Assistant Project Scientist - Hector Aguilar-Carreno Lab

Position Overview Salary range: The posted UC salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See Table 37B. The salary range for this position is $79,400-$92,200. Application Window Open date: July 20, 2026 Next review date: Wednesday, Aug 19, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Final date: Wednesday, Aug 19, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time). Applications will continue to be accepted until this date. Position Description UCLA's Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics is seeking to fill a full-time Assistant Project Scientist position in the Hector Aguilar-Carreno lab. The Assistant Project Scientist candidate will perform research on structural biology of RNA/DNA viruses and develop therapeutics against them. The Assistant Project Scientist position is a 12-month non-Senate position. This series is assigned to appointees who make significant and creative contributions to a research or creative project in any academic discipline. Appointees in this series may be ongoing members of a research team or may be employed for a limited period of time to contribute high-level skills to a specific research or creative program. Appointees in this series are not required to carry out independent research or to develop an independent research reputation. Responsibilities Conduct research to elucidate the structures and functions of viral proteins and protein complexes. Conduct research on the structures and mechanisms of assembly and enzymatic viral proteins using cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM) and tomography (cryoET) as the primary tools. Generate and/or test therapeutics against pathogenic viruses of high human concern using viral inhibition or binding assays. Manage the storage and operation of cryoEM compute resources including data management and processing. Carry out both molecular biology and cryoEM structural studies of various components of viral proteins and cellular cryoET structures of virally infected cells. Build atomic models and Alphafold models to the resulting 3D structures of these complexes and tomograms for mechanistic interpretation to form the foundation for future drug design efforts against infectious diseases. Work with graduate students and other lab members to use cryoEM and cellular cryoET of virus infection and assembly to define how viruses replicate within host cells and determine the molecular details of viral assembly within the native cytoplasm environment. Manage undergraduate students and their projects. Manage equipment – Flow cytometer, Ultracentrifuge. Assist with preparation of grant proposals. Prepare manuscripts for publication in scientific journals. Minimum Qualifications Ph.D. (or equivalent) in Structural Biology. At least 5 years of cryoEM and cryoET experience. Familiar with bash terminals and Linux filesystems. Microscope operation and data analysis. Familiar with cryoET tomogram reconstruction and subtomogram averaging pipelines (IMOD, RELION, WARP). Application Requirements Curriculum Vitae – Your most recently updated C.V. UCLA Mission Statement – As the nation's premier public research university, UC's mission is the creation, dissemination, preservation and application of knowledge for the betterment of our global society. We have a particular responsibility to the people of California which we express in the excellence of the education we provide, the impact of the research we do, the comprehensive, life‑saving medical services we provide, and the public service mission we are devoted to. The University of California promotes the social mobility of its students, equips them with the tools and experience that furthers their ambitions, and regards their accomplishments across the life span as evidence of the profoundly positive impact of higher education. The UCLA campus has expressed these goals in its strategic plan as follows: Deepen our engagement with Los Angeles Expand our reach as a global university Enhance our research and creative activities Elevate how we teach Become a more effective institution Prompt for candidates for recruitment: Reflecting on your personal and professional experiences, highlight your past contributions and future commitments to advancing UCLA's mission as embodied in the 2023-28 strategic plan. These accomplishments and ambitions may be discussed in the context of describing your teaching, scholarship, and service. Cover Letter (Optional) Statement of Research (Optional) References References are not required at the time of application. Job Location Los Angeles, CA Equal Opportunity Employer As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law. As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct. "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties APM - 035: Affi‑rative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment #J-18808-Ljbffr University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA)