Recruit

The Department of Physiology & Membrane Biology at the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, seeks to hire one, full time, Assistant Project Scientist in Dr. Eamonn Dickson’s lab. The Project Scientist will perform research functions in the area of cellular signaling with an emphasis on lipids and organelle communication in health and disease.

The Project Scientist makes significant and creative contributions to a research or creative project in their academic discipline. The appointee possesses the subject matter expertise and the creative energy necessary to function at a high level of competence. The appointee will participate in activities to increase, improve, or upgrade competency in the areas of neurobiology. Appointees with Project Scientist series may engage in University and public service. They do not have teaching responsibilities. Although the Project Scientist is expected to work independently under the general guidance of an academic member with an independent research program (i.e., Professor, Professional Researcher, etc.), they are not required to develop an independent research program or reputation. The Project Scientist will carry out research or creative programs with supervision by an individual in an academic title that carries with it automatic Principal status. The Project Scientist does not usually serve as a Principal Investigator but may do so by exception.

The incumbent will work under the supervision of Dr. Eamonn Dickson and work cooperatively and collegially in a diverse environment.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
1. RESEARCH (85% EFFORT)
Research activity (60%)
This position requires creative contributions to and collaborative development of an active research program investigating topics relevant to the research area of lipids and organelle communication across health and disease. The primary research project is to develop and apply advance instrumentation allowing visualization and quantification of protein distribution at very high spatiotemporal resolution. The candidate will apply this novel instrumentation to the study of membrane proteins and downstream lipid signaling networks across different cell types, including neurons from genetically modified animals. The candidate will utilize super-resolution, confocal, and TIRF microscopy. The candidate will develop algorithms for the analysis of images. He/she is also expected to instruct post-doctoral fellows and graduate students how to use novel imaging instrumentation and all associated image processing and data analysis software.

The appointee will help to determine research goals in consultation with the Principal Investigators. The Project Scientist will design specific projects, including the selection of appropriate methods and techniques. In some cases, the appointee may supervise students or technicians regarding the technical aspects of the research, including methods development, trouble-shooting problems, interpreting results and planning follow-up experiments. The appointee collaborates with scientific colleagues in multi-disciplinary projects that include components falling within the appointee’s area of expertise.

Publication (15%)
The appointee will publish research in peer-reviewed journals either independently or in collaboration with the PI or other members of the research team.

Grant Acquisition (10%)
The appointee will assist in writing proposals for funding from federal and state agencies and other funding organizations. The appointee will prepare and assist in the preparation of reports as required by granting agencies and prepare modifications of budgets and other grant components as needed.

2. PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (10% EFFORT)
The candidate will participate in professional societies and conferences appropriate to his/her specific field of neuroscience/cell biology and may serve as a reviewer of research proposals and scientific publications as appropriate. The candidate will attend lab meeting and seminars to present research results and may give oral presentations to public and professional interest groups.

3. UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE (5% EFFORT)
The appointee may undertake administrative tasks relevant to the smooth running of the laboratory enterprise as appropriate.

*This recruitment is conducted at the assistant rank. The resulting hire will be at the assistant rank regardless of the proposed appointee’s qualifications. *

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