UCSD Layoff from Career Appointment: Apply by 5/22/19 for consideration with preference for rehire. All layoff applicants should contact their Employment Advisor.

Special Selection Applicants: Apply by 6/3/19. Eligible Special Selection clients should contact their Disability Counselor for assistance.

DESCRIPTION

In collaboration with the Principal Investigator, under general supervision, the Senior Research Associate will be responsible for making independent contributions to research and experiments. Incumbent will perform a) isolation of four cell types (hepatocytes, Hepatic Stellate Cells, Kupffer cells, and Endothelial cells) from livers which are rejected for transplantation; b) cell characterization and cryopreservation, storage, cataloging; c) in vitro studies using cell stimulation, co-culturing; d) generation of humanized mice. Incumbent will develop an independent scientific project focused on NASH and ASH-induced cross-talk between human hepatocytes/HSCs/Kupffer cells, characterization of their gene expression profile and epigenetic signature. Will assist in writing grant applications, applying for NIH funds to support the Human Cell Isolation lab and research projects. Will contribute to the preparation and editing of grant review proposals for federal, state and private funding agencies. Will draft, edit or criticize proposal aims and research plans.

The Senior Research Associate will manage and coordinate research efforts with other collaborators as appropriate for multidisciplinary research. Plan, execute and follow-up on high level regular and ad hoc meetings of investigators and management. Independently conceive, plan, and conduct research projects based on reviews of scientific literature and recent advances in related fields, organizing and executing all techniques involved. Contribute novel ideas of major methodological significance to the research projects, designing key experiments and developing new techniques. Will perform complex data analysis using various statistical tools. Will author or co-author scientific journal manuscripts and book chapters and report directly to funding agencies and journal editors. Prepare and implement research study budgets based on analysis of data. Perform other duties as needed.

The Senior Research Associate will contribute significant, innovative and original ideas and recommendations concerning challenging experimental procedures, using specialized knowledge and a high level of technical skill and competence. The Senior Research Associate will develop and adapt new techniques and modify established protocols to further experiments. Interpretation of data and results of experiments for report production, while also recognizing and investigating misleading results.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, or related field and senior level laboratory experience.

• Experience with hepatocytes, hepatic stellate, kupffer and endothelial cells, biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, including experience in establishing, maintaining, transfecting, and selecting clones from primary liver cell preparations with expertise in sterile technique.

• Experience with characterizing and behavior of human liver cell types, specifically hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells, kupffer cells and endothelial cells.

• Proven experience with primary cell culture, including large scale cell culture. Strong proven experience performing cell culture techniques including demonstrated ability working with sterile equipment and supplies. Ability to troubleshoot problems during all aspects of cell isolation and culture.

• Experience in managing multiple projects and working under milestones driven projects, including knowledge in writing reports and experience in communicating with funding agencies.

• Experience in technical direction and training of students, post-docs, and technicians.

• Demonstrated experience in DNA and RNA extraction and use of extracted products in various PCR methods.

• Experience in designing and performing next generation RNA sequencing samples preparation and analyses.

• Exceptional experience and knowledge in developing hypotheses, design experiments, conduct experiments, analyze data, write manuscripts, and publish results in peer-reviewed journals, including all interactions with Reviewers and Editors.

• Demonstrated experience in mouse models of liver fibrosis and cancer.

• Experience performing surgical implantation of shRNA-transfected tumor cell lines and intra-hepatic injections of human primary cells.

• Proven experience with primary cell isolation from whole liver, including large scale isolations.

• Demonstrated experience with standard biochemical and molecular biological laboratory procedures such as DNA cloning, gel electrophoresis (including knowledge of SDS-PAGE and Coomassie Blue Staining), PCR, RNA purification, reverse transcription, real time quantitative PCR, Western Blotting, ELISA and Histological analysis including paraffin and frozen block making, sectioning and staining.

• Proven experience with qPCR analysis, and immunohistochemistry.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Proven experience in successful preparation of research grant proposals for funding by NIH or other major funding source.

• Master’s degree or Doctoral degree in a related field.

• Strong organizational skills, including experience in laboratory record keeping, budget analysis and managing logistics.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.

• Must be willing to work with hazardous materials.

• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends.

• Must be willing to work with rodents.

• Must be willing to work with human tissue.