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The Urbano Laboratory at UC Davis seeks a postdoctoral scholar interested in microbe-host interactions with impact on the health of animals and humans. Dr. Urbano’s research is focused on actin-associated proteins that are mobilized by the immune system to combat infection. The postdoc who secures this position will identify and characterize cytoskeleton proteins with previously unknown roles in host defense. Research will include but is not limited to pathogen intracellular motility and immune cell locomotion.
The successful applicant will have the opportunity to learn and apply CRISPR-Cas9 knockout methods to investigate candidate immune proteins. Additional methodologies may incorporate super-resolution, confocal, and/or epifluorescence microscopy on live and fixed samples. Quantitative approaches will be applied to evaluate pathogen proliferation, cellular and pathogen motility, as well as general actin dynamics. The successful applicant will be considered for opportunities to mentor students, participate in collaborative research, and attend scientific conferences. Participation in scientific writing (e.g., grants, manuscripts) and oral presentations is also expected.
UC Davis is a vibrant academic environment that offers multiple opportunities for attending seminars and interacting with other groups that are interested in Microbiology and Immunology within the Schools of Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, and the College of Biological Sciences.
Applications from individuals with background in microbiology, immunology, bioengineering, cellular or actin biology are equally encouraged.

QUALIFICATIONS
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
• PhD in the area of Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Genetics/Genomics, or related areas
• Experience with fluorescence microscopy and image analysis
• Familiarity with ImageJ/FIJI or similar software
• Demonstrated knowledge of infection or biomechanics
Optional qualifications
• Computational skills or biostatistics
• Genetic manipulation of bacteria and/or cell lines
• Molecular cloning
• Experience with Biophysics, quantifying biomechanical parameters
(e.g., force, tension, velocity)

The UC Salary scales (https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/compensation/index.html) set the minimum pay determined by rank and/or step at appointment. See (https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2023-24/oct-2023-acad-salary-scales/t23.pdf) The salary range for this position is $64,480 - $77,327. "Off-scale salaries", i.e., a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions, qualifications, and experience.

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