Job Opportunities

The laboratory of Nadean Brown, in the Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy at the University of California Davis, is recruiting one postdoctoral scholar. The successful candidate will join an established, NIH-funded project that evaluates the Pax2 gene -- both its cis-regulation, via deeply-conserved, noncoding DNA enhancers, and its in vivo genetic requirements in the prenatal and postnatal mouse eye. We offer a supportive, diverse, and stimulating laboratory and departmental environment, cutting-edge instrumentation and facilities, and a strong culture of scientific interactions with nearby labs. UC Davis has >50 labs working broadly in the visual system.

More information about Nadean Brown and the lab can be found at the Brown Lab.

The Postdoctoral Associate will conduct research that tests the necessity and sufficiency of candidate Pax2 ocular enhancers, assist with conditional mouse mutant analyses and develop new methods for isolating cells in the Pax2 ocular lineage(s). The chosen candidate will also be expected to collaborate with other group members and collaborators, both in nearby campus labs, and at other universities. The primary worksite is the merged Brown-Glaser laboratories within Tupper Hall. The chosen candidate will receive extensive specialized training and frequent mentoring, but also ample opportunities to develop an independent research program. They are also expected to stay abreast of current literature, design and execute experiments, train new lab members, evaluate data for grant applications and journal publications, contribute to journal peer-review, and present research findings at local and national level scientific conferences.

Work/life Balance: UC Davis is a supportive, diverse, and collaborative community, ideally situated in the sunny Sacramento Valley between beautiful Lake Tahoe for winter skiing and summer beaches, the San Francisco Bay Area and the Northern California coastline.

Qualifications: Applicants must have a Ph.D. degree in the life sciences. Strongest consideration will be given to applicants who recently completed their doctoral studies and have at least one first author publication. Candidates with experience in cell biology, genetics or developmental biology (any organism) are highly desirable. Experience with microscopy/imaging is an asset, but expertise with molecular, biochemical or genomic/bioinformatic techniques is also very welcome. Successful applicants already have a track record of working independently, but also enjoy working collaboratively.

Salary: The posted UC salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and/or step at appointment. See Table 23: Postdoctoral Scholar-Employee, Postdoctoral Scholar-Fellow, Postdoctoral Scholar-Paid Direct, Fiscal Year. The salary range for this position is $64,480 – $69,342. “Off-scale salaries”, i.e., a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions, qualifications, and experience.
and experience.

To Apply: Interested candidates should email the following items to Nadean L. Brown (nlbrown@ucdavis.edu)

• Curriculum vitae
• Cover letter describing your research accomplishments and specific interests in this project
• Minimum of 3 professional references (Name and Email Address)

Apply Here

Recruitment Period

Open Date: July 15, 2024

Next Review Date: August 5, 2024 - Apply by August 5, 2024 (11:59 p.m.) to be considered in the first round of applicants. All applicants received will be released to the Search Committee the following day. More review dates will continue to be added if the position is not filled.

Description

The Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy at the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, seeks to hire 1 employee as a Junior Specialist in Sergi Simó's lab. This position will be involved in interdisciplinary studies focusing on questions in developmental neuroscience and neurodegenerative diseases.

Major Responsibilities and Designated Areas of Expertise

The Junior Specialist has the general duties of working closely with the Principal Investigator (PI) in the planning and execution of research projects. The junior specialist may assist in data collection, entry and quality control, study design and implementation, literature reviews and data analysis for preparation of manuscripts or conference presentations, and writing conference abstracts and manuscripts (e.g., methods and results sections, table, and figure generation) for a particular project.

The incumbent will work under the supervision of Associate Professor Sergi Simó and work cooperatively and collegially in a diverse environment.

Successful candidates are expected to participate in three major categories of activities listed below:

1. Research (90% EFFORT)
   The incumbent will collaborate with other research personnel affiliated with research activities investigating cellular and molecular mechanisms of cell fate determination during nervous system development and neurodegenerative diseases. Experimental procedures performed by the Junior Specialist include transgenic mouse colony management, tattooing and genotyping of mice, brain tissue sectioning; and immunohistochemistry, confocal imaging and quantitative image analysis, plasmid cloning, and cell culture. The Specialist will work with the PI on experimental design but will be expected to carry out research projects independently with the expectation that their results will lead to publication. As such, the Specialist is required to have the skills needed to lead projects that will produce rigorously acquired, high-quality data. This position also involves presenting and participating in group meetings, reviewing journal articles, engaging in scholarly discussions of research, critical and creative thinking, and providing mentorship to more junior colleagues. Additionally, the position also requires careful attention to detail, including accurate and reproducible data analysis and faithful documentation of results. The ideal candidate will be motivated, have strong logistical and time-management skills, and be willing to work collaboratively with other team members.
2. Professional Competence and Activity (5% EFFORT)
   The Junior Specialist will have the opportunity to participate in departmental and other relevant seminar series, journal clubs, and other pertinent activities.
3. University and Public Service (5% EFFORT)
   The Junior Specialist may be expected to provide mentorship to undergraduate research assistants that rotate through the lab. They will be expected to participate and contribute to laboratory and group meetings, and other activities, as applicable.

This recruitment is conducted at the junior rank. The resulting hire will be at the junior rank regardless of the proposed appointee’s qualifications.

A reasonable estimate for this position is $25.44 at Step 1 or 27.11 at Step 2.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Neuroscience, or related Degree must be awarded before start date.
• Experience with cell culture, including handling of human cell
• Experience with immunohistochemistry in brain sections, including dissection, fixation, cryopreservation, sectioning, and imaging.
• Experience with molecular biology techniques, including PCR, gene cloning, mini- and maxi-prep preparation, etc.
• Experience performing protein analysis using Western
• Quantitative skills required for data analysis
• Display strong interpersonal and decision-making skills, organizational skills, and accurate record keeping capabilities
• Experience with laboratory safety and willingness to adhere to EH&S hazardous biological and chemical safety requirements
• A commitment to follow all laboratory standard operating procedures, proactively identify and address issues and/or troubleshoot with other laboratory personnel when necessary

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Experience with rodent handling
• Ability to perform transcardial perfusions in mice

To Apply

To apply, please go to the following link: JPF06589. This position will remain open until filled.

Qualified applicants should submit:

• Cover letter (Candidates must summarize their specific research experience that qualifies them for this position, generic statements will not be acceptable)
• CV
• Unofficial Transcripts
• Contact Information for 3 references