Title of the Position: Postdoctoral Associate Functional Genomics / Regulatory Genomics / Human Evolution & Disease
Department and School: Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine
Anticipated Appointment Dates: July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027
Proposed Compensation: $68,500 or commensurate with experience.
Email/Website: steven.reilly@yale.edu, https://www.reilly-lab.com, https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/steven-k-reilly/
Position Summary
The Reilly Lab seeks highly motivated Postdoctoral Associates to join an interdisciplinary research program focused on understanding how genetic variants impact human health, evolution, and disease. The lab seeks to answer a fundamental question remaining in biology: “how do genetic changes lead to functional changes at the molecular, cellular, and phenotypic level?” The Reilly Lab is funded by the NIH, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and other foundations, and is an affiliate of the Impact of Genomic Variation on Function (IGVF) consortium as well as part of an ENCODE functional characterization center. The lab is especially interested in non-coding cis-regulatory elements (CREs) and the variation within them, using high-throughput experimental approaches such as non-coding CRISPR screens, the Massively Parallel Reporter Assay (MPRA), saturation mutagenesis, and synthetic sequence design, alongside machine-learning models of regulatory grammar.
Responsibilities
The postdoctoral associate will – based on their research interest – contribute across one or more of the lab’s five core themes:
- Genomic Technology: Design and execute new, large-scale experimental screens to perturb CREs, including non-coding CRISPR screens and MPRAs.
- Deciphering Regulatory “Grammar”: Use saturation mutagenesis paired with machine-learning models to understand the rules by which CREs regulate gene expression.
- Interrogating Genetic Architectures: Explore how combinations of variants together create a phenotype or disease state through phenotype associations and network logic models.
- Writing Novel Genome Function: Design and validate synthetic sequences that promote cell-type-specific gene expression.
- Exploring Evolution & Human Health: Investigate how changes in the non-coding genome shape modern human phenotypes, disease risk, and the evolution of our species, including signals of positive selection across global populations.
In addition, the postdoctoral associate will:
- Analyze and interpret large-scale genomic, functional genomics, and population genetics datasets
- Contribute to manuscript preparation, grant writing, and collaborative projects within the lab and across the IGVF and ENCODE consortia
- Participate in written and oral communication of research findings
- Prep and publish original research, including abstracts and peer-reviewed manuscripts
- Mentor trainees (as appropriate) and participate in a highly interactive research environment
Location
Reilly Lab, Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, 1 Gilbert Street, TAC S340, New Haven, CT 06520
Qualifications
We’re looking for inquisitive, creative, and passionate researchers with a PhD, MD, or MD/PhD (or related field such as genetics, genomics, computational biology, biochemistry, machine learning, population genetics, or evolutionary biology). The lab is multi-disciplinary, and applicants from a variety of backgrounds — including those interested in human evolution, building new genomic tools, or analyzing complex data — would find a project here. Strong communication skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team are essential. A two-year commitment is required.
Training Environment
The postdoctoral associate will be embedded in a collaborative research environment that brings together expertise in functional genomics, regulatory genomics, machine learning, population genetics, and human evolution. As affiliates of the IGVF consortium and an ENCODE functional characterization center, the lab offers access to a vast, cutting-edge scientific support network at the national level. The position offers substantial opportunities for professional development, including mentorship in grant writing, leadership in large collaborative projects, and development of an independent research program in functional and evolutionary genomics. The lab prides itself on building an inclusive, supportive, and collaborative environment, deeply committed to the tailored professional development of all the lab’s trainees.
Application Instructions
Interested postdoctoral applicants should apply via Interfolio: https://apply.interfolio.com/184726 and include (1) a CV, (2) a brief description of their scientific interests and how these intersect with the lab’s interests, and (3) copies of their major manuscripts.