Assistant Specialist - Dugger Lab

Assistant Specialist - Dugger Lab

Position Description

NATURE AND PURPOSE

The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the UC Davis School of Medicine is seeking a full-time Assistant Specialist. The purpose of this position is to provide support, coordination, and leadership for research studies of Dr. Brittany Dugger. This is not a remote position; the chosen candidate will be expected to be on premise within the UC Davis Health and UCD Davis campus. This recruitment is conducted at the assistant rank. The resulting hire will be at the assistant rank, regardless of the proposed appointee's qualifications.

This Specialist position has a narrow focus in a specialized area and provides technical or specialized expertise in the planning and execution of research projects investigating the spectrum of neurological disorders involving processes of neurodegeneration including Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. This position requires experience in basic research and previous experience working in projects primarily focused on postmortem human samples and associated data. The Specialist must be able to work effectively independently as well as be an invaluable team member.

The Specialist stays apprised of emerging issues and problems and maintains technical competence in the designated area(s) of specialization. Within this defined area and when appropriate, the Specialist is expected to provide leadership, facilitate teamwork, and develop collaborative relationships with colleagues and supply input to the planning of research and educational programs. The Specialist will be evaluated for merit and promotion using three basic criteria outlined below.

I. RESEARCH IN SPECIALIZED AREAS (90% EFFORT)

A. The Specialist will use research experience to aid in leading research projects under the direction of Brittany Dugger, PhD. Specific duties for this position include developing and enhancing protocols, writing of research projects assessment of operational and material requirements for the conduction of current and proposed research studies; collection, management and analysis of research data, assisting with autopsy programs, as well as laboratory safety and maintenance.

B. Collaborate with other research and extension personnel affiliated with research activities involving (e.g., overseeing workflows for digital whole slide imaging including providing annotation on anatomic specific areas as well as select pathologies). The Specialist may help with facilitating information required for material and data transfer agreements. The specialist will be expected to maintain proper laboratory trainings, as well as maintaining documentations for the laboratory related to laboratory trainings and safety items.

C. In addition, the Specialist needs to utilize technical skills suited to the needs of the projects. This will require demonstrated proficiency with laboratory bench work (including but not limited to digital pathology, database systems and servers, immunohistochemistry, basic and specialized tissue stain, microscopical analysis and imaging), strict adherence to protocol, keen observation, organization skills, and extensive documentation. Furthermore, the position may include aiding with duties associated with on-call brain autopsies (that will be working outside of typical hours- i.e. nights/weekends) to support research studies. The Specialist will also be required to maintain an excellent communication channel with the Neuropathology Core and collaborators and procure accuracy and integrity of the research data and keep a digital laboratory note book up to date with enough details to aid in QA/QC of projects/tasks.

D. This position will also be responsible to assure the laboratory is compliant with all laboratory safety and state, federal and institutional regulation and guidelines. This position entails updating, modifying, and revising plans for standard laboratory procedures to fulfill the needs of each research project. In addition to maintaining documentation and correct usage of laboratory equipment such as the digital slide scanner, microscopes, cryostat, and laminar flow hoods in addition to their proper maintenance.

E. This position will also be responsible for assisting Dr. Dugger with writing and submitting protocols, preparing applications and abstracts, and preparing manuscript, as requested. Evaluation of performance in research activities or in outreach activities as deemed applicable to the individual project in specialized areas, as documented by any of the following:

1) Publications that acknowledge the Specialist's significant and meaningful contribution to the work.

2) Publications on which the Specialist is a co-author.

3) Other evidence (e.g., letters from collaborators or principal investigators) of the work done by the Specialist contributed to publishable research.

4) Active dissemination of information (beyond the boundaries of the campus) through informal instruction, presentations, or other means stemming from the Specialist's research accomplishments, such as involvement in the brains to classrooms program where presentations are given to local elementary schools.

5) Other evidence of recognized expertise may include formal documentation of intellectual effort and participation in publishable research activities, first authorship on publications, presentation of research at regional/national meetings, and invitations to participate in research projects.

II. PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (5% EFFORT)

A. Participate in appropriate professional/technical societies or groups and other educational and research organizations including the annual UC Davis Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Symposium.

B. Actively participate in weekly meetings (including laboratory meetings and those with collaborators).

III. UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE (5% EFFORT)

A. Mentor junior lab members including volunteers and UC Davis undergraduate students (including summer interns), graduate students, and collaborating with visiting national and international scholars.

B. Participate in activities of committees within the department, college, campus and other University entities, and outreach and educational activities (e.g. presenting information about the brain to elementary students).

Number of Positions Available: 1

Term of Appointment:

One-year appointment at 100%, with the possibility of extension based on the needs of the research project.

For the full position description and to apply, visit

(https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07753)

* Master's level degree or 5 years experience

* Bachelor's degree in science

* At least 2 years of full-time laboratory experience

* Proficient in database systems, and Microsoft office, including creating detailed spreadsheets with functions in Excel, comprising tables and formatting manuscripts in Word, and creating highly detailed figures and presentations with PowerPoint and/or Biorender.

* Communication skills: Professional and prompt with work related communications across all media including e-mail, phone, texting, Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meetings. Proficient in English. Evidence of scientific writing skills, through co-authors publications.

* Management skills: Able to work with shifting priorities and stacking goals while maintaining organization and appropriate deadline management. Able to manage laboratory administrative tasks in a timely manner.

* Willingness to work outside typical hours to facilitate autopsy workflows

* Bench Science: Skilled in immunohistochemistry protocols with the ability to troubleshoot and calibrate practices to optimize specific antibodies.

* Proficient in digital pathology applications/equipment- including slide scanning systems and associated software

* Biological sciences: Knowledgeable in neuroanatomy, human brain dissection, immunochemistry in human brain tissue, and the scientific process.

* Interpersonal skills: Works well with people across all demographics by being respectful of others' experiences and trusting in their professionalism and expertise to accomplish work goals. Believes respect is key and that everyone brings a unique and valuable perspective to the table when solving any problem.

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

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, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

• "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: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

To implement this process, UC Davis requires all applicants for any open search to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled, "Authorization to Release Information" into UC RECRUIT as part of their application. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration.

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