Junior Specialist - Aghi Lab

University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 58,600; Full time

Job summary

University of California, San Francisco’s Aghi Lab seeks Junior Specialists to participate in basic science research focused on how brain tumors interact with their microenvironment to promote growth, invasion, and resistance to therapy. Duties include culturing tumor cells, extracting RNA/DNA, cloning retroviral constructs, and performing immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry.

Candidates should have a bachelor's degree (or 4 years of research) and be prepared to learn advanced techniques like

Qualifications

• Specialists appointed at the junior rank must possess a bachelor degree (or equivalent) or have at least four years of research experience.
• Applicants must have obtained the degree requirement for the Specialist rank by the time of hire.
• Experience with basic wet lab research (cell culture, pipetting, tissue sectioning, immunostaining, qPCR, mouse tumor implantation, western blotting).
• Ability to learn more advanced wet lab techniques (CRISPR, immunoprecipitation, purification of histidine-tagged proteins).
• Ability to independently plan experiments from start to finish to address a specific topic, ultimately leading to manuscript writing.
• Ability to handle lab administration, including order entry, ensuring protocols comply, and orienting new lab members.

Responsibilities

• Participate in basic science research to study brain tumor interactions with the microenvironment.
• Culture tumor cells and extract RNA/DNA from brain tumor tissue.
• Clone retroviral constructs and purify retroviruses from infected cells.
• Perform immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence on tumor tissue and cells.
• Isolate cells from brain tumors and perform flow cytometry.
• Handle lab administration and orient new lab members.

Skills

Cell culture

Pipetting

Tissue sectioning

Immunostaining

qPCR

Mouse tumor implantation

Western blotting

CRISPR

Manuscript writing

Lab administration

Education

Bachelor's degree or 4 years research experience

Tools

Flow cytometry

Job description

Junior Specialist – Aghi Lab

The Aghi Lab is seeking Junior Specialists who will participate in basic science research to study mechanisms by which brain tumors interact with their microenvironment to promote growth, invasion, and therapeutic resistance. Drugs to disrupt these processes will be evaluated in collaboration with industry partners in cell culture and in mouse models. Job duties include culturing tumor cells; extracting RNA and DNA from brain tumor tissue; cloning retroviral constructs and isolating and purifying retroviruses from infected cells; immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence of tumor tissue and cultured primary tumor cells; isolating cells from brain tumors and performing flow cytometry to count numbers of various cell types; isolating stem cells from brain tumors; CRISPR techniques; and intracranial and subcutaneous implantation of tumor cells into mice, followed by treatment and monitoring of these animals and euthanasia when appropriate. Candidates will also handle lab administration—order entry, ensuring protocols comply, and orienting new lab members. Other duties as assigned.

Position Description

Same responsibilities as above, in collaboration with industry partners and in both cell culture and mouse models. Candidate will work on tumor microenvironment interactions, conduct basic wet‑lab techniques including cell culture, RNA/DNA extraction, immunostaining, flow cytometry, CRISPR, and mouse tumor implantation, and manage lab administration tasks.

Required Qualifications

• Specialists appointed at the junior rank must possess (or be in the process of obtaining) a baccalaureate degree (or equivalent) or have at least four years of research experience.
• Applicants must have obtained the degree requirement for the Specialist rank by the time of hire.
• Experience with basic wet lab research (cell culture, pipetting, tissue sectioning, immunostaining, qPCR, mouse tumor implantation, western blotting).
• Ability to learn more advanced wet lab techniques (CRISPR, immunoprecipitation, purification of histidine‑tagged proteins).
• Ability to independently plan experiments from start to finish to address a specific topic, ultimately leading the person filling this position to write portions of manuscripts.
• Ability to handle lab administration, including order entry, ensuring protocols comply, and orienting new lab members.
• Applicant’s materials must list qualifications upon submission.

Preferred Qualifications

• Independent specialized research.

Salary

See Table 24B for the salary range. A reasonable estimate for this position is $55,000 - $58,600.

Application

Please apply online at https://aprecruit.ucsf.edu/JPF05908.

Document Requirements

• Curriculum Vitae – must clearly list current and/or pending qualifications (e.g., board eligibility/certification, medical licensure).
• Cover Letter (Optional)
• Statement of Research (Optional)
• Statement of Teaching (Optional)

Reference Requirements

• 3 required (contact information only)

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, or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• APM - 035: Aff. Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

San Francisco, CA