Skip to main content

Knox Lab - Assistant Specialist

We are no longer accepting applications for this recruitment. Browse open recruitments

Position description

Assistant Specialist position available at the UCSF Department of Cell and Tissue Biology

School: UCSF School of Dentistry
Department: Cell and Tissue Biology
Rank: Specialist
Salary Step: commensurate with experience and education
Hours: full-time
Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:30 – 5:00 pm (with some flexibility) plus occasional evening and weekends.

Job Description: The Knox lab at the Parnassus campus of UCSF is looking for a Specialist to work on research projects that require excellent understanding of techniques, including biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, immunology, mouse genetics, RNAseq, 3D confocal microscopy, and image analysis. The candidate must be able to work independently as well as with other members of the laboratory and neighboring laboratories to provide experimental, analytical, and organizational support towards our goal of understanding the signaling mechanisms that control organ development, regeneration and disease. Our studies focus on the mechanisms used by nerves to regulate biological and pathological processes, with an emphasis on autoimmune disease and aging. The candidate’s chief responsibilities will be to direct, perform and analyze experiments as required. The candidate will also be expected to help develop new analysis methods, set up, organize, generate figures for manuscripts, design posters for the communication of findings, maintain the lab and teach new lab members techniques.

The ideal candidate will have previous experience with all of the following techniques: mouse husbandry, cell culture, western blotting, immuno-fluorescence, molecular biology and PCR, microscopy, and statistical hypothesis testing) and familiarity with Fiji, Adobe Illustrator, Nikon Elements, and/or Zeiss software. Candidates should be detail-oriented, capable of working independently and in small groups, and possess excellent organization, analytical, and communication skills. Candidates must be willing and eager to work closely with other faculty and their lab members. We are looking for a minimum 3-year commitment. Candidates who have a strong track record in publishing and communicating science are particularly encouraged to apply.

Summary: Perform and analyze complex experiments involving organ culture, immunofluorescence, mouse genetics and cell biology, as well as computational image analysis techniques and to actively participate in writing and editing of manuscripts generated from the data.

Job Responsibilities:
Independently perform and analyze experiments under the guidance of the PI, teach new lab members techniques, maintain the lab and animal colony. This will include a variety of cell biology and biochemical techniques such as mammalian tissue culture, western blotting, immuno-precipitation, live-cell microscopy, and indirect immunofluorescence and utilization of Fiji and Zeiss software. The candidate will be expected to document analysis and research findings with MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Analyse-IT, and Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator software.

Additional duties will include participating in general laboratory set-up, organization and maintenance, assistance with ordering and unpacking supplies, training and orienting new members, presenting data at meetings and actively participating in group meetings to discuss both experimental minutiae and big picture ideas.

Education: Master’s degree in biological sciences or bioengineering or other relevant field (or a minimum of 5 years of research experience in the relevant specialization).

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience working in a biology or biomedical research lab. Demonstrated experience with performing experiments and with statistical hypothesis testing. Must have publication record.

Additional Qualifications for the position are:
• excellent organizational skills, excellent communication skills
• strong analytical abilities, problem-solving abilities, and detail oriented
• ability to maintain comprehensive laboratory notebook of experiments done on a daily basis
• ability to work independently and assess need for assistance from supervisor
• strong teaching skills
• excellent writing skills with publication record

Licensure/Certification/Registration: None required.

Physical Requirements: Normal physical requirements include good near visual acuity and color acuity. Requires manual dexterity and visual acuity when handling samples, analyzing data, and utilizing instrumentation.

Category: Research

UC San Francisco seeks candidates whose experience, teaching, research, or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to diversity and excellence.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status.

Please submit CV and the contact information for two references at https://aprecruit.ucsf.edu/apply/JPF02021.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Cover Letter (Optional)

  • Statement of Research (Optional)

  • Statement of Teaching (Optional)

  • Statement of Contributions to Diversity (Optional)

  • Misc / Additional (Optional)

Reference requirements
  • 2 required (contact information only)

Job location

San Francisco, CA