Junior, Assistant, Associate, and Full Specialist – Chen lab

Job Description

Junior, Assistant, Associate, and Full Specialist | Chen lab at UCSF

The Tone:
This is a full-time role at the Chen lab at UCSF, located in San Francisco, CA. The Chen lab is dedicated to advancing neuroscience by developing cutting-edge technologies designed to study brain-body physiology and create new therapies for circuit disorders. Specialists in this role are crucial contributors to our interdisciplinary team, directly involved in experimental research, scientific publication, and essential lab management, all while receiving close mentorship and career development guidance.

The TL;DR
• Role: Full Time
• Type: Full-time
• Location: In-person, San Francisco, CA
• Pay: $55000–$194800 yearly
• Mission: Contribute to developing advanced technologies and understanding neurobiology to advance therapies for circuit disorders, through direct involvement in experimental research and lab operations.
• Tech Stack: stereotaxic procedures, electrophysiology recording, animal husbandry, molecular biology (cloning, making vectors), immunohistochemistry

What You’ll Actually Do
• Experiments: Execute experiments to record and stimulate specific neurons in vitro and in vivo, aligning with the lab’s research focus on brain-body physiology and circuit disorders.
• Procedures: Perform specialized experimental procedures, which may include stereotaxic surgeries, electrophysiology recording, and immunohistochemistry.
• Techniques: Apply advanced molecular biology techniques, such as cloning and the creation of vectors, to further research objectives and develop cutting-edge technologies.
• Publications: Contribute substantially to the preparation of scientific papers for publication, ensuring accurate reporting of research findings and methodologies.
• Lab Management: Manage critical lab operations, encompassing the oversight of supply inventories, equipment maintenance, and ensuring full compliance with health and safety regulations in collaboration with relevant departments.

The Must-Haves
• Background: A baccalaureate degree or equivalent is required in Biological Engineering, Materials Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Neuroscience, Molecular Biology, or a closely related scientific discipline.
• Experience: Demonstrated research experience commensurate with the desired Specialist level: Junior (at least four years of research experience or baccalaureate degree), Assistant (Master’s or baccalaureate with 3+ years research), Associate (Master’s or five to ten years experience), or Full (terminal degree or ten or more years experience). Prior involvement in engineering biomolecules, cells, or devices within the nervous system, or understanding the neurobiology of interoception, is highly valued.
• Skills: Possess excellent organizational skills to manage complex experiments and lab duties effectively. Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills for scientific reporting and team collaboration. Exhibit a proactive willingness and ability to adapt to new techniques and acquire new skills as research priorities evolve.