Assistant Professional Researcher - Okada lab

University of California - San Francisco; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 97,000 - 126,000; Full time

Job summary

University of California, San Francisco is seeking an Assistant Professional Researcher to lead innovative brain tumor immunology programs in the Okada lab. You will collaborate across UCSF and international partners to translate discoveries into patient care, guiding strategies in tumor immunology, genetics, and treatment resistance.

The role includes mentorship of students and staff, oversight of experiments, and leadership in large research consortia.

Qualifications

• MD, PhD or equivalent doctoral degree.
• Clinical experience or understanding of management of malignant brain tumors.
• Expertise in cancer biology and cancer immunology.
• Knowledge of genetics and epigenetics; experimental design and data interpretation.
• Ability to design and analyze advanced molecular and preclinical experiments.
• Experience with high-throughput sequencing studies and computational biology.
• Proficiency in R and/or Python in Linux HPC environments.
• Experience with version control and collaborative coding platforms.

Responsibilities

• Provide scientific leadership and project management for funded brain tumor immunology programs.
• Lead and participate in weekly PI meetings and lab activities; coordinate milestones.
• Mentor students, postdocs, and staff; provide training and oversight of lab work.

Skills

Spectral flow cytometry

Real-time cell killing assays

CRISPR/Cas9

PCR/qPCR

Preclinical models

RNA-seq

Single-cell RNA-seq

Single-cell ATAC-seq

Single-cell spatial transcriptomics

R

Python

GitHub

Education

MD/PhD

Board certification (preferred)

Job description

Application Window

Open date: August 11, 2026

Next review date: Wednesday, Aug 26, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Friday, Feb 11, 2028 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

Assistant Professional Researcher - Okada lab

The Okada lab in the Department of Neurological Surgery at UCSF seeks a highly motivated Assistant Professional Researcher to provide scientific leadership in the development and implementation of innovative research programs advancing therapies for malignant brain tumors. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with faculty, trainees, and national and international research partners to accelerate the translation of discoveries in brain tumor immunotherapy into improved patient care.

The primary objective of this position is to advance breakthrough therapeutic strategies for brain tumors through integrated studies of tumor immunology, genetics, epigenetics, and mechanisms of treatment resistance. The incumbent will provide scientific leadership within multidisciplinary, grant-funded research programs, identify actionable therapeutic vulnerabilities, and develop innovative therapeutic approaches. This position serves as a senior scientific collaborator, contributing to strategic planning, project management, experimental design, data interpretation, and research program development across multiple concurrent initiatives.

The Professional Researcher will work closely with faculty and staff across UCSF to foster interdisciplinary collaborations, while playing a leading role in large national and international research consortia. The incumbent will also mentor graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and research staff, providing scientific guidance, technical training, and oversight of laboratory and computational research activities.

Essential Responsibilities

Specific job expectations include, but are not limited to:

1. Provide scientific leadership and project management for funded collaborative research programs focused on brain tumor immunology, metabolism, and immunotherapy.
2. Participate in weekly one‑on‑one meetings with the PI, weekly laboratory meetings, and project‑specific meetings, except when laboratory responsibilities require otherwise.
3. Train and mentor new laboratory members in laboratory safety, cell culture techniques, specimen processing, spectral flow cytometry, bioinformatics, data management, data security, and other laboratory methodologies as needed. Provide ongoing feedback, evaluate trainee progress, and communicate progress to the PI.
4. Promote a culture of scientific rigor, laboratory safety, regulatory compliance, and research integrity, serving as a role model and resource for laboratory personnel.
5. Coordinate multiple collaborative projects simultaneously, ensuring timely completion of milestones, accurate documentation, and effective communication among collaborators.
6. Work flexible hours, including occasional evenings, weekends, or holidays, as needed to accommodate time‑sensitive experiments or the processing of clinical specimens.

Required Qualifications

• MD, PhD, or equivalent doctoral degree.
• Clinical experience or a strong understanding of the clinical management of patients with malignant brain tumors, including neurosurgery, neuro‑oncology, and contemporary molecular neuropathology.
• Demonstrated expertise in cancer biology and cancer immunology, including immunotherapeutic approaches.
• Extensive knowledge of genetics and epigenetics, including experimental design, execution, data analysis, interpretation, and scientific reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to independently design, execute, troubleshoot, and analyze experiments using: 1) spectral flow cytometry; 2) real‑time cell killing assays; 3) CRISPR/Cas9‑based genome editing; 4) PCR/qPCR; and 5) relevant preclinical experimental models.
• Demonstrated ability to independently design, operate, troubleshoot, and analyze high‑throughput sequencing studies, including 1) bulk RNA‑seq; 2) single‑cell RNA‑seq (including GEX/VDJ); 3) single‑cell ATAC‑seq; 4) single‑cell spatial transcriptomics; 5) long‑read sequencing technologies.
• Proficiency in computational biology and scientific programming (R and/or Python) within Linux‑based high‑performance computing environments.
• Experience with version control and collaborative coding platforms (e.g., GitHub).

Preferred Qualifications

• MD/PhD is preferred.
• Board certification (U.S. or international) preferred.
• Demonstrated success in securing competitive research funding through grants or research awards.
• Strong publication record demonstrating sustained research productivity in the relevant research field.
• At least 5 years of experience supervising, mentoring, and training scientists in an academic research laboratory.

Candidates must meet all required qualifications at the time of application, and application materials must clearly document how these qualifications are met.

See Table 13B for the salary range for this position. A reasonable estimate for this position is $96,700 - $126,400.

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - CV must clearly list current and/or pending qualifications (e.g. board eligibility/certification, medical licensure, etc.).

• Cover Letter (Optional)

• Statement of Research (Optional)

• Statement of Teaching (Optional)

Reference requirements

• 3 required (contact information only)

About UC San Francisco

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.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

UCSF is committed to welcoming and serving all people, honoring the dignity of every individual without preference or prejudice, in support of its public mission and in alignment with our PRIDE values and Principles of Community.

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.

* "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, as defined by the employer.

* UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy

* UC Anti-Discrimination Policy

* APM - 035: Affluent Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Job location

San Francisco, CA