Skip to main content

Assistant Project Scientist

Position overview

Position title: Assistant Project Scientist
Salary range: $74100-$94200
Review timeline: Candidate is reviewed every 2 years from appt

Application Window

Open date: October 1, 2024

Next review date: Tuesday, Oct 15, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Friday, Nov 1, 2024 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

An NIH-funded full-time position for an Assistant or Associate Project Scientist is immediately available, Supervised by Dr. Daniel Geschwind in the Department of Neurology in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. We are looking for a motivated individual interested in working at the interface of genetics, single cell genomics, and disease modeling to investigate the mechanisms of disease genetics through single cell genomics of gene isoforms and neural stem cell modeling of human brain development.
Salary range is $74100 - $94200.

The Geschwind lab is located within the Gonda building and Departments of Neurology, Psychiatry and Human Genetics at UCLA. The Geschwind Lab focuses on experimental and developmental neurobiology, modeling of human cortical development using stem cells, and gene regulation and employs systems-level, computational, multi-omic approaches using human brain samples to investigate the biological mechanisms underlying genetic risk for neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, including autism. Our long-term goals are to translate genetic findings into practical therapeutics for neuropsychiatric disease.

A successful candidate will have the following qualifications:
• PhD in biological sciences and knowledge of autism genetics
• Expertise with 2D and 3D cortical organoid cell cultures
• Expertise in CRISPR editing technologies, including CRISPR-A guide design and viral delivery
• Expertise in tissue clearing techniques and light-sheet microscopy
• Experience in single cell and bulk RNA sequencing and analysis.
• Knowledge and background experience of working with ASD and ASD model systems.
• Ability to work independently within a collaborative multi-disciplinary team-based environment
• Motivation to learn and develop expertise in cutting-edge genome engineering and stem cell-based methodologies
• Strong oral and written communication skills to present and publish research findings
• Record of publication in this area.
• Track record training and mentoring junior scientists
• Proven success in grant writing

Experience with cell culture and neural stem cell models, functional genomics assays (e.g., scRNA-seq, ATAC-seq), and/or CRISPR/Cas9 genome engineering are required. All backgrounds will be considered. The appointed researcher will be embedded within a highly interdisciplinary team of neural stem cell and developmental biologists, computational biologists, bioinformaticians, statistical geneticists, and clinicians. The successful candidate will help develop and implement high-throughput genome engineering and genomic assays in cortical organoid cultures established from patient stem cell lines. Training opportunities and mentorship in wet-lab stem cell modeling and dry-lab genomics techniques will be provided by the PI.

Please email a cover letter, CV, and 3 references to Geschwind lab

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer advancing inclusive excellence. 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 categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy. UC Nondiscrimination & Affirmative Action Policy

This General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement for Persons in the European Economic Area is designed to provide information regarding the types of Personal Information that the University of California's Human Resources departments and offices collects.

Please be advised that the final candidate recommended for hire into a critical (or otherwise designated) position will be required to successfully complete a background investigation. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.

UCLA is a Tobacco-Free environment. For more information, please view the policy at Tobacco-Free Campus Policy

Qualifications

Basic qualifications

PhD in biological sciences and knowledge of autism genetics

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Cover Letter (Optional)

  • Statement of Research

  • Statement of Teaching (Optional)

  • Statement on Contributions to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion - An EDI Statement describes a faculty candidate’s past, present, and future (planned) contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion. To learn more about how UCLA thinks about contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion, please review our EDI Statement FAQ document, and Sample EDI Statements.

  • Reference check authorization release form - Complete and upload the reference check authorization release form

  • Misc / Additional (Optional)

Reference requirements
  • 3-5 required (contact information only)

Only references of serious candidates will be contacted

Apply link: https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF09870

Help contact: jacquelinelinares@mednet.ucla.edu

About UCLA

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/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status.

For the University of California’s Affirmative Action Policy, please visit https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-035.pdf.

For the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination.

Job location

Los Angeles, CA