UCLA Tanigawa Lab (est. 2025) is recruiting!

We are a new group established in July 2025 in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of California, Los Angeles.

What do we work on?

Our group investigates disease heterogeneity: why individuals differ in disease onset, progression, and treatment response. We apply computational and statistical approaches to uncover the mechanistic basis of inter-individual variation in the disease, with the long-term goal of providing more tailored prevention and treatment strategies for everyone. We are interested in the following topics:

• Computational genomics for disease heterogeneity dissection
• Statistical modeling (distributional regression of complex traits and causal inference)
• AI and Machine learning for investigating disease mechanisms from single-cell & multi-omics
• Cross-ancestry polygenic prediction and integration of biological annotations
• Therapeutic target discovery and validation from human genomic evidence

We are recruiting multiple positions

We are looking for motivated students and postdocs who are excited to work at the intersection of computational genomics, statistical modeling, and precision medicine. Please see the description below according to your career stage and affiliations.

Postdoctoral Researcher

The Tanigawa Lab has Postdoc openings. Formal job postings will be shared soon. Postdoctoral fellows will work closely with me on interdisciplinary projects on disease heterogeneity dissection. We expect you to have a Ph.D. or equivalent qualification in biomedical data science or a closely related discipline at the date of hire. The start date is flexible. Please reach out to me.

Prospective PhD students

The Tanigawa Lab has funded PhD opportunities and can accept students through the Bioengineering Department. Please check the eligibility and requirements for the Graduate Program in Bioengineering and apply accordingly. I strongly encourage you to reach out to me before the application deadline to discuss your motivation, interests, and qualifications.

For your graduate training, I will provide necessary mentorship, support, and resources to ensure your professional success. At the same time, I expect students to take the initiative and ownership of their graduate education. I recommend "How to Get a PhD" by Phillips and Johnson as a general resource that guides you through the process.

PhD students at UCLA

If you are already admitted to a graduate program at UCLA and are interested in working with me on research projects (including laboratory rotation), I'd be glad to meet for coffee on campus to discuss your interests. Please reach out to me.

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. Depending on the advising capacity of the lab, we may prioritize students whose background aligns clearly with our research interests. Sometimes, we may advise you to study specific technical aspects in classes before working on research projects. Please reach out to me.

Research interns and visiting students

In some exceptional cases, the lab will accept research interns and visiting student positions. The preference is given to students/visitors who would like to use the research experience in the lab towards scientific publications. Please reach out to me.

Where can you learn more about our work?

A mutual fit between the advisor and trainee is critically important to ensure the success of your time in the lab. To that end, I strongly encourage you to consider your long-term career goals, learn about our work, and assess its alignment with your objectives. When we meet, I am happy to learn about your specific interests and discuss how my lab and I can support your professional success.

You may find out about our research interests in our recent publications and coverage in the news. Below are some of our recent news coverage.

• Making genetic prediction models more inclusive
• Author interview by American Journal of Human Genetics
• Gene variants that protect against glaucoma identified, opening therapeutic possibilities | FinnGen
• Method goes “below the limit” to enhance genetic discovery | MIT CSAIL
• Unlocking new predictive powers in personalized genetic risk forecasts | MIT CSAIL
• Yosuke Tanigawa | Innovators Under 35

The video below is from the CSAIL Computational Biology Lab Tour in 2024, a research overview tailored for the industry audience.

Let's get in touch!

You may find me at the UCLA campus, at conferences, or by email. Please send your email to tanigawa [at] ucla [dot] edu and describe your specific interests in joining the lab, and include the most up-to-date version of your resume or CV.