Research Scholar (Postdoctoral Fellowship)

Dr. Kristine Yaffe and the SFVA/UCSF Center of Population Brain Health are recruiting for an advanced two year Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program in Data Science Applications to Alzheimer disease and Alzheimer disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD) and Brain Health. Potential areas of application include bioinformatics, big data, genetic epidemiology, prognostic models, and machine learning. The fellowship is associated with the Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center at the San Francisco VA Health Care System is (MIRECC; VISN 21) and affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

The primary goal of the program is to train fellows with a doctoral degree in epidemiology, statistical genetics, bioinformatics, biostatistics, computer science, data science or similar quantitative field to become skilled investigators for advancing our understanding of AD/ADRD with a focus on solving new challenges in cognitive and brain health research. Over the course of the 2-year program, fellows are trained in bioinformatic concepts and computational methods with opportunities to generate novel approaches and tools to analyze AD/ADRD and brain health data. The successful candidate will work on large-scale datasets to address research questions including understanding risk and resilience factors of brain health, the AD/ADRD exposome across the life course, and mechanistic pathways of AD/ADRD development. Fellows will be responsible for driving an original research agenda while also gaining skills and training to become an independent investigator. Under the guidance of Fellowship Director, Dr. Kristine Yaffe, the candidate will have the opportunity to collaborate with investigators and participate in didactic sessions. Additional faculty mentors are affiliated with the SFVAHCS services for Mental Health, Medicine, Neurology, and Radiology, the UCSF/ SFVAHCS Center for Population Brain Health, the UCSF Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Neurology, Epidemiology/Biostatistics, Precision Medicine, Neuroscience, the Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, and the Global Brain Health Institute.

We are a team of multidisciplinary researchers, dedicated to advancing brain heath across the lifespan. We emphasize population-based research methods to identify risk and protective factors for AD/ADRD, cognitive aging, and brain health and to optimize cognitive and brain health in aging. The expertise of our faculty spans the fields of epidemiology, neurology, and psychiatry. This fellowship is funded by the Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

To apply, please complete your UltiPro application and email the following to Tina Hoang (Administrative Assistant) tina.hoang@va.gov

1. Letter of interest detailing your research experience, interests, career goals
2. CV
3. 3 letters of recommendation

The application deadline is November 15, 2026. 

NCIRE is an affiliate organization of the San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS), which requires all candidates to complete SFVA onboarding in addition to NCIRE's onboarding process. The SFVA is a federal agency that requires a federal background check, occupational health clearance, vaccines and immunizations, and drug testing for certain positions. Drug testing may include screening for marijuana which remains an illegal substance according to federal law.  The failure to pass required drug testing will disqualify candidates from employment.

The base wage range for this position is $70,304.00 - $79639.96 per year. The wage actually offered to a successful candidate will take into account various relevant and non-discriminatory business factors including, without limitation, the candidate’s geographic location, job-related experience, knowledge, and skills, and education, as well as internal equity considerations. A successful candidate may also be eligible to earn additional compensation including bonuses.

NCIRE is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  This position requires access to United States Government research under the Veterans Administration. Per Veterans Administration regulations surrounding access to US research, qualified US Citizens will be selected over other individuals eligible to work in the United States.  If you are eligible to work in the United States, you may still be considered for this position but only if no qualified US citizens apply.