Recruit

The Department of Biological Chemistry/DGSOM is recruiting for a Project Scientist position in Dr. Sobreira’s laboratory.

A Project Scientist position is available for motivated individuals within Dr. Sobreira's laboratory at UCLA's Department of Biological Chemistry. Our research focuses on elucidating the role of non-coding genetic variations and their impact on metabolic diseases. Committed to advancing our understanding of genomic complexities, the Sobreira lab investigates how non-coding regions influence development, disease susceptibility, and genetic diversity. Join us in exploring the intricate relationships between genetics and health, as we strive to uncover the underlying mechanisms driving metabolic disorders.

In this role, the Project Scientist will oversee day-to-day lab operations, including the preparation of molecular biology reagents such as PBS and managing sterilization procedures like autoclaving. They will coordinate and manage inventory to ensure the timely procurement of molecular biology materials and lab supplies, maintaining an efficient workflow. The incumbent will lead the preparation of libraries for high-throughput sequencing platforms, including ATAC-seq, RNA-seq, and promoter capture Hi-C, ensuring high-quality data generation and reproducibility. Additionally, the scientist will establish, maintain, and optimize tissue cultures, including HEK293, HeLa, fibroblasts, and particularly induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). They will perform advanced cell manipulation techniques, including transfections and lentiviral infections, and design, develop, and optimize protocols for differentiating iPSCs into metabolically relevant cell types, such as hypothalamic neurons and adipocytes, with a focus on reproducibility and functional validation. The role will also involve applying fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) to isolate specific cell populations based on surface markers for downstream applications and utilizing high-content imaging systems to capture and analyze cellular morphology, protein expression, and other phenotypic features in tissue cultures. The Assistant Project Scientist will work closely with graduate students to guide the preparation of grant applications and scientific publications, offering expertise in developing and refining research proposals and manuscripts for submission to funding agencies and peer-reviewed journals.

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