Biochemistry and Biophysics

Full Time

74127BR

Job Summary

Innate immunity and fungal pathogenesis research technician position at UCSF.

In this position you would be an integral member of the Madhani Lab in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at UCSF which resides in Genentech Hall at the Mission Bay Campus. The Madhani lab develops and uses innovative technologies to understand cellular and molecular mechanisms of gene regulation and host-pathogen interactions. We are an interdisciplinary group of postdocs, graduate students, and staff research associates. We are proud of our lab culture of intellectual curiosity, collaboration, support, diversity, and fun!  Previous staff research associates from the lab have gone onto highly desirable positions in graduate school and biotech.  This is an ideal position for recent graduates seeking additional experience.  A major focus of the lab is understanding how fungal pathogens of humans cause disease.  We use the opportunistic fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans as model for approaching this question.  Cryptococcus infects individuals who are severely immunodeficient including end-stage AIDS patients.  It is responsible for ~200,000 deaths annually, primarily in this patient population.  Our laboratory has been at the forefront of studies of C. neoformans .  This haploid budding yeast is highly experimentally tractable.  We have recently identified new mechanisms by which C. neoformans manipulates the innate immune system, specifically macrophages, a key cell type involved in the body’s defense against pathogens.

In this position, you will be working with one or more postdoctoral fellows and/or graduate students in studies aimed at understanding the role of fungal virulence factors in the evasion of innate immune blocks to infection, with the goal of identifying fundamentally new principles of host-pathogen interactions.  

Responsibilities include mouse husbandry, performing infection studies with mutant strains of C. neoformans , constructing mutant strains of C. neoformans , isolation of bone marrow-derived macrophages and dendritic cells, and flow cytometric analysis of innate immune responses.

To see the salary range for this position (we recommend that you make a note of the job code and use that to look up):TCS Non-Academic Titles Search (ucop.edu)

Please note: The compensation ranges listed online for roles not covered by a bargaining unit agreement are very wide, however a job offer will typically fall in the range of 80% - 120% of the established mid-point. An offer will take into consideration the experience of the final candidate AND the current salary level of individuals working at UCSF in a similar role.

For roles covered by a bargaining unit agreement, there will be specific rules about where a new hire would be placed on the range.

To learn more about the benefits of working at UCSF, including total compensation, please visit: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

Department Description

The Biochemistry & Biophysics Department is comprised of 26 faculty members and about 200 students and postdoctoral fellows pursuing a range of biological problems encompassing biochemistry, genetics, and cell, structural and developmental biology. The faculty are committed to graduate education and actively engaged in shaping the highly collaborative environment that makes UCSF a special place.

Required Qualifications

SRA 1:

• BA/BS in immunology, microbiology or related science and knowledge of, or experience with, the basic techniques or methods required by the position; and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience

SRA 2:

• BA/BS in immunology, microbiology or related science and one or more years of recent, directly related work experience, utilizing the techniques or methods required by the position; and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Experience with immunology, microbiology, and/or molecular biology
• Highly organized, attention to detail, demonstrated record-keeping abilities
• Working knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Excellent communication skills; good written English and skills to write reports

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with mouse husbandry
• Working knowledge of flow cytometry and microscopy
• Experience in molecular biology, such as PCR or molecular cloning
• Experience in biochemistry, such as Western blotting or enzymatic assays
• Bioinformatics experience, such as analysis of imaging or next-generation sequencing data

About UCSF

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. It is the only campus in the 10-campus UC system dedicated exclusively to the health sciences. We bring together the world’s leading experts in nearly every area of health. We are home to five Nobel laureates who have advanced the understanding of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, aging and stem cells.

Pride Values

UCSF is a diverse community made of people with many skills and talents. We seek candidates whose work experience or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence – also known as our PRIDE values.

In addition to our PRIDE values, UCSF is committed to equity – both in how we deliver care as well as our workforce. We are committed to building a broadly diverse community, nurturing a culture that is welcoming and supportive, and engaging diverse ideas for the provision of culturally competent education, discovery, and patient care. Additional information about UCSF is available at diversity.ucsf.edu

Join us to find a rewarding career contributing to improving healthcare worldwide.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California San Francisco is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

Job Code and Payroll Title

009613 SRA 1

Job Category

Research and Scientific

Bargaining Unit

University Professional Technical Employees – Research Support Professionals Unit (UPTE-RX)

Additional Shift Details

Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 5:30pm