Research Assistant (Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics)

UCLA Health; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 68,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

UCLA Health seeks a full-time Research Assistant to join the Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics Lab. The role involves performing advanced neuroscience and molecular biology research, culturing cells, and handling mouse colonies with genotyping and imaging.

You will assist in experimental design, data analysis, and manuscript preparation, contributing to studies on neurodegenerative disease mechanisms and therapeutic strategies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Pharmacology, Molecular Genetics, or related field
• Minimum 3 years of research experience in neuroscience, molecular genetics, molecular biology or related field
• Proficiency with molecular, cellular, pathological, and animal research techniques
• Experience with mouse models including colony management, genotyping, histopathology, imaging, and data analysis
• Experience culturing cell lines and/or primary cells and performing molecular analyses
• Experience with molecular cloning, DNA, RNA, and protein extraction techniques
• Experience utilizing viral vectors in cell-based or animal studies
• Ability to contribute to experimental design, data collection, and data analysis
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, written, and verbal communication skills
• Preferred: publications or scholarly research in neuroscience/molecular genetics

Responsibilities

• Perform advanced neuroscience, molecular biology, and cellular biology research techniques
• Culture mammalian cell lines, immunostaining, confocal microscopy, and imaging of mouse brain tissue and human organoids
• Manage mouse colonies, including breeding, genotyping, health monitoring, and recordkeeping
• Collect and process tissue and biological samples for DNA, RNA, and protein analyses
• Support viral vector studies, including AAV and lentiviral applications in cell and animal models
• Assist with experimental design, data analysis, manuscript preparation, and research reports

Skills

Neuroscience research

Laboratory techniques

Data analysis

Manuscript preparation

Animal handling

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology/Neuroscience

Tools

Confocal microscopy

Light sheet imaging

Genotyping

Job description

Press space or enter keys to toggle section visibility

Work Schedule

Monday-Friday 8am-5pm

Posted Date

10/06/2026

Salary Range: $32.79 - 52.75 Hourly

Employment Type

Duration

Indefinite

Job #

33532

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Press space or enter keys to toggle section visibility

The Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior is seeking to hire a full-time Research Assistant to join the Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics Lab. The laboratory studies the biological mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disorders, including Huntington’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, using innovative approaches in mouse genetics, molecular biology, systems neuroscience, and advanced imaging technologies. You will contribute to groundbreaking neuroscience by applying advanced laboratory techniques to investigate disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategies. Key responsibilities include:

• Perform advanced neuroscience, molecular biology, and cellular biology research techniques
• Culture mammalian cell lines, immunostaining, confocal microscopy, and light sheet imaging of mouse brain tissue and human organoids
• Manage mouse colonies, including breeding, genotyping, health monitoring, and experimental recordkeeping
• Collect and process tissue and biological samples for DNA, RNA, and protein analyses
• Support viral vector studies, including AAV and lentiviral applications in cell and animal models
• Assist with experimental design, data analysis, manuscript preparation, and research reports

Salary range: $32.79/hr - $52.75/hr

Job Qualifications

Press space or enter keys to toggle section visibility

• Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Pharmacology, Molecular Genetics, or related field
• Minimum 3 years of research experience in neuroscience, molecular genetics, molecular biology or related field
• Demonstrated proficiency with molecular, cellular, pathological, and animal research techniques
• Experience working with mouse models, including colony management, genotyping, histopathology, imaging, and data analysis
• Experience culturing cell lines and/or primary cells and performing molecular analyses
• Experience with molecular cloning, DNA, RNA, and protein extraction techniques
• Experience utilizing viral vectors in cell-based or animal studies
• Ability to contribute to experimental design, data collection, and data analysis activities
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, written, and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to specific manuscripts, reports, or other research-related materials
• Preferred: Experience contributing to scientific publications or scholarly research products in neuroscience, molecular genetics, molecular biology, or related field

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer. Current/former UC employees are subject to a personnel file review.