Pownall Lab – Associate/Full Specialist

University of California San Francisco; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 78,300 - 201,700; Full time

Job summary

The University of California San Francisco invites applications for a full or associate specialist in the Pownall Lab within Biochemistry and Biophysics.

The role concentrates on chromatin mechanisms in developing zebrafish embryos using advanced microscopy, requiring independent experimental design and execution, including zebrafish breeding, embryo microinjection, cell culture, cloning, and RNA synthesis.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) or five to ten years of research experience
• Terminal degree (or equivalent) or ten or more years of research experience
• Experience in vertebrate embryology (fish, frog, or mouse)
• Broad expertise in advanced microscopy
• A record of research productivity with peer‑reviewed publications
• Experience working collaboratively in a shared research environment and supporting lab coordination
• Applicant materials must list current and/or pending qualifications on submission

Responsibilities

• Design and perform experiments independently; zebrafish breeding and embryo microinjection
• Mammalian cell culture, molecular cloning, and in vitro RNA synthesis
• Immunostaining, confocal microscopy, and expansion microscopy
• DNA and RNA FISH; quantitative image analysis
• Contribute to publications and grant applications
• Oversee day‑to‑day lab operations; order supplies; ensure safety compliance
• Assist with zebrafish care and husbandry as needed
• Develop ChromExM technology and manage collaborations
• Train and mentor lab members and collaborators
• Take ownership of experimental direction and troubleshooting

Skills

Vertebrate embryology

Advanced microscopy

Collaborative lab skills

Education

Master’s degree

Terminal degree

Tools

ChromExM

Confocal microscopy

Expansion microscopy

DNA/RNA FISH

Job description

Pownall Lab – Associate/Full Specialist
Biochemistry and Biophysics
UC San Francisco

The Pownall Lab at UCSF is seeking a full or associate specialist interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms controlling chromatin structure and function in developing zebrafish embryos using advanced microscopy methods. The candidate will be responsible for independently designing and performing experiments, including but not limited to zebrafish breeding and embryo microinjection, mammalian cell culture, molecular cloning and in vitro RNA synthesis, immunostaining, confocal microscopy, expansion microscopy, DNA and RNA FISH, and quantitative image analysis. The candidate will also contribute to the preparation of publications and grant applications.

The candidate will help to oversee day-to-day operations of the lab, including ordering laboratory supplies, maintaining lab organization, and ensuring compliance with safety standards, and will assist with zebrafish care and husbandry as needed. This position will be focused on ChromExM technology development and applications, including managing collaborations to apply ChromExM to other systems and training and mentoring lab members and collaborators. The candidate is expected to operate with a high degree of independence, including taking ownership of experimental direction, troubleshooting, and execution with minimal oversight. Successful candidates are expected to be extremely detail-oriented, highly organized, collaborative, and enjoy protocol development. The ideal start date is no later than October 2026.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent degree) or five to ten years of research experience to be appointed at the Associate rank.
• Terminal degree (or equivalent degree) or ten or more years of research experience to be appointed at the Full rank.
• Demonstrated experience in vertebrate embryology (fish, frog, or mouse).
• Broad expertise in advanced microscopy.
• A record of research productivity, including peer-reviewed publications.
• Experience working collaboratively in a shared research environment and contributing to laboratory organization, coordination, and support of other researchers.
• Applicant materials must list current and/or pending qualifications upon submission.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD degree in molecular biology or a closely related field (e.g., genetics, cell biology).
• Experience with super-resolution microscopy (SMLM, STED, SIM, etc.).
• A track record of training and mentoring others will be preferred.
• Demonstrate strong initiative in independently identifying, prioritizing, and communicating experimental and organization needs.

See Table 24B for the salary range for this position. A reasonable estimate for this position is $78,300-$201,700.