We are always interested in hearing from motivated researchers who want to work at the intersection of physical science and biological complexity.
Our lab sits in an unusual space: we are pharmaceutical scientists who think like engineers. The problems we work on — how drugs move through mucus, why antibiotic synergy fails in vivo, how particle structure governs dissolution in a living airway — require comfort with ambiguity, willingness to learn unfamiliar techniques, and genuine curiosity about how things work at a physical level.
If that sounds interesting, read on.
What We Look For
We don’t recruit for a specific background. Current and former lab members have come from pharmacy, chemical engineering, materials science, biology, and chemistry. What matters more than your discipline is your mindset:
An engineering sensibility. We build things — formulations, instruments, experimental platforms — and we want people who enjoy the process of designing, testing, and iterating. Our lab has become increasingly engineering-heavy, and we value people who are energized by that.
Curiosity that crosses boundaries. The problems we study don’t respect disciplinary lines. A typical week might involve spray drying particles in the morning, running bacterial susceptibility assays in the afternoon, and fitting a transport model in the evening. We’re looking for people who find that exciting rather than overwhelming.
A desire to learn how to think, not just what to do. We are less interested in whether you’ve already published in our exact field and more interested in whether you ask good questions, think critically about experimental design, and want to develop a deep understanding of the physical principles that govern drug delivery.
Openness. If you come in convinced that the answer is nanoparticles, or that the only interesting biologics are antibodies, this probably isn’t the right fit. We follow the science where it leads, and that often means learning entirely new areas.
What Training Looks Like
Graduate students in our lab get broad experimental training by design. You will not spend five years optimizing a single assay. Instead, you’ll work across multiple domains — solid-state characterization, aerosol science, microbiology, transport physics, formulation design — because the questions we ask require it.
You will also develop computational skills. Our research increasingly integrates modeling and data analysis alongside bench work, and we invest in making sure every lab member is comfortable moving between the two.
We are a collaborative group. Lab members regularly contribute to each other’s projects, share techniques, and push each other’s thinking. The environment is rigorous but supportive — we take the science seriously and treat each other well.
PhD Students
The Brunaugh Lab accepts graduate students through the University of Michigan Pharmaceutical Sciences PhD program. We do not directly admit students; prospective PhD students should apply to the program and indicate interest in our research. Admitted students are welcome to rotate in the lab.
If you’re considering applying and want to learn more about our work, you’re welcome to reach out by email. We’re happy to talk.
Postdoctoral Researchers
We periodically recruit postdocs with expertise in formulation science, aerosol engineering, microbiology, or transport phenomena. If you’re interested, send a CV and a brief note about what you’d want to work on to brunaugh@umich.edu.
Undergraduate and Master’s Students
We welcome undergraduate and master’s students at the University of Michigan who are interested in gaining research experience. Positions are available on a rolling basis depending on lab capacity and project needs. Reach out by email to inquire.
Visiting Scholars
We host visiting researchers and international interns when there is a good scientific fit. If you are interested in a visit, contact us with your background, proposed timeline, and research interests.
Interested? Contact us at brunaugh@umich.edu.