Staff Research Associate II

JOB SUMMARY The Staff Research Associate II (SRA II) will contribute, as part of the structural biology team, to studies to better understand synuclein and tau prions that accumulated in neurodegenerative diseases. The SRA II will also help to characterize aggregates that are formed in our cellular and animal model systems, to understand how closely their atomic structures resemble those found in human patients, as well as their cellular localization. The employee will also be expected to develop proficiency in transmission electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy, for structural characterization of protein ultrastructures. The structural biology team is a key part of the overall multidisciplinary Drug Discovery research effort whose research interests span many fields of scientific research and report to the Team Leader. The goal of the team is to identify effective therapeutics against neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and multiple system atrophy. The Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (IND) at UCSF is pursuing a cutting-edge blend of basic science and clinical medicine to provide outstanding care to those suffering from neurodegenerative diseases. Founded in 1999, the IND is committed to creating therapeutics that will halt diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and dementia resulting from traumatic brain injuries. The IND is poised to make serious contributions to this struggle at the frontier of neuroscience and medicine. The mission of the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases is to discover causes and develop cures for these illnesses with an innovative program of basic research and clinical medicine. The IND's founding director is Nobel Laureate Stanley B. Prusiner, MD. DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS Identify the functions or tasks that employees in the job perform. The essential functions should state the purpose of the work and the results to be accomplished, rather than how the function is performed. Of the tasks listed , what percentage of time is devoted to each? The more time employees spend on a function, the more likely it is that the function is essential. Generally, include those functions that account for 10% or more of the work, i.e., key items that contribute significantly to the achievement of the job. The functions should add up to 100%. % of time Essential Function (Yes/No ) Key Responsibilities (To be completed by Supervisor) 40 YIsolate tau and alpha-synuclein filaments from patient tissues and animal and cellular model systems of interest 25 YFollowing training, perform fluorescence and electron microscopy methods 25 Perform protein expression and purification, and perform biochemical assays. 10 YCommunicate with the supervisor and other IND staff to prioritize projects as further knowledge is gained 0 0 0 0 0 100% (To update total %, enter the amount of time in whole numbers (without the % symbol - e.g., 15, 20) then highlight the total sum (e.g., 1%) at the bottom of the column and press F9. The total sum should add up to 100%.) Required Qualifications: BA/BS in Biochemistry, or a related Biological Science field and knowledge of, or experience with, the basic techniques or methods required by the position; and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Knowledge or experience in a research laboratory, including molecular cloning, cell culture and maintaining biological safety protocols. Knowledge of commonly-used concepts, practices, and procedures in protein biochemistry. Computer literacy on both Macintosh and PC, MS-Office suite and basic statistical analysis software. Required Licenses and/or Certifications: none Preferred Qualifications: Experience in sample preparation for or performance of transmission electron microscopy Experience in confocal or cryo-confocal fluorescence microscopy Experience in cell sorting Experience in mammalian cell culture Required Qualifications: BA/BS in Biochemistry, or a related Biological Science field and knowledge of, or experience with, the basic techniques or methods required by the position; and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Knowledge or experience in a research laboratory, including molecular cloning, cell culture and maintaining biological safety protocols. Knowledge of commonly-used concepts, practices, and procedures in protein biochemistry. Computer literacy on both Macintosh and PC, MS-Office suite and basic statistical analysis software. Required Licenses and/or Certifications: none Preferred Qualifications: Experience in sample preparation for or performance of transmission electron microscopy Experience in confocal or cryo-confocal fluorescence microscopy Experience in cell sorting Experience in mammalian cell culture