Professional Research Assistant

Professional Research Assistant Position

A Professional Research Assistant Position is available in the Park laboratory in the MCDB Department at University of Colorado-Boulder. CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

We study how cells destroy old or damaged proteins, by building a molecular machine, known as the proteasome. In many cancers and neurodegenerative syndromes (e.g. Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease), the proteasome is known to malfunction. Consequently, "bad" proteins build up and form toxic aggregates. Our goal is to find a new rationale to fix proteasome malfunction. For this, we discovered how cells build functional proteasomes, using dedicated proteins—assembly chaperones.

The Park laboratory has established both in vitro and in vivo systems to address this fundamentally important problem. To learn more about our research, please refer to the website.

A prospective Professional Research Assistant will learn and utilize various genetic, biochemical and cell biological strategies to study "novel spatial quality control" during proteasome assembly. This mechanism involves nuclear localization signals of proteasome subunits, and evolutionarily conserved chaperones, including Gankyrin, a known onco-protein in humans.

A minimum two year commitment for the position is desired.

The salary range for this position is $44,000 to $49,000 annually.

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation.

Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be ambitious. Be pioneering. Be Boulder.

Bachelor's Degree preferably in Biology or related scientific field.

Experience with any model organisms (e.g. yeast, plant, worm) is important, including handling, culture, and storage.

Proficiency with PCR, plasmid cloning, DNA gel electrophoresis, basic protein methods (protein extraction, SDS-PAGE etc.) is a plus. Some experience with structural analysis of proteins is a plus (e.g. alphafold, Chimera etc.)

To apply , please submit the following materials as PDFs:
Resume/CV Cover Letter If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources department using an approved online vendor. If your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit a translated version (if applicable) as an optional attachment. During the application process you will need to enter contact information for a reference who can write a letter of recommendation on your behalf.

We will request letters and additional materials, if needed, as the search progresses. Please apply by August 25, 2026 for full consideration. The position will remain posted until filled.

Note:

Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs. In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.