Research Assistant Position Available
Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
University of California San Diego
The lab of Dr. Andres Leschziner at UC San Diego seeks a motivated and intellectually curious Research Assistant to join our research team for post-baccalaureate studies. Our lab has a culture of providing excellent post-bac training and placing people in PhD and MD/PhD programs (our two most recent post-bacs joined the PhD program at UCSF and the MD/PhD program at Yale).
The Leschziner lab studies the molecular mechanisms of chromatin dynamics and microtubule-based intracellular transport and are particularly interested in the connection between defects in transport and neurodegenerative diseases. We focus on the molecular machines involved in these processes and use a range of techniques including cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), biochemistry, in vitro reconstitution, and cell-based assays. We collaborate with labs with expertise in cell biology, single-molecule biophysics and cryo-electron tomography. The Leschziner lab is funded by the National Institutes of Health and Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP).
We are seeking a Research Assistant who will commit to two to three years of post-bac training in our lab, in a paid position. The Research Assistant will be mentored by a senior lab member to develop their own research project, as well as perform general lab duties. Ideal candidates will have a BA or BS in the biological or chemical sciences or related field and will have experience in one or more of the following areas: molecular biology methods (cloning, PCR, qPCR, etc.), tissue culture of human and/or insect cells, protein biochemistry (Western blots, protein purification from E. coli, insect cells, and/ or human cells, etc.), computational methods (structural biology, coding, machine learning, etc.).
Interested and qualified candidates should apply here. Interested applicants are also welcome to write directly to Dr. Leschziner (aleschziner@ucsd.edu) and include their CVs.
Postdoctoral Positions Available
Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
University of California San Diego
The Leschziner lab at the University of California San Diego is seeking postdoctoral fellows to join two different projects:
(1) LRRK2 and Parkinson’s Disease. This project is a collaboration with the groups of Samara Reck-Peterson (HHMI / UC San Diego) and Elizabeth Villa (UC San Diego) and part of a larger international team funded by Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP). We are using a combination of structural (cryo-EM and cryo-ET), biophysical (single-molecule assays), biochemical and cell biological approaches to understand LRRK2’s role in cells and how malfunction leads to Parkinson’s Disease. See our recent publication for an example: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2673-2.
(2) Regulation of cytoplasmic dynein. This project is a collaboration with the group of Samara Reck-Peterson (HHMI / UC San Diego). We are using a combination of structural (cryo-EM and cryo-ET), biophysical (single-molecule assays), biochemical and cell biological approaches to understand to understand how the microtubule-based motor dynein is regulated and assembled into cargo-carrying complexes. Here are some recent publications: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41556-020-0506-z and https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.06.11.448119v1.
The UC San Diego Cryo-EM Facility houses top-of-the line equipment.
The successful candidate must have a Ph.D. in the biological, physical, or chemical sciences. Preferred candidates will have experience working with complex reconstituted systems using one or more of the following approaches: cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography, biochemistry.
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and CV to aleschziner@ucsd.edu. In addition, please have three referees send letters of recommendation directly to aleschziner@ucsd.edu. Applications without references will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed starting immediately until the positions are filled.
The University of California is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
