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Assistant Project Scientist - Carrie Miceli Lab - UCLA MIMG

Job #JPF10738
  • Microbiology, Immuno & Molecul / Basic Biomedical Sciences / UCLA

Position overview

Salary range: The posted UC salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See Table 37B. The salary range for this position is $76,700-$89,000.

Application Window

Open date: November 24, 2025

Next review date: Wednesday, Dec 24, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Friday, Jan 23, 2026 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

ASSISTANT PROJECT SCIENTIST

UCLA’s Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics is seeking to fill a full-time Assistant Project Scientist position in the lab of Professor Carrie Miceli. The Assistant Project Scientist candidate will perform research on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy with an emphasis on immune mechanisms involved in driving fibrosis versus regeneration and identifying and targeting barriers limiting efficacy of dystrophin replacement therapies in a large collaborative team effort. The Assistant Project Scientist position is a 12-month non-Senate position.

Specific responsibilities for this position include but are not limited to:

  1. Process, bank and culture primary muscle biopsy samples and blood from DMD and healthy individuals, in some instances developing tissue culture-based models for in-culture investigations.
  2. Conduct research aimed understanding muscle remodeling in DMD muscle tissue before and after dystrophin replacement AAV gene therapy or other investigational treatments, including preparing samples for single cell/nuclei sequencing and coordinating sample tracking across group members for sequencing and interpretation.
  3. Design and carry out FACS based experiment aimed at characterizing primary or expanded and stimulated muscle mononuclear cells including fibroblast, satellite cell, lymphocytes, myeloid and endothelial cell populations.
  4. Use standard molecular techniques including western blot, RNA analysis, Elisa, DNA cloning/construction and immunohistochemistry to design and implement experiments to further probe/validate candidate mechanisms or drug targets identified.
  5. Perform myogenesis assays in coculture with other healthy or dystrophic cell types or drugs/inhibitors.
  6. T cell, macrophage, fibroblast bead purification and characterization, including characterization of cell populations using single cell transcriptomics.
  7. Work with core directors to implement and optimize application of core technologies to lab projects.
  8. Contribute to lab organization, cleanliness, equipment maintenance and stocking supplies.
  9. Assist with preparation of grant proposals.
  10. Preparation of manuscripts for publication in scientific journals.

Minimum Qualifications:
• Ph.D. (or equivalent) in Immunology, Molecular Genetics or comparable field
• Must be familiar with FACS staining, sorting, development of assays and analysis
• Must be familiar with most basic molecular biology techniques including: western blot, RNA and DNA purification, PCR, design of recombinant/mutated gene expression constructs or CRISPR expression tools, ELISA, IHC
• Must have experience with cell culture and differentiation, experience with multi-cell models will be especially appreciated.
• Experience with data analysis of single cell or single nuclei transcriptomes is not required but will be considered an advantage.
• Prior experience in large collaborative studies an advantage.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications

• Ph.D. (or equivalent) in Immunology, Molecular Genetics or comparable field
• Must be familiar with FACS staining, sorting, development of assays and analysis
• Must be familiar with most basic molecular biology techniques including: western blot, RNA and DNA purification, PCR, design of recombinant/mutated gene expression constructs or CRISPR expression tools, ELISA, IHC
• Must have experience with cell culture and differentiation, experience with multi-cell models will be especially appreciated.
• Experience with data analysis of single cell or single nuclei transcriptomes is not required but will be considered an advantage.
• Prior experience in large collaborative studies an advantage.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

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

  • Cover Letter

  • UCLA Mission Statement - As the nation's premier public research university, UC's mission is the creation, dissemination, preservation and application of knowledge for the betterment of our global society. We have a particular responsibility to the people of California which we express in the excellence of the education we provide, the impact of the research we do, the comprehensive, life-saving medical services we provide, and the public service mission we are devoted to. The University of California promotes the social mobility of its students, equips them with the tools and experience that furthers their ambitions, and regards their accomplishments across the life span as evidence of the profoundly positive impact of higher education.

    The UCLA campus has expressed these goals in its strategic plan as follows:

    Deepen our engagement with Los Angeles
    Expand our reach as a global university
    Enhance our research and creative activities
    Elevate how we teach
    Become a more effective institution

    Prompt for candidates for recruitment:

    Reflecting on your personal and professional experiences, highlight your past contributions and future commitments to advancing UCLA's mission as embodied in the 2023-28 strategic plan. These accomplishments and ambitions may be discussed in the context of describing your teaching, scholarship, and service

  • Statement of Research (Optional)

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

Applicants will be asked to name references to complete their application, but the references will not be asked to provide letters until later in the review process.

Apply link: https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF10738

Help contact: aouchi@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 Employer. 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 status under state or federal law.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

Job location

Los Angeles, CA