Are you passionate about using your skills in biomedical data science, statistical modeling, or human genetics to make a real-world impact on human health? The Tanigawa Lab at UCLA is a new group in the Department of Bioengineering, established in July 2025. We are looking for highly motivated trainees to join our group.
What do we work on?
Our group investigates disease heterogeneity: why individuals differ in disease onset, progression, and treatment response. We develop statistical models and computational tools to uncover the mechanistic basis of inter-individual variation in the disease. Our long-term goal is to provide more tailored prevention and treatment strategies for everyone.
We are interested in the following topics: computational genomics, statistical modeling, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), cross-ancestry polygenic prediction, and therapeutic target discovery.
Please check our Research page for current research directions, representative studies, and selected external coverage.
We are recruiting multiple positions
We are looking for motivated students and postdocs. Please see the description below.
🤖 Notes on the use of Generative AI
You are more than welcome to use Generative AI for ideation, gathering information, and grammatical refinement. However, you must review, edit, and take full responsibility for the content of all submitted application materials. By submitting your application, you certify that the materials accurately and genuinely represent your own work.
Generic sentences rarely make your case strong. I'd like to hear from you.
Postdoctoral Scholars
The Tanigawa Lab has Postdoc openings.
The Tanigawa Lab has Postdoc openings. Postdoctoral Scholars recruited for this position (JPF10675) will work closely with me on a mutually agreed-upon interdisciplinary project on representation learning for disease heterogeneity dissection.
Please provide the following materials:
Curriculum Vitae: Your most recently updated CV with a complete list of publications, preprints, and submitted manuscripts.
Cover Letter (up to two pages): Please describe your specific interests in joining our group, along with your assessment of the nature of the fit between your background, future goals, and our research environment. Please indicate the expected start date and provide your contact information (email and phone).
Statement of Research (up to two pages): Please describe your past and current research accomplishments, their relevance to future research projects in the lab on representation learning for disease heterogeneity dissection, and your long-term (> 5 years) research goal(s).
Statement of Teaching (up to two pages): If you have experience or interests in mentoring students for research projects, please describe them in this optional statement.
After the initial review date, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we will contact shortlisted finalists. In the meantime, I encourage you to apply for postdoctoral fellowships, and I am happy to provide the best possible support. The position will remain open until filled.
The application deadline is December 1, 2026. I strongly encourage you to reach out to me before the application deadline to discuss your motivation, interests, and qualifications. In Bioengineering, our research area (field of study) is Field 4: Biomedical Data Sciences (BDS). In your Statement of Purpose, please describe your specific research interests.
If you are not familiar with the styles of application materials, you may find it helpful to review the CommKit articles developed by MIT School of Engineering’s Communications Lab. They organize guides and examples by academic discipline. My research spans the following disciplines: Biomedicine & Genomics, Biological Engineering, and Electrical Engineering & Computer Science.
PhD Students at UCLA
If you are already at UCLA as a PhD student and interested in our lab, I would love to grab coffee with you.
If you are already at UCLA as a PhD student and are interested in our lab, I would love to grab coffee with you.
I am happy to host you for a laboratory rotation if there is a good mutual fit. Please reach out to me. You may also find this blog post helpful: my mentoring philosophy.
Master’s and Undergraduate Students at UCLA
If you are interested in doing research within our lab, please reach out to me, explaining your motivation, interests, and qualifications.
If you are interested in doing research within our lab, please reach out to me, explaining your motivation, interests, and qualifications. Depending on the advising capacity of the lab, we may prioritize students whose background aligns clearly with our research interests, and we may sometimes advise specific preparatory coursework before starting a project. Please reach out to me. You may also find this blog post helpful: my mentoring philosophy.
Research Interns and Visiting Students
In some exceptional cases, the lab will accept research interns and visiting student positions.
When there is strong alignment, the lab may accept visiting scholars, visiting students, and research interns. Preference is given to visitors and students who have relevant backgrounds and would like to use their research experience in the lab toward scientific publications. You may also find this blog post helpful: my mentoring philosophy.
Why join us?
The lab provides a strong computational environment and a robust network for collaboration with world-renowned experts in the field. As one of the early members of a new lab, you may also receive especially direct mentorship and the chance to help shape lab culture. I work with students, postdoctoral scholars, and visiting researchers across career stages. Please also see my mentoring philosophy for how I think about training, expectations, and support in the lab.
Let’s get in touch!
You may find me on the UCLA campus, at conferences, or by email. Please send your email to joinus [at] tanigawalab [dot] org, describe your specific interests in joining the lab, and include the most up-to-date version of your resume or CV.
📬 Notes on recruitment inquiries
Recruitment emails sent to addresses other than the joinus email address may not receive a response.
I will also ignore generic emails. Your inquiry needs to be specific to this lab.
