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Junior or Assistant Specialist Position in Brain Research – Nowakowski Lab, UCSF

The Nowakowski Lab in the Department of Neurological Surgery at UCSF is seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Junior or Assistant Specialist to join our team. This full-time position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research focused on understanding brain development and regeneration using human tissue models. The ideal candidate will play a key role in facilitating access to human tissue, optimizing tissue culture protocols, and supporting the lab’s research efforts.

This position is ideally suited for individuals with a strong interest in neuroscience, molecular biology, or regenerative medicine, and who are looking to gain hands-on research experience in preparation for graduate, medical, or MD/PhD training. This is a one-year appointment, with the possibility of reappointment based on performance and funding availability.

Key responsibilities will involve coordinating with clinical teams to transport human tissue samples for research purposes, while ensuring compliance with institutional and ethical guidelines for tissue collection and use. You will be responsible for transporting tissue samples from clinical sites to the laboratory, and processing the tissue samples for downstream applications, including tissue culture and molecular analysis. You will be developing and refining protocols for culturing human brain tissue and primary cells, maintaining detailed records of experimental conditions and outcomes, and troubleshoot and improve existing protocols to enhance reproducibility and efficiency.

You will manage laboratory supplies and reagents, ensuring availability for ongoing experiments, and collaborate with lab members to support research projects and contribute to data collection and analysis. Finally, you will participate in lab meetings, journal clubs, and research presentations, and engage in independent literature research to stay current with advancements in the field.

You will work in a dynamic and collaborative research environment at a world-renowned institution and gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge techniques in neuroscience and regenerative medicine. You will contribute to impactful research that advances our understanding of brain development and disease.

We encourage applications from individuals whose experiences and perspectives align with our mission to advance health and science through innovation and collaboration.

Required Qualifications:

• Junior Specialist - Baccalaureate degree (or equivalent degree) or at least four years of research experience.
• Assistant Specialist - Master’s degree or a baccalaureate degree with 3 or more years of research experience.
• Strong organizational and communication skills are essential, as well as preparedness for work in a high-pace environment.

See Table 24B for the salary range for this position. A reasonable estimate for this position is $53,100 - $68,300.

Please apply online at https://aprecruit.ucsf.edu/JPF05509.

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.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.
• “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000385/SVSH
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-035.pdf