Full-Time

Postdoctoral Research Associate

College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Posted on 12/13/2025

Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University

11-50 employees

University-backed pre-seed fund and accelerator

No salary listed

Pittsburgh, PA, USA

In Person

Category
Mechanical Engineering (1)
Requirements
  • Ph.D. in Engineering, Computational Biology, Biophysics, Chemistry, Molecular Biology, Genetics or related field
  • Laboratory expertise in DNA nanotechnology and/or molecular programming
  • Strong skills in analytical chemistry are a plus
  • A combination of education and relevant experience from which comparable knowledge is demonstrated may be considered
Responsibilities
  • Leads lab activities related to cloning and/or synthesis of nucleic acid nanotechnology
  • Designs and validates the performance of molecular sensing circuits
  • Designs and carries out experiments in BSL2 lab space
  • Performs quantitative analyses and generates data-rich visualizations from data
  • Demonstrates ability to perform multidisciplinary research
  • Develops SOPs for critical activities and trains lab members on their performance
  • Possesses strong verbal and written communication skills and a passion for research
  • Possesses an eagerness to learn new techniques and lead projects independently
Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University

View

CMU VentureBridge provides pre-seed funding and an accelerator for startups with at least one CMU-affiliated founder. It offers a 12-week summer program combining virtual and in-person activities, mentorship from experienced founders, and access to a venture network. Each accepted company receives a $25,000 grant from the university, supported by foundations, plus coworking spaces in tech hubs. The program culminates in a Demo Day to pitch to investors, and alumni have raised over $210 million in follow-on funding since 2018.

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Founded

2018

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • VentureBridge '25 invested 14 startups in AI, robotics, healthtech, cleantech sectors.
  • Portfolio companies raised $210M+ in follow-on funding post-acceleration.
  • Demo Day timing aligned with a16z NY Tech Week increases investor visibility.

What critics are saying

  • Y Combinator's university tracks offer $500K vs. VentureBridge's $25K minimum investment.
  • Intuitive Foundation grant ends 2025, eliminating primary funding source for seed checks.
  • Stanford StartX and competing accelerators attract top CMU alumni with superior networks.

What makes Carnegie Mellon University unique

  • CMU affiliation requirement creates exclusive founder network with deep technical talent.
  • Hybrid model across SF, NYC, Pittsburgh provides geographic flexibility for distributed teams.
  • 85+ portfolio companies valued over $1 billion demonstrate proven track record since 2018.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Professional Development Budget

Wellness Program

Commuter Benefits

Childcare Support

INACTIVE