Junior Specialist (Al-Bassam Lab)

The Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of California, Davis invites applications for one Junior Specialist in Molecular and Structural biology.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

Research (90%):

This position will be involved in interdisciplinary biochemical and structural biology studies focusing the mechanism of microtubule regulatory assemblies in regulating the polymerization of dynamic and cytoplasmic microtubules. The candidate will baculovirus mediated insect cell expression to produce and isolate multi-subunit recombinant protein complexes and reconstitute these complexes with tubulin or dynamic microtubules. The candidate will use biochemical reconstitution approaches such as total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy methods to visualize and assay microtubule polymerization and study the activities of purified regulatory assemblies and their impact on tubulin polymerization into microtubules. The candidate should have expertise in structure determination methodology using cryo-electron microscopy and single particle structure determination methods. The candidate will also contribute to lab maintenance and upkeep.

Service (5%):

The candidate will provide mentorship for undergraduate students in the lab and provide basic training and maintaining lab stocks and databases.

Professional Competence (5%):

Finally, the candidate will carry-out data analyses, prepare figures, and assist writing manuscripts for publication and grant proposals, as well as presenting their research in regular group meetings. The ideal candidate will have a prior background in structural biology research and strong interpersonal, communication, and decision-making skills; as well as the ability to work well independently and as part of a team.

TO APPLY: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07319

Qualified applicants should upload a cover letter, research statement describing their research experience and skills, curriculum vitae. Documents/materials must be submitted as PDF files. Applicants should also provide contact information for two references.

Questions: Please direct questions to Dr. Jawdat Al-Bassam, jmalbassam@ucdavis.edu

Bachelor degree in biological science or a related field, with some lab experience. Experience in protein expression using baculovirus expression. Experience in protein purification is required for the reconstitution and purification of multiprotein complexes using affinity, ion exchange, and gel filtration chromatography, and sucrose density gradients. The candidate must have extensive experience in maintaining eukaryotic cell cultures for protein expression, including insect (Tn5 and Sf9) cells. Must be able to keep a complete and detailed laboratory notebook of experimental procedures and be able to document graphic and tabular data for publication, proposals, and/or presentations. Experience with software programs including Excel and sequence programs is a plus.

Previous experience or coursework in studying genetics. The ideal candidate will have strong interpersonal, communication, and decision-making skills, as well as the ability to work well independently and as part of a team.

• 2 required (contact information only)

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, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal 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.
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