Jr. Specialist for The Bauman & Schumann Lab

University of California, Davis; Davis (CA); Presencial; USD 48.000 - 65.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

The University of California, Davis in Davis, CA invites applications for a Junior Specialist to join the MIND Institute's neuroscience laboratory. The incumbent will support interdisciplinary studies on human and nonhuman primate brain research, summarize data, and assist in preparing figures and manuscripts for publication and grant proposals.

The role includes brain banking support, data management, and collaboration with investigators and students.

Formación

• Bachelor’s degree in neuroscience or related field.
• Experience in neuroscience laboratory with basic lab skills.
• Ability to maintain accurate records.
• Ability to transport to community site locations.
• Ability to work well in a team.

Responsabilidades

• Provide technical support for ongoing research projects focusing on brain development and amygdala research.
• Section and mount tissue; perform immunohistochemistry and data analysis.
• Assist with preparing slides, staining, and data collection for publications.
• Support human brain banking activities and manage storage/records.
• Assist PI with formatting figures for presentations, manuscripts and grants.
• Attend local lectures and present abstracts.
• Assist with STEMM outreach and public education.

Conocimientos

Lab skills

Data analysis

Team player

Record keeping

Immunohistochemistry

Tissue sectioning

Educación

Bachelor’s degree in neuroscience or related field

Herramientas

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Outlook

Descripción del empleo

In general, it is inappropriate to appoint an individual with a Master’s or doctoral degree in the relevant discipline or a baccalaureate degree plus three or more years of experience with the specialized methods as a Junior Specialist.

The incumbent for this position will be involved in interdisciplinary studies focusing on questions in research on human and nonhuman primate brains at a laboratory at the MIND Institute. The candidate will also summarize data, prepare figures, and have the opportunity to assist in writing manuscripts for publication and grant proposals. The incumbent will also provide support for human brain banking programs (assist with donations, process brains, and organize storage and records). General responsibilities include:

I. RESEARCH ACTIVITY (85%)

• Specific research and technical activities: Provide technical support for ongoing research projects that focus on (i) understanding the impact of maternal infection on offspring brain development (preclinical models) and (ii) the development of amygdala in autism.
• Section and mount tissue, perform immunochemistry on tissues, collect and analyze results, participate in lab meetings and discussions, analyze slides and collect data. Assist with writing journal articles and assembling background data needed for publications.
• Specific duties: Sectioning, mounting, and staining glass slides of human, monkey and rat tissues using various techniques including, but not limited to, cell-body and immunohistochemical stains. Assist in further processing of tissues such as sectioning human brains on a microtome, mounting on slides and staining. Data collection using quantitative neuropathological techniques with a microscope and computer-aided software for data collection and quantitative analyses of tissue using, but not limited to, light, fluorescence, confocal, and electron microscopy. Knowledge of chemical principles and basic laboratory techniques are required for this function. Maintain general use chemicals and cleanliness of the laboratory. Provide assistance to other technicians, students, and postdoctoral researchers.
• Brain Bank Support Role: Available weekdays, nights, and occasional weekends to process incoming human brain donations on short notice. This includes preparing space for tissue handling, precisely sectioning unfixed human brains, freezing tissues with the use of liquid nitrogen, and taking photos and detailed notes during sectioning and cleanup. Maintain storage and database management of brain samples.

II. PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (10%)

• Assist principal investigators in formatting figures for presentations, manuscripts, and grants.
• Attend local lectures and conferences

• Present abstracts at local meetings

III. UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE (5%)

• Assist PI in STEMM outreach efforts.
• Assist in outreach and education to the public on the importance of research.
• Assist with lab and specimen setup, preparation and cleanup for when PI is teaching graduate students and postdocs.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in neuroscience or related field.
• Previous experience in neuroscience laboratory with demonstrated basic lab skills. (e.g., preparing laboratory reagents, maintaining laboratory equipment).
• Ability to maintain excellent and accurate records.
• Ability to transport self to and from community site locations.
• Ability to work as part of a team.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Advanced knowledge of spreadsheet software such as Excel to create and edit data, manage data sets in spreadsheet, perform mathematical tasks accurately using formulas, and create documents.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft applications including Microsoft Word and Powerpoint, electronic calendaring and e-mail software (Outlook).
• Excellent organization skills, ability to focus and work with multiple interruptions.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Operation of a computer system of data entry several hours each day.
• May be required to lift items weighing as much as 25 lbs, may be required to do bending, stooping, and sitting for periods of time.
• Ability to operate basic laboratory equipment (pipette, centrifuge).
• Ability to operate sliding microtome and cryostat via sitting for extended periods of time and performing repetitive motions involved in tissue sectioning.
• Must be able to wear lab appropriate clothing and personal protective equipment such as lab coats, gloves, face shield, and goggles.

Bachelor’s degree in neuroscience or related field (required at the time of start)