Professional Researcher in Molecular Biology and Neurogenomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases

The Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (IND) at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is seeking an outstanding and motivated individual to join our cutting-edge research institute aimed at elucidating the mechanisms of neurodegeneration and discovering new biomarkers and therapies targeting neuronal or glial cells for neurodegenerative diseases. The successful incumbent will help manage and contribute to our program in ex vivo human cell biology and in vivo rodent models, focused on deciphering the cellular and molecular basis for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) involving tauopathy (e.g., primary tauopathies). This position is a part of the Institute's broad focus on developing a highly skilled and multidisciplinary team to discover the causes of disease and develop effective pharmacologic treatments, cures, and diagnostic markers for these diseases. The IND is directed by Nobel Laureate Dr. Stanley Prusiner and is located at the Sandler Neurosciences Center at UCSF's Mission Bay campus, a world-renowned hub of biomedical research and discovery.

The successful applicant will be an experienced cell and molecular biology researcher with expertise in biomedical research and in the operation and support of state-of-the-art single-cell and spatial transcriptomics and metabolomics instrumentation and assays, including personnel training, experimental design, and project execution. They will be responsible for developing and applying these methods and skills to support the operation and ongoing research efforts of the Condello Lab. This will additionally include collaboration and research with other IND faculty and research teams on groundbreaking projects. Thus, the incumbent will be a skilled communicator with an interest in working as a team with members across disciplines at the IND to advance biomedical research efforts to understand the cell and molecular basis of neurons and glial signaling in brain aging and different neurodegenerative diseases and establish pre-clinical models to test putative therapeutics and diagnostics.

Responsibilities will include procurement, validation, and characterization of ex vivo human brain samples and transgenic rodents to study the role of neuron-glial cell interactions and their roles in neurodegenerative disease, which will include the use of single-cell and spatial transcriptomic methods, spatial metabolomics, standard biochemistry, and molecular biology methods, histological sectioning and staining techniques and fluorescence microscopy. The incumbent will also be responsible for establishing standard omics techniques for the lab, such as qRT-PCR, RNA and DNA sequencing, and various quality control validation assays to ensure the high integrity of samples and rigorous experimentation. As the projects evolve, they will also participate in the analysis of bio-fluid samples from animal models and postmortem human subjects to validate discoveries in brain tissues as potential biomarkers for diagnostic development. Further, they will perform mechanistic tests of candidate hit genes using viral vector or pharmacological approaches in relevant rodent models. The incumbent will perform data analysis and statistics using available software. As a senior member of the lab, and to build leadership skills, the incumbent will work with Dr. Condello to coordinate lab management and organization, as well as train junior postdoctoral scientists, graduate students, and lab technicians. Further, the incumbent will contribute to manuscript preparation for publications and grant proposal writing to support fundraising efforts for the Condello Lab. The incumbent will be required to verify all department safety training is complete and perform administrative and operational tasks to maintain EH&S compliance and good working order of relevant equipment in the wet lab bench area of the Condello Lab.

Personal Qualifications
Required:

• Possess a high sense of responsibility for his or her own career development, as well as for the well-being of our organization.
• Willingness to receive training and guidance from senior investigators as well as serve as a mentor to trainees on the project.
• Possess strong written and verbal communication skills as evidenced by scientific peer-reviewed publications and awarded fellowship proposals.

Education and Training Qualifications:
Required:

• Ph.D. degree in Neuroscience, Medical Science, Genetics, Biotechnology, or a closely related field.
  

Technical Qualifications
Required:

• 5+ years of experience in genomics including sample preparation, fluorescence microscope operation, high-throughput data collection, analysis, and graphical presentation.
• 5+ years of experience in working with animal models of aging and neurodegenerative disease and postmortem human brain samples.
• Demonstrated experience in user training and support for the operation of molecular biology and sequencing instruments and experimental protocols.

Preferred:

• Five -years minimum postdoctoral experience in ex vivo human tissue studies and in vivo rodent modeling.
• Expertise in human genomics, biology of neuronal and glial cell types, and computational and bioinformatic skills required for genomics data analysis.
• Biochemistry and Molecular biology expertise including protein, RNA, and DNA purification and analysis by in vitro methods, including sequencing methods.
• Histology expertise, including tissue sectioning, immunostaining, and fluorescence microscopy

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/JPF05269, with a CV, cover letter, and three references.

See Table 24B for the salary range for this position. A reasonable estimate for this position is $90, 200-$240,000.

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.