Junior Specialist - Knoepfler Lab

The Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy at the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, seeks to hire 1-2 full-time Junior Specialist in Dr. Paul Knoepfler's lab in the sub-specialty area of epigenetics and cellular research. Junior Specialist appointees will be involved in interdisciplinary studies focusing on questions within this sub-specialty. Junior Specialists will devote 90% of time to research and related activities, and 10% to professional competence and public service, as described below. Junior Specialist positions are short term, two-year maximum appointments made to help meet the needs of laboratory and department research projects. Appointments are 100% (full-time).

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 Dr. Knoepfler 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)

Successful candidates will participate in laboratory studies, assisting principal investigators (PI), senior investigators, postdoctoral researchers and/or graduate students. The incumbent will actively participate in creative activities including research presentation and publications. In addition, the incumbent will analyze and organize data that contributes to the writing of manuscripts suitable for publication. Candidates will participate in scientific discussions in the lab setting, weekly lab meetings and departmental conferences.

The incumbent will collaborate with other research personnel affiliated with research activities involving the roles of stem cells, genetics, and epigenetics in normal stem cell function, brain development, and brain diseases including cerebral palsy and brain tumors. The specific roles and duties include working with laboratory mouse models, culture of stem cell and cancer cells, cortical organoid development, gene editing, and biochemical assays on cells and organoids.

The junior specialist is given support and guidance for work assigned and will participate in ongoing projects, with individual responsibilities assigned in the lab. As the junior specialist gains expertise in experimental skills and makes substantial, novel discoveries, they will be expected to contribute to study design, data interpretation, as well as manuscript preparation and publication. As part of the training program in our lab, we will expect the junior specialist to hone their critical thinking, literature reading and writing skills, as well as to use their creativity when coming up with new ideas and research directions. The candidate will also assist the PI in peer review of journal articles, for example, by gathering relevant information from the literature. Thus, the nature of the work will be far beyond routine, technical work. The position also involves assisting with general lab research operations, working with the lab manager, and training of new lab members. The person hired needs to have ability to work as part of a team and be reasonably flexible in working hours in order to accommodate experimental schedules.

2. PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (5% EFFORT)

The Junior Specialist will be expected to give oral or poster presentations at departmental and other seminars, such as journal clubs and other 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.

A bachelor's degree in a field related to our research is required by the start date of this position. Example fields include biology, anatomy and cell biology, physiology, biochemistry, biomedical engineering or genetics.

Laboratory experience equivalent to one year, for instance as an undergraduate researcher.

Ability to organize tasks and manage time.

Ability to communicate effectively in writing, in person, virtually (on-line) and by telephone.

Willingness to work either interactively or independently within a large diverse lab group.

Attention to cleanliness and detail sufficient to meet commonly accepted standards of laboratory practice.

Willingness to adhere to UC Davis mandated laboratory safety and ethics standards.

Basic knowledge of UC Davis management and compliance tools such as the Pre-purchasing System or Learning Management System.

Familiarity with computer software for office productivity (word processing, spreadsheet); graphing, statistical analysis.

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

3

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, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

• "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, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
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• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

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