Openings at the MEI Lab

We are building a dynamic, interdisciplinary team at the University of Utah College of Pharmacy and are actively seeking highly motivated students who are passionate about advancing drug, gene, and cell delivery through molecular pharmaceutics and immunoengineering.

PhD Students

We invite applications from talented graduate students through the following programs:

  • PhD in Molecular Pharmaceutics

  • Bioscience PhD Program – [Biological Chemistry] Track

Application Deadline for Fall 2026: December 1, 2025

Our research group is especially interested in trainees who want to work on:

  • RNA delivery using lipid nanoparticles (RNA-LNPs)

  • Pharmaceutical chemistry and biomaterials design

  • Molecular pharmaceutics and controlled drug delivery

  • Immunology and immunoengineering approaches

Ideal candidates will have a strong academic background in one or more of the following:
Bioengineering, molecular biology, biochemistry, chemistry, molecular pharmaceutics, pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, medicinal chemistry, biological chemistry, chemical biology, or organic chemistry.

To learn more about our graduate programs and training environment, please explore the following:

Postdoctoral Fellows, Visiting Scholars & Students

We welcome:

  • Postdoctoral fellows interested in drug delivery, gene therapy, and immunoengineering

  • International visiting scholars and students (self-funded or supported by external fellowships)

If you are interested in joining us, please contact Dr. Kuo-Ching Mei with a CV, a brief statement of research interests, and information about potential funding sources (if applicable).

New Opportunity – STAR T32 Training Program

Dr. Kuo-Ching “KC” Mei is an affiliated mentor for postdoctoral fellows and a co-mentor for PhD students in the UTAH CTSI STAR T32 Training Program. This NIH-funded program provides structured interdisciplinary training, professional development, and access to world-class resources at the University of Utah and Huntsman Cancer Institute. Prospective postdocs and PhD trainees interested in translational research at the interface of molecular pharmaceutics, RNA/gene delivery, and immunoengineering are encouraged to apply and contact Dr. Mei for details.