Research Associate (9612C), Quantitative Biosciences - #78750

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Departmental Overview

The focus of the work of the Keasling Laboratory in JBEI is to produce advanced biofuels and bioproducts using polyketide synthases (PKSs). PKSs are responsible for synthesis of countless natural products that have found use as human therapeutics (e.g., antibiotics, anticancer, etc.). PKSs and their relatives, the non-ribosomal peptide synthases (NRPSs), have incredible chemical flexibility. What is more, the sequence of the subunits in the PKS/NRPS can be directly mapped onto the resulting chemical that they procure, and parts of PKSs and NRPSs can be recombined into unnatural enzymes that will produce different (unnatural) chemicals. The Keasling Lab in JBEI is recombining PKSs/NRPSs to produce from petroleum (e.g., hydrocarbon fuels, adipic acid, etc.) as well as chemicals that could never be produced from petroleum using chemistry that is available today.

Position Summary

The person chosen for this position will participate in a team of scientists and engineers who will engineer a bacterium to produce a variety of chemicals. The work will involve high-throughput cloning, optimizing heterologous gene expression in the host bacterium, and analyzing the production of the desired molecules. The chosen individual will assist in writing monthly work summary reports and constructing detailed spending analyses.

Responsibilities

Cloning + strain construction

• The Researcher will primarily work on building plasmids and strains to assist in the achievement of the goals of the project.

Strain characterization

• The Researcher will be required to test their built strains in order to establish the functionality of each design, and use these results to influence next steps of the project.

Strain design

• The Researcher will assist in the process of designing different cell lines to lead to an optimal production strain capable of the project's goals.
• The decisions for design will lead to further strain construction and are influenced by results obtained in the strain characterization.

Bioprocess optimization

• The Researcher will work with bioreactors, fermentation, separations, etc... to help with bioprocess optimization.

Meetings

• The Researcher will need to attend weekly group meetings on Fridays to present on research data and results.
• They will also need to attend the DARPA Meetings (which is the project that the Researcher will be working on) and PKS meetings which are every other week.

Report Writing

• The Researcher will need to keep track of results in the group's Teselagen portal. This is the lab notebook which helps organize strains and data collection.
• It is required by law to have notes tracked and kept in an accessible format.

Lab Citizen duties

• The Researcher is required to work on LCMS maintenance, HPLC maintenance, Nanopore sequencing, inventory and preparation of media, consumable and more.
• There is an expectation to maintain a clean lab bench and work to assist with supply and equipment needs.

Required Qualifications

• One year minimum of research experience
• Bachelor's Degree in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, or related fields and/or equivalent experience/training.

Preferred Qualifications

• Have prior research experience and be able to work independently in the lab.
• Should have experience in manipulating DNA, transforming bacteria, and culturing bacteria.
• Have experience using software to design DNA constructs, analyze DNA sequences, and anlayze data from a variety of analytical instruments.
• Operating analytical instruments, such as HPLC, LC-MS, and GC-MS.
• Operating automation equipment, such as liquid handling and colony picking robots.
• Comfortable with using molecular bio inventory and data management systems.
• Proficient in python or other programming language.
• Experience with APIs.
• Experience with bench top-scale bioreactor setup and maintenance.
• Strong Written and verbal communication skills.

Salary & Benefits

This is an 18-month, exempt temporary position at 100% (40 hrs a week). This position is paid monthly at an annual rate.

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted annual salary that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $61,488.83 (Step 2).

How to Apply

• To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Other Information

This position is governed by the terms and conditions in the agreement for the Research Support Professionals Unit (RX) between the University of California and the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE). The current bargaining agreement manual can be found at: http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/labor/bargaining-units/rx/index.html

Per Article 31.B.3The automatic conversion to career status, as provided in Section B.2. above, will not occur when: The position into which the employee is hired is not an "ongoing" position, in that the position is established and funded for less than a year at any percent of time, or c. The funding for the position is "one time" funding, of eighteen (18) months or less.

• This is not a visa opportunity.
• This recruitment has 2 openings.

Misconduct

SB 791 and AB 810 Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy

UC Anti-Discrimination Policy

Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.