Career Center

Junior or Assistant Specialist, Buchwalter Laboratory, Cardiovascular Research Institute

The Buchwalter laboratory seeks a Junior or Assistant Specialist to join the team at the Cardiovascular Research Institute on UCSF’s Mission Bay campus. This position has a flexible start date range from March to June of 2022. We are working to understand the function and dynamic regulation of the nuclear lamina, which is a structure found at the edge of most eukaryotic nuclei that strengthens the nucleus and influences genome organization and gene expression. Our interest is motivated by hints that the lamina is essential for normal development, and by the existence of a group of rare diseases known as “laminopathies” that are linked to mutations in the Lamin proteins.

Our mission is to make meaningful contributions to science while fostering an inclusive laboratory culture that values both individual growth and effective teamwork. We believe that making scientific discoveries requires the audacity to question existing knowledge and the confidence to explore the unknown. “Success” to us means empowering each lab member to discover. We welcome, respect, and advocate for members across the spectra of race, gender, and socioeconomic class. We embrace cultural differences and recognize that a diversity of perspectives makes for a stronger, more creative team. Applicants can learn more about current team members and projects at buchwalterlab.ucsf.edu.

The Junior or Assistant Specialist will work under the guidance of the Principal Investigator (Abby Buchwalter) and will perform two major roles: laboratory management (~30%) and experimental work (~70%).

The Buchwalter lab is a team of ~8 students and postdocs. The Specialist will maintain basic laboratory organization to support the team by performing functions including: placing orders, ensuring that laboratory databases are kept up to date, maintaining basic equipment, and maintaining the lab’s compliance with UCSF safety standards. We are a well-organized group with existing databases, order records, and equipment maintenance logs to ease this workload.

The Specialist will have the opportunity to take a leadership role in an ongoing project that will involve experimental workflows such as:

• Molecular biology and biochemistry: RNA and DNA extractions, cloning, mutagenesis, quantitative PCR, protein immunoprecipitations, Western blotting, and proteomic sample preparation
• Next generation sequencing workflows: library preparation, RNAseq, ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq, Cut-and-Run

• Bioinformatic workflows for analysis of next generation sequencing and/or proteomic data
• Stem cell culture: CRISPR editing, stem cell culture, directed differentiation, and fluorescence microscopy of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)

Candidates for the Junior Specialist rank must possess (or in process of obtaining) a Bachelor’s degree in the Life Sciences with at least one year of experience working in biology laboratory. Candidates for the Assistant Specialist rank must possess (or in process of obtaining) a Master’s degree in a Life Sciences or must have at least five years of laboratory experience with a Bachelor’s degree. Applicants must have obtained the degree requirement for the Specialist rank by the time of hire. Applicant’s materials must list (pending) qualifications upon submission. The ideal candidate would have experience with some of the techniques listed above. However, we value curiosity, creativity, strong analytical and organizational skills, and the motivation to work both independently and to support the goals of the team above specific technical experience.

We ask applicants to apply online at https://aprecruit.ucsf.edu/JPF03837 with a short cover letter describing your background and interests, a CV, and contact information for 2 references. Informal inquiries to Dr. Abby Buchwalter are welcome (abigail.buchwalter@ucsf.edu) but formal applications must be submitted through AP Recruit.

UC San Francisco seeks candidates whose experience, teaching, research, or community service that 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.