Recruit

Junior/Assistant/Associate Specialist in Molecular Biology of Microglia in Neurodegenerative disease

The Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (IND) at the world-renowned University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic individual to join our state-of-the-art neuroscience research institute aimed at defining mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration. The IND is directed by Dr. Stanley Prusiner, who discovered prions, and is located at UCSF’s Mission Bay campus, an outstanding hub of neuroscience and biomedical research. This position supports the Institute’s multidisciplinary research approach to discover the causes of neurodegenerative disease and to develop new biomarkers and treatments, which are urgently needed.

The Kampmann lab develops and uses innovative technologies to understand cellular and molecular mechanisms of human diseases and to discover new therapeutic strategies. A major focus of our research is on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease. To this end, we have established a CRISPR-based functional genomics platform for genetic screens in human iPSC-based models of disease (Tian et al., 2019; Neuron). Our lab is part of the UCSF research community, the Chan Zuckerberg Neurodegeneration Challenge Network, the Tau Consortium, and other collaborative research groups, providing us with an outstanding network of collaborators and access to other cutting-edge technologies. We are an interdisciplinary group of postdocs, graduate students, and staff research associates. We are proud of our lab culture of intellectual curiosity, collaboration, support, diversity, and fun! Read more about our lab at kampmannlab.ucsf.edu.

In this position, you will be working as a member of a research team developing innovative, CRISPR/Cas9-based functional genomics approaches to understand the disease mechanism and to identify potential therapeutic strategies. You must be willing to work in a team, be organized, enjoy problem-solving, and have strong communication skills. As you become familiar with our methodology, there will be opportunities to work independently on research projects. Based on your interest and expertise, you will be able to contribute to bioinformatics analysis of data as well. Past staff research associates have been integral co-authors on high impact publications in the lab.

The candidate must be able to make a two-year commitment.

Responsibilities include experiments based on mammalian cell culture (including iPSCs and iPSC-derived neurons and glia), molecular biology (including construction of DNA vectors, and qPCR), preparation of samples for next-generation sequencing, performing flow cytometry, biochemistry, functional assays, imaging, performing basic statistical calculations, and other duties as assigned. No more than 30% of the time will be spent on lab management tasks, such as glass washing, autoclaving, preparing and aliquoting buffers and media, pouring bacterial plates, cleaning of waterbaths, accepting deliveries, and checking inventory.

**Personal Qualifications

Required:**

• Possess a high sense of commitment for advancing biomedical research and career development.
• Excellent record-keeping and organizational abilities
• Strong sense of responsibility with all lab duties

Education and Training Qualifications:
Required:

• Junior Specialist- Baccalaureate degree in Biology, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience, Bioengineering or related fields in the life or medical sciences or at least four years of research experience.
• Assistant Specialist- Master’s degree or a Baccalaureate degree in Biology, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience, Bioengineering or related fields in the life or medical sciences with three or more years of research experience.
• Associate Specialist- Master’s degree (or equivalent degree) in Biology, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience, Bioengineering or related fields in the life or medical sciences or five to ten years of research experience.

Technical Qualifications

Required:

• Demonstrated experience in performing cell culture protocols.
• Working knowledge of basic lab techniques and molecular biology methods, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations and statistical tests in spreadsheet formats.

Preferred:

• Expertise in human pluripotent stem cell maintenance, differentiation of stem cells, and biological assay development.
• Biochemistry and Molecular biology expertise including RNA, and DNA purification, qPCR, western blotting, and flow cytometry
• Bioinformatics experience

Candidates must meet the required qualifications at the time of appointment. Candidate’s CV must state qualifications (or if pending) upon submission.

Please apply online at https://aprecruit.ucsf.edu/JPF05576, with a CV, cover letter, and three references.

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.

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

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.
• “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, or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment