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Assistant/Associate/Specialist position in cancer immunotherapy available in the UCSF Dept. of Laboratory Medicine

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Position description

Assistant/Associate/ Full Specialist position in cancer immunotherapy available in the UCSF Dept. of Laboratory Medicine

Description: We are currently seeking a highly qualified candidate to participate on research in cancer immunotherapy at the University of California, San Francisco. The position will be under the direction of Arun Wiita, MD, PhD in the Dept. of Laboratory Medicine (https://wiitalab.ucsf.edu). Our lab focuses on immunotherapy, quantitative proteomics, and bench to bedside applications in blood cancers. This work will be an extension of our recent publication in Cancer Discovery (Nix et al, 2021), using a combination of “omics” methodologies, molecular biology, protein engineering, and cellular engineering to develop new therapies that can directly benefit cancer patients. Our goal is to address unmet needs for patients with blood cancers by developing new screening technologies, identifying novel therapeutic targets, and generating new therapies that can later be translated in clinical trials.

The ideal candidate for this position will be proficient in a highly collaborative environment, working with academic research groups and clinicians as well as with biotech industry partners. Extensive opportunities are available for participating in abstracts and publications. Candidates should have a strong interest in directly improving patient care through their research and gaining experience in preclinical therapeutic development in cancer. All mentorship and project design within our group is customized for the scholar's future career goals, whether remaining in academia or transitioning to industry.

The primary goal of this position is to participate in the development of new cancer therapeutics, including both leading an independent project as well as working collaboratively with others in the group to support their efforts. Techniques to be used include basic molecular and cell biology (cloning, Westerns, qPCR, etc.), protein immunoprecipitation, cell culture, microscopy, recombinant protein expression and purification, flow cytometry, lentiviral transduction of human immune cells, and in vitro cytotoxicity assays. Additional techniques to be applied include mass spectrometry-based proteomics and analysis of multi-omics data. It is not expected that a candidate will have expertise in all of these areas prior to joining; training in new areas is one of the major goals of this position.

Qualifications: This position is open to applicants for Assistant, Associate, or Full Specialist positions at the University of California. The appropriate track will be determined based on highest degree obtained and extent of prior laboratory experience.

Applicants for the Assistant Specialist position must hold a minimum of a Master’s Degree. Applicants for the Associate Specialist position must hold a minimum of a Master’s Degree though a PhD (or equivalent) is preferred. Applicants for Full Specialist position must hold a PhD (or equivalent).

Qualified applicants will have obtained their degree from a Dept. of Biology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Immunology, Computer Science, or similar. Extensive experience in at least one of the following areas is required: 1) standard molecular biology techniques (as listed above); 2) cellular and protein biochemistry including immunoprecipitation; 3) recombinant protein expression and purification. Experience with “omics” techniques and associated data analysis are preferred though not required. Experience with cell culture, lentiviral transduction, cytotoxicity assays, drug screening, flow cytometry, are preferred but not required. A prior track record of research productivity, including first-author peer-reviewed original research publications, is highly preferred. Candidates must meet the required qualifications at the time of appointment. Candidate’s CV and/or cover letter must state qualifications (or if pending) upon submission. A minimum two-year commitment is required.

Environment: The University of California, San Francisco is a premier academic medical center excelling in both clinical care and basic science research. Our group is located in beautiful San Francisco, California. UCSF is one of the premier academic medical centers in the world, excelling in both basic science and clinical research. We are a multidisciplinary research group and our interests span from the basic to translational realms across a number of conditions, as well as new technology development combining chemical-based enrichment and quantitative proteomics. We offer competitive salary and benefits in line with cost-of-living in the Bay Area. We are fortunate to have numerous sources of funding including federal agencies and private foundations supporting our work. We are also fortunate to have extensive collaborations with other world-leading scientists across UCSF, as well as access to world-class core facilities to accelerate discoveries in biomedical research. Furthermore, our clinical collaborations allow for rapid translation of discovery from the bench to bedside. We have ongoing collaborations with leading protein engineering and cellular therapy groups at UCSF, the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and the UCSF Living Therapeutics Initiative to enhance the scope and impact of this work. The goal of this work is both to make new scientific discoveries but also ultimately impact the lives of patients.

Appointees in the Specialist series will be expected to engage in specialized research, professional activities and do not have teaching responsibilities. Specialists are expected to use their professional expertise to make scientific and scholarly contributions, and may participate in University and Public Service. Screening of applicants will begin immediately and will continue as needed throughout the recruitment period. Salary and rank will be commensurate with the applicants experience and training.

Please apply online at https://aprecruit.ucsf.edu/JPF03756, with a CV, cover letter, and three reference contacts.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - CV must clearly list current and/or pending qualifications (e.g. board eligibility/certification, medical licensure, etc.).

  • Cover Letter

  • Statement of Research (Optional)

  • Statement of Teaching (Optional)

  • Statement of Contributions to Diversity - Please see the following page for more details: https://diversity.ucsf.edu/contributions-to-diversity-statement
    (Optional)

  • Misc / Additional (Optional)

Reference requirements
  • 3 required (contact information only)

About UC San Francisco

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

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.

Job location

San Francisco, CA