DESCRIPTION

The UCSD Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (CMM) is one of two basic science units in the School of Medicine where world-class researchers study fundamental cellular processes and pathways using a variety of techniques from classical genetics and fluorescence microscopy to high-throughput genomics, systems biology, and crystallography. The Reck-Peterson lab at UC San Diego studies the molecular mechanisms of intracellular transport, and how defects in transport lead to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disease. The Reck-Peterson lab is funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP).

The Senior Laboratory Researcher will independently design and execute experiments to study the cellular basis of Parkinson's Disease (PD). Specifically, the lab studies Leucine Rich Repeat Kinase 2 (LRRK2), the most commonly mutated gene in familial PD. The senior research associate will use gene editing of standard tissue culture cell lines as well as ES and iPS cells to generate a variety of cell models and tools for the project, will use differentiation protocols for neurons and macrophages, will use advanced live- and fixed-cell light microscopy to image these cells, will use biochemistry including proximity-dependent labeling and mass spectrometry, kinase assays and GTPase assays to probe the cellular environment of LRRK2.

The Senior Laboratory Researcher will manage and coordinate research efforts with other collaborators both within and outside the laboratory. They will independently conceive, plan, and conduct research projects based on reviews of scientific literature and recent advances in related fields, organizing and executing all techniques involved. They will contribute novel ideas of major methodological significance to the research projects, design key experiments and develop new techniques. They will author or co-author scientific journal manuscripts and book chapters. They will direct and advise the work of technicians, students, and post-doctoral fellows to enable them to successfully participate in laboratory projects, as well as present their findings at lab meetings and conferences, and perform other duties as needed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced theoretical knowledge of intracellular transport, neurodegenerative diseases, cell biology, biochemistry, and molecular biology as typically achieved by a college Degree; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Proven experience in CRISPR-mediated gene-editing and experience in culturing, editing and differentiating human ES and iPS cells.

• Strong demonstrated experience in live- and fixed-cell imaging using confocal microscopy.

• Strong demonstrated experience in protein biochemistry and mass spectrometry analysis.

• Demonstrated experience in designing, coordinating, executing, and analyzing data.

• Advanced skill in experimental design and adaptation of methods to achieve results. Experience in integrating data from multiple sources to synthesize conclusions. Knowledge and ability to read and abstract scientific articles and apply to the design of experiments.

• Thorough experience in the official review of manuscripts for publication in peer-review journals.

• Experience in providing technical work direction and training of students, post-docs, and technicians.

• Experience and knowledge in developing hypotheses, design experiments, conduct experiments, analyze data, write manuscripts, and publish results in peer-reviewed journals, including all interactions with Reviewers and Editors.

• Proven experience in contributing and implementing innovative ideas and techniques on complex and multi-disciplinary research projects.

• Strong ability to read scientific papers and adapt knowledge and techniques from the literature to experimental systems.

• Proficient knowledge of PC software applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Keynote, Illustrator to produce reports, correspondence, graphs, and spreadsheets to generate, track, and analyze data.

• Demonstrated experience in working with collaborators in other universities on joint projects, and working under milestones driven projects, including know