The California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), part of the University of California, will hire up to 15 postdocs in a collaboration with drug firm Pfizer that expands a 2009 agreement to discover and develop technologies and drugs. Postdocs will be funded for two years in areas such as cardiovascular disease, immunology, neuroscience and oncology. They will learn to work with industry, says QB3 director Regis Kelly, who notes that this is a key activity given that many will go on to seek industry positions. Pfizer contributed US$9.5 million to the original partnership and will provide at least the same level of funding again, says Ron Newbold, Pfizer's vice-president for strategic research partnerships.