Skip to main content

Junior Specialist/Assistant Specialist - Liu Lab

We are no longer accepting applications for this recruitment. Browse open recruitments

Position description

The Department of Neurology at the University of California, Davis, invites applicants for a Junior Specialist and/or an Assistant Specialist position. Candidate applications will be evaluated and properly classified based on their basic qualifications. Both the junior specialist and/or assistant specialist title will be involved in interdisciplinary studies focusing on questions in the neurosciences in the laboratory of Dr. Da Zhi Liu.

The incumbent will be expected to participate in an NIH-funded research program that leverages cancer elements, such as oncogenes (e.g. Src, Rock) or tumor suppressors (e.g. miR-122, miR-125b), to develop new drugs for treatment of acute brain injury, including traumatic brain injury, hemorrhagic stroke, and ischemic stroke. The successful candidate will be required to conduct experiments, such as animal surgery (i.e., controlled cortical impact model), animal behavioral measurements, histological staining, Western blot, and others. Due to funding status of a pending Covid-19 project in collaboration with local animal BSL-3 facility, the successful candidate will have opportunities to take BSL-3 safety training and handle the inactivated samples that are collected from SARS-CoV-2 infected animals.

Candidates are expected to interact with research and clinical staff; therefore, strong interpersonal skills are essential. The incumbent will be expected to contribute to academic publications published in peer-reviewed journals, participate in lab meetings and attend relevant talks by faculty, both on and off campus throughout the year. The ideal candidate should possess strong communication and decision-making skills, a strong interest in Neuroscience and clinical research and must be able to work well independently and as part of a team.

The incumbent will be expected to help design tasks adequate to the research question under examination and analyze the resulting datasets to answer the experimental hypotheses put forward. In addition, s/he will be expected to produce contributions of a high academic caliber that will result in authorship on scientific papers published in peer-reviewed journals. S/he will participate in meetings in the Liu Lab and will be required to attend basic science meetings in the Department of Neurology, as well as other talks given by faculty, both on and off campus throughout the year, which will discuss current and ongoing research projects.

Both The Junior Specialist and/or Assistant Specialist titles will be expected to provide mentorship to undergraduate research assistants that rotate through the lab.

The incumbent will work under the supervision of Dr. Da Zhi Liu in the Department of Neurology.

This is a full-time position. This position is funded at 100% time and is contracted for a year. There is the possibility of a year extension depending on work performance. A junior specialist contract cannot be extended beyond two years.

Basic qualifications:
Junior Specialist candidates must possess a Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science, Biology, or related fields. Assistant Specialist candidates must possess a Master's in Animal Science, Biology, or related fields.

Application Process:
For full consideration, applications must be received by November 6, 2020. However, the position will remain open until filled through June 30, 2021. The following information is required: Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae and contact information for 3 references . Qualified candidates should apply online at: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF03827.

The UC Davis School of Medicine and the Department of Neurology is committed to building a diverse faculty, staff, and student body as it responds to the changing population and educational needs of California and the nation.

UC Davis is the only California University with both a Medical School and a School of Veterinary Medicine. The School of Medicine and Department of Neurology integrates teaching, research, and service to society, defining the frontiers of engineering knowledge, and training the next generation of engineers to address the emerging needs of the nation and the world.

UC Davis is a smoke- and tobacco-free campus effective January 1, 2014. Smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e-cigarettes) are strictly prohibited on any property owned or leased by UC Davis -- indoors and outdoors, including parking lots and residential space.

We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/DiscHarassAffirmAction. If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact the recruiting college.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. More information is available https://www.e-verify.gov/.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Cover Letter

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

  • Statement of Research (Optional)

  • Statement of Teaching (Optional)

  • Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion documented in the application file will be used to evaluate applicants. Visit https://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/faculty-equity-and-inclusion for guidelines about writing a statement and why one is requested.
    (Optional)

Reference requirements
  • 3 required (contact information only)
2023 Forbes Award: Best Employers for Diversity 2023 Forbes Award: Best Employers for Women

Job location

Davis, CA