Laboratory Assistant I

The Atherosclerosis Research Lab within the UCSF Department of Surgery is offering an entry-level research assistant position. This opportunity is intended for a senior or recent graduate who is interested in gaining laboratory experience in preparation for entry into a health professional program.

Our laboratory has pioneered the study of extracellular vesicles and exosomes produced by macrophages as modulators of cardiometabolic diseases including diabetes, obesity and atherosclerosis. Ongoing projects in the lab aim to study the role of Diabetes and the APOE4 gene in altering macrophage-exosome biology and the impact this has on accelerating atherosclerosis, cardiac dysfunction and neurodegeneration in experimental mouse models. We are also developing new methods to produce exosomes that can serve to control cardiovascular disease and diabetes as next generation biologic medicines.

The successful applicant will assist senior lab staff with studies of murine-based projects that involve techniques such as exosome production and isolation, western blot, RNA/DNA extraction, PCR, flow cytometry, IHC, ultracentrifugation, cell culture, mouse surgery and husbandry.

Our prior trainees typically dedicated for 2-4 years of effort to our program before moving on to health professional programs with multiple publications credited to their names. 

Examples of our recent publications can be found online:  

PMID: 35292359

PMID: 32668250

PMID: 34381972

PMID: 34664784

 

Essential Functions

• Assist Pl and senior staff with routine laboratory upkeep.
• Assist senior staff with transgenic mouse breeding and PCR genotyping.
• Assist senior staff with routine gel electrophoresis preparation and Western blot of proteins
• Assist senior staff with routine Exosome production and isolation from cultured cells and biofluids, and their study in cell signaling experiments
• Assist senior staff with the harvest of mouse tissues and plasma along with the isolation of hematopoietic cells and lipoproteins using centrifugation and flow cytometry

 

Job Requirements

• BS in molecular and cellular biology and biochemistry, or in final year of a BS program
• Experience with methods of RNA/DNA and protein isolation and study using biochemical methods
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team setting and assist with the training of junior staff as required
• Strong oral/written communication, interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Computer literacy with emphasis on Windows Excel, Adobe Photoshop for data analysis and its graphical output.

 

The base salary range for this position is $18.48 - $21.42 per hour. The base salary actually offered to a successful candidate will take into account various relevant and non-discriminatory business factors including, without limitation, the candidate’s geographic location, job-related experience, knowledge, and skills, and education, as well as internal equity considerations. A successful candidate may also be eligible to earn additional compensation including bonuses.