Junior Specialist _ Membrane Transporter and Enzyme Biochemistry

University of California - Davis; Davis (CA); On-site; USD 57,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

UC Davis Nicklisch Lab seeks a Junior Specialist to support research on the mechanistic role of ABC drug transporters and CYP enzymes in drug disposition and toxicity. The role focuses on recombinant expression and purification of membrane proteins and enzymatic activity characterizations across multiple host systems. Lab work includes membrane-protein work, activity assays, data analysis, and collaboration with the PI, Dr.

Sascha C. T. Nicklisch.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, or related field.
• Strong record-keeping and data documentation skills.
• Accurate pipetting and preparation of solutions with attention to toxicity.
• Proficiency with Word, Excel, and data-analysis software (Origin/SigmaPlot/JMP/GraphPad).
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Clone and express membrane transport proteins and CYP enzymes in multiple hosts.
• Purify membrane proteins and prepare inside-out vesicles for assays.
• Verify protein expression and purity by SDS-PAGE and Western blot.
• Perform transporter activity assays and CYP enzyme activity measurements.
• Maintain safe lab conditions and document data thoroughly.
• Present results at weekly lab meetings.

Skills

Record-keeping

Pipetting

Data analysis

Independent work

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in biochemistry or related field

Tools

Word

Excel

Origin/SigmaPlot/JMP/GraphPad

Job description

Position overview

Salary range: A reasonable estimate for Jr. Specialist position is $57,000 at Step 1 or $60,700 at Step 2

Application Window

Open date: September 17, 2026

Next review date: Friday, Oct 2, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

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

Final date: Monday, Nov 30, 2026 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

The Nicklisch Lab (PI: Dr. Sascha C. T. Nicklisch), Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, seeks a Junior Specialist to support research on the mechanistic role of ABC drug transporters and cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in the disposition and toxicity of drugs and environmental chemicals. The successful candidate will focus on recombinant expression and purification of membrane transport proteins and CYP enzymes across multiple host systems, and on functionally characterizing their interactions with small molecules using activity assays.

Lab website: Nicklisch Lab | Understanding chemical uptake, disposition, and accumulation in organisms

Research (90%)

Core technical focus

• Clone and codon-optimize genes encoding ABC drug transporters (e.g., P-glycoprotein/ABCB1, BCRP/ABCG2) and CYP enzymes from multiple organisms; design gene-specific and degenerate primers from sequence alignments.


• Express recombinant transporters and CYP enzymes in bacterial (E. coli), yeast (Pichia pastoris), and insect-cell (baculovirus/Sf9) systems using shake-flask and bioreactor/fermentation cultivation.


• Purify membrane proteins by cell disruption, differential and ultracentrifugation-based membrane fractionation, and affinity, ion-exchange, and size-exclusion FPLC (Akta/BioRad); prepare inside-out membrane vesicles for functional assays.


• Verify protein expression, purity, and identity by general protein-biochemistry methods, including SDS-PAGE, Western blot analysis, and total-protein quantification.


• Characterize transporter-small molecule interactions by membrane-vesicle ATPase activity assays (e.g., vanadate-sensitive activity with inorganic-phosphate detection), including substrate, inhibitor, and modulator profiling.


• Establish and perform CYP enzyme activity assays for proteins purified from different organisms.


• Prepare lipid and protein stock solutions (rotary evaporation, lyophilization); calibrate and operate pH meters, analytical balances, and related instrumentation.

General

• Develop and implement experimental designs and protocols under strict quality-assurance and safety guidelines; independently develop backup plans for experimental pitfalls (e.g., alternative expression hosts or detection strategies).


• Critically read the scientific literature to inform best-practice protocols.


• Gather, prepare, and label reagents, stock solutions, and hazardous-chemical dilutions; record data completely on datasheets and in spreadsheets; properly dispose of hazardous substances; clean and sterilize supplies.


• Analyze kinetic data and test hypotheses using appropriate statistics (e.g., nonlinear regression, ANOVA, t-tests); generate graphs and summary tables.


• Keep the PI apprised of problems, including failed assays, delays, and out-of-spec calibrations; present ongoing results at weekly lab meetings.


• Maintain safe laboratory conditions: follow all safety procedures, wear required PPE, and identify and report hazards.

Professional Competence and Activity (5%)

• Contribute to conference posters and presentations (e.g., Society of Toxicology, SETAC, Biophysical Society) and to peer-reviewed publications, including optimized expression/purification protocols and functional characterization of active proteins.

University and Public Service (5%)

• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students and visiting scientists in the techniques above; assist with written and oral research dissemination.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

• Bachelor's degree in biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, or a related field, with laboratory experience in molecular biology, microbiology/biotechnology, and/or toxicology-related research.


• Record-keeping skills to accurately document detailed research data.


• Skills to perform repetitive laboratory work with attention to detail and limited supervision, including pipetting small volumes, calculating and preparing concentrations and serial dilutions, and handling chemicals of varying toxicity.


• Proficiency with Word, Excel, and a data-analysis package (Origin, SigmaPlot, JMP, GraphPad, or equivalent).


• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Preferred qualifications (other preferred, but not required, qualifications for the position)

• Hands-on experience with membrane-protein expression and purification in E. coli, Pichia pastoris, and/or insect-cell systems.


• Experience operating FPLC systems (Akta or BioRad) for affinity, ion-exchange, and size-exclusion chromatography, and with bioreactor/fermentation cultivation.


• General protein-biochemistry techniques, including SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, and immunodetection.


• Experience with transporter or enzyme activity assays, ATPase assays, and enzyme kinetics; familiarity with CYP enzymology.


• Experience with LC/GC-MS of proteins and/or small molecules.


• Experience working with research collaborators; strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.

About UC Davis

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 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 for Employees, Students and Third Parties


• APM - 035: Affine Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

To implement this process, UC Davis requires all applicants for any open search to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled, \"Authorization to Release Information\" into UC RECRUIT as part of their application. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration.

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus.

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.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or subcontracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check.

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Job location

Davis, CA