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menu-mlid-2066"><a href="/doing-research-ucsf">Research</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first last leaf menu-mlid-13226"><a href="/fund-your-research">Fund Your Research</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-2021"><a href="/career">Career</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-2071"><a href="/idp">Make a Plan – the IDP</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2076"><a href="/networking">Network</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-13231"><a href="/postdoc-statistics">Postdoc Statistics</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-13236"><a href="/postdocs-ucsf">Postdoc Demographics</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-14641"><a href="/postdoc-career-outcomes">Career Outcomes</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2036"><a href="/community">Community</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2376"><a href="/housing-commuting">Housing</a></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-2026"><a href="/pay-and-benefits">Pay & Benefits</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf 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field-name-field-paragraph-sliders field-type-paragraphs field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="entity entity-paragraphs-item paragraphs-item-slider"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-name-field-pg-slider-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="bg-slider-image" style="background-image:url('https://postdocs.ucsf.edu/sites/g/files/tkssra2836/f/styles/slider_secondary/public/mentor-and-postdoc.png?itok=g0CphplA')"></div></div></div></div><div class="group-slider-content field-group-div"><div class="group-slider-inside field-group-div"><div class="field field-name-field-pg-slider-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Finding the right mentor is crucial to your future as a researcher.</div></div></div></div></div> </div> </div> </div></div></div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="main-wrapper"> <div id="main" class="clearfix"> <div id="content" class="column"> <div class="inside"> <a id="main-content"></a> <div class="tabs"></div> <div class="region region-content"> <div id="block-system-main" class="block block-system"> <div class="content"> <div id="node-526" class="node node-page slider-secondary clearfix" about="/step-one" typeof="sioc:Item foaf:Document"> <span property="dc:title" content="Step One" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-name-field-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h1>Finding a Postdoctoral Adviser</h1> <hr /> <p> </p> <div class="wysiwyg_twocols layout--50-50"> <div class="wysiwyg_twocols--first bg--transparent"> <ul> <li><strong>The first step</strong> in obtaining a postdoc appointment at UCSF is to identify a faculty member whose research program aligns with your research interests and fits your personal goals. Start by exploring the <a href="http://profiles.ucsf.edu/search/" target="external">researcher profiles</a> on UCSF Profiles. Also talk to your current PhD program mentors, who may have connections with researchers at UCSF, for recommendations.</li> <li>Some, but not all, open postdoc positions at UCSF are posted on the <a href="https://opportunities.ucsf.edu" target="_blank">jobs and opportunities board</a> of UCSF's <a href="http://career.ucsf.edu" target="_blank">Office of Career and Professional Development</a>. If you are coming to UCSF with your own funding, and your research is an excellent fit, a postdoc opening may even be created for you. </li> <li>Once you have determined a lab you want to work in at UCSF, send a letter of interest and your CV directly to the PI. Postdocs are not hired through a central office at UCSF (or at most universities in the U.S.), but rather by individual labs and faculty members.</li> </ul> </div> <div class="wysiwyg_twocols--second bg--transparent"> <ul> <li>Follow up with an email or phone call if you do not hear back from the PI within a week or two.</li> <li>If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the UCSF <a href="http://isso.ucsf.edu">International Students and Scholars Office</a> for information about getting a visa and other considerations.</li> <li>Before accepting a postdoc position, try to communicate with other postdocs in the lab separately from the PI and ask for their candid feedback on the culture in the lab. Is the PI supportive and available to postdocs? Is morale high or low? Do people get along? Have former postdocs from the lab been successful? Is the lab currently well-funded?</li> </ul> <p><strong>Got your postdoc lined up? <a href="/step-two">Take these next steps before you start. >></a></strong></p> </div> </div> <p><strong><a href="/plan-out-your-postdoc"><< Go back to the timeline</a></strong>.</p> </div></div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="sidebar" class="column"> </div> </div></div> <div id="footer"> <div class="section"> <div class="region region-footer"> <div id="block-block-6" class="block block-block"> <div class="content"> <div class="par-bigger"></div> <div class="wysiwyg_threecols layout--33-33-33"> <div class="wysiwyg_threecols--first bg--undefined bg--transparent"> <p><strong>The Office for Postdoctoral Scholars</strong><br /> Graduate Division<br /> 1675 Owens Street, Suite 310<br /> Campus Box 0523<br /> San Francisco, CA 94143<br /> email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bcccd3cfc8d8d3dfcffcc9dfcfda92d9d8c9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4d3d223e3929222e3e0d382e3e2b63282938">[email protected]</span></a></p> </div> <div class="wysiwyg_threecols--second bg--undefined bg--transparent"> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong> Meet with an advisor one on one:</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a class="btn--large btn--more--white" href="http://postdocs.ucsf.edu/appointments">Schedule an Appointment</a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Search for postdoc and other opportunities:</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a class="btn--large btn--more--white" href="https://opportunities.ucsf.edu" target="_blank">Opportunities</a></p> </div> <div class="wysiwyg_threecols--third bg--undefined bg--transparent"> <p style="text-align: right;"><strong><a href="/who-we-are">About</a></strong></p> <p style="text-align: right;"><a href="/events"><strong>Events</strong></a></p> <p style="text-align: right;"><a href="/news"><strong>News</strong></a></p> <p style="text-align: right;"><a href="/listservs"><strong>Listservs</strong></a></p> <p style="text-align: right;"><strong><a href="/alumni">Alumni</a></strong></p> <p style="text-align: right;"><strong><a href="/postdoc-statistics">Statistics</a></strong></p> </div> </div> <p> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="footer-bottom"> <nav aria-label="Footer Navigation" class="footer--navigation"> <ul> <li><a href="/who-we-are">Contact Us</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/accessibility-resources">Accessibility</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/website-privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://websites.ucsf.edu/website-terms-use">Terms of Use </a></li> <li><a href="https://websites.ucsf.edu/azlist">A-Z Website List</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div class="footer--copyright"> <p>© 2025 The Regents of the University of California</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script><script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ (function() { var sz = document.createElement('script'); sz.type = 'text/javascript'; sz.async = true; sz.src = '//siteimproveanalytics.com/js/siteanalyze_8343.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(sz, s); })(); /*]]>*/ </script> </body> </html>