Buck Institute administers an NIH-sponsored postdoctoral research training program in basic aging research and age-related disease. The program provides postdoctoral fellows with stipends to work in any of the laboratories at the Buck Institute, and selected laboratories at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Stanford University and the University of California in Berkeley.
Glenn Foundation Fellowship
Since its founding in 1965 the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research has supported basic research to better understand the biology that governs normal human aging and its related physiological decline, with the objective of developing interventions that will extend the healthy years of human life. The Buck Institute and the Foundation have partnered to co-fund 8 postdoctoral fellowship projects with the objectives of training and preparing future leading researchers and in discovering the mechanisms of aging and its relationship to the chronic conditions of aging.
The Glenn Medical Foundation co-sponsored the 30th anniversary of the biology of aging research symposium and continues to sponsor the Bay Area Aging Meeting (BAAM) and the Gordon Research Conference on the Biology of Aging
Eric Verdin, MD – Program Director
Malene Hansen, PhD – Associate Director & Chair
Gordon Lithgow, PhD – Committee Member
Jennifer Garrison, PhD – Committee Member
Juniper Pennypacker – Glenn Program Coordinator
Fellowship projects are renewed annually for a maximum of three years. Stipends are commensurate with experience and follow NIH recommended postdoctoral stipend levels. Trainees will gain knowledge in the mechanisms of biological aging and its relationship to chronic disease. Trainees will gain skills in critical thinking to evaluate new research findings. In addition, trainees will receive instruction in written and verbal skills that enrich their publications, grant proposals, and oral presentations. Ongoing seminar series, basic science and clinical lectures, well-organized journal clubs, and research meetings will provide up-to-date information and intellectual cross-fertilization that can lead to the next wave of major discoveries in the field.
Our program leans on the ‘Seven Pillars of Aging’ identified by the NIH Geroscience Initiative: Metabolism, Macromolecular Damage, Epigenetics, Inflammation, Adaptation to Stress, Proteostasis, and Stem cells and Regeneration. In addition to the seven pillars of aging, another perhaps more important concept in aging research has emerged. It is now becoming clear that the mechanisms driving aging are inter-connected. For instance, macromolecular damage can lead to cellular senescence, promoting localized inflammation. It is thus not only important to identify and elaborate the pillars of aging themselves, but it is critical to understand how they are connected and what the earliest triggers of the aging process are. Given our focus on geroscience and our collaborative nature, the Buck Institute is in an ideal position to understand how aging pathways are related and to begin to establish a systems level understanding of aging.
The major goal of this program is to encourage and support new activities at the Institute that will build on existing expertise, but aim at identifying and exploiting synergies with the promise of major breakthroughs in geroscience. Such breakthroughs will range from the conceptual to the translational: developing a deeper understanding of the aging process, identifying new targets for possible interventions, and developing and testing intervention strategies. The program is thus directly geared towards the initiation of new activities between multiple laboratories with promise to make a real impact in geroscience.
Fellows will serve a period of two to three years each depending on the project requirements. Projects by Postdoctoral Fellows must have the following components:
- A novel project that addresses connectivity between at least two of the pillars of aging.
- Collaborative science with a primary mentor and a co-mentor having expertise in two areas of aging.
- Projects of two-year duration, with a third year subject to demonstration of significant progress.
- Proposals reviewed by an internal panel of investigators at the Buck Institute and with involvement of the Glenn Foundation, if desired.
- Emphasis on the development of translational approaches to extend human healthspan will be viewed favorably, subject to compliance with other requirements.
Project 1: Dysregulation of epigenetic landscape by APOE disrupts cellular homeostasis
Cristian Geronimo-Olivera, Postdoctoral Researcher (Mentors: Dr. Ellerby and Dr. Campisi)
Project 2: The role of DOR in ovarian senescence and its impact on aging in flies and mice
Vikram Narayan, Postdoctoral Researcher (Mentors: Dr. Kapahi and Dr. Campisi)
Project 3: How sex hormones influence neural circuits for fluid homeostasis during aging
Heeun Jang, Postdoctoral Researcher (Mentors: Dr. Garrison and Dr. Newman)
Project 4: Multi-omics Analyses to Develop Exosome Biomarkers of Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease
Sandip Kuma Patel, Postdoctoral Researcher (Mentors: Dr. Schilling and Dr. Campisi)
Project 5: Secretion of autophagy-related factors: Role in aging and aging-associated diseases
Hiroshi Ebata, Postdoctoral Researcher (Mentors: Dr. Hansen and Dr. Schilling)
- Applicants must have a doctoral degree by the date of award activation;
- Must have a Buck Institute Faculty Sponsor;
- The applicant should design an innovative and significant project;
- Should demonstrate significant potential and propose to undertake one or more innovative, original and independent research projects;
- Should be able to demonstrate significant scientific productivity in the form of publications in peer-reviewed journals;
- Willingness to contribute to the aims and vision of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and to collaborate with existing members of the Institute is also essential.
Openings will be announced as they occur.
NIH Training Grant T32 AG000266
Training in basic research on aging and age-related disease
The current and future increase in the aged population will require extensive research to understand the underlying mechanisms responsible for age-related diseases and aging. It is, therefore, important to train young scientists in modern research disciplines that will promote excellent basic and translational aging research that will enhance the development of novel therapeutics to improve health in the aging population. Understanding the molecular mechanisms responsible for aging and age-related diseases requires knowledge and experience in the design of optimum research strategies and state-of-the-art integrated and interdisciplinary research approaches. This training program provides postdoctoral fellows with advanced research training in modern disciplines, including functional genomics, epigenomics, proteomics, molecular biology, cell biology, bioenergetics, chemical screening, microanatomy and powerful cellular and animal models.
The proposed training for fellows at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley provides unique faculty expertise.
Trainees will gain knowledge in basic aging mechanisms, and age-related diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, stroke, cancer, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, sarcopenia and others. Trainees will gain skills in critical thinking to evaluate new research findings. In addition, trainees will receive instruction in written and verbal skills to enrich their publications, grant proposals, and oral presentations. Ongoing seminar series, basic science and clinical lectures, well-organized journal clubs, and research meetings will provide up-to-date information and intellectual cross-fertilization.
The primary home of the training program is the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, located in Novato, California. Postdoctoral trainees may work under the primary supervision of any Buck Institute faculty or selected faculty at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Stanford University or the University of California in Berkeley (UCB). The research will be conducted at the location of the primary preceptor. Please see the list below for eligible preceptors and apply directly to the preceptor.
Applicants should select a preceptor from the list below:
Name | Title | Affiliation | Email address |
---|---|---|---|
Andersen, J | Professor | Buck Institute | jandersen@buckinstitute.org |
Artandi, S | Professor | Stanford University | sartandi@stanford.edu |
Benz, C | Professor | Buck Institute | cbenz@buckinstitute.org |
Blau, H | Professor | Stanford University | hblau2@stanford.edu |
Brand, M | Professor | Buck Institute | mbrand@buckinstitute.org |
Brem, R | Associate Professor | Buck Institute | rbrem@buckinstitute.org |
Brunet, A | Professor | Stanford University | abrunet1@stanford.edu |
Campisi, J | Professor | Buck Institute | jcampisi@buckinstitute.org |
Chang, H | Professor | Stanford University | howchang@stanford.edu |
Chen, D | Associate Professor | UCB | danicac@berkeley.edu |
Chua, K | Associate Professor | Stanford University | kfchua@stanford.edu |
Conboy, I | Associate Professor | UCB | iconboy@berkeley.edu |
Dillin, A | Professor | UCB | dillin@berkeley.edu |
Ellerby, L | Professor | Buck Institute | lellerby@buckinstitute.org |
Frydman, J | Professor | Stanford University | jfrydman@stanford.edu |
Garrison, J | Assistant Professor | Buck Institute | jgarrison@buckinstitute.org |
Haghighi, P | Professor | Buck Institute | phaghighi@buckinstitute.org |
Huang, T | Associate Professor | Stanford University | tthuang@stanford.edu |
Jagust, W | Professor | UCB | jagust@berkeley.edu |
Kapahi, P | Professor | Buck Institute | pkapahi@buckinstitute.org |
Kaufer, D | Professor | UCB | danielak@berkeley.edu |
Kennedy, B | Professor | Buck Institute | bkennedy@buckinstitute.org |
Lamba, D | Associate Professor | Buck Institute | dlamba@buckinstitute.org |
Lithgow, G | Professor | Buck Institute | glithgow@buckinstitute.org |
McMurray, C | Professor | LBNL | ctmcmurray@lbl.gov |
Melov, S | Professor | Buck Institute | smelov@buckinstitute.org |
Ramanathan, A | Assistant Professor | Buck Institute | aramanathan@buckinstitute.org |
Rando, T | Professor | Stanford University | rando@stanford.edu |
Schaffer, D | Professor | UCB | schaffer@berkeley.edu |
Schilling, B | Research Associate Professor | Buck Institute | bschilling@buckinstitute.org |
Tainer, J | Professor | LBNL | jatainer@gmail.com |
Verdin, E | Professor | Buck Institute | everdin@buckinstitute.org |
Wyss-Coray, T | Professor | Stanford University | twc@standford.edu |
Yaswen, P | Professor | LBNL | p_yaswen@lbl.gov |
Zeng, X | Professor | Buck Institute | xzeng@buckinstitute.org |
TO APPLY FOR A POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING SLOT
Individuals wishing to apply for a position on this training grant should contact a preceptor on the list — send the preceptor a CV, cover letter, and a list of three references. Either the preceptor or the trainee may select a second preceptor for joint training. The primary preceptor will then submit an application to the Training Program.
SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES WILL BE CHOSEN ON THE BASIS OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
- Quality as determined by publications, awards and recommendations, commitment to a career in basic or translational aging and/or age-related disease research, and relevance of the training project to aging or age-related disease.
- Collaborative projects between one or more preceptors, particularly inter-institutional projects, will be given special consideration.
- As required by NIH, trainees must be US citizens or permanent residents. Please verify.
Postdoctoral Association at the Buck
The post doctoral association (PDA) at the Buck is a vibrant and dynamic community. It’s composed of over 20 postdocs representing the many different labs within the institute. We’re a multicultural space where scientists from various backgrounds meet to discuss their experiences at the Buck and offer feedback and suggestions.
Representatives of the PDA meet on a monthly basis with our executive leadership to advocate for postdocs’ career development, benefits and organizational development. The PDA is also responsible for organizing, facilitating, and hosting career development seminars, as well as the annual postdoc appreciation week celebration.
The Buck PDA is an active member of the Bay Area Postdocs group which includes scientists from the various research institutions of the Bay Area, as well as the National Postdoc Association.
Because of our successful association team, the Buck provides a unique opportunity for postdocs to develop their leadership and communication skills, in addition to providing an excellent scientific training.
Buck Postdoc Appreciation

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The Buck is a collective of the world’s top scientists in the field of aging who are sharing their methods and expertise to find ways to help everyone lead fuller, healthier lives by ending age-related disease.
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Living Better Longer Together
Buck Institute for Research on Aging is an equal opportunity employer. Buck Institute seeks candidates whose experience and qualifications will enable them to contribute to our dedication to diversity and excellence. We are committed to building an organization that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs.
We look forward to getting to know you!