Assistant​/Associate​/Project Scientist, Campana Lab

The Campana Lab, within the Department of Cell Biology & Human Anatomy at the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, is recruiting for an Assistant, Associate or Full Project Scientist. Rank dependent on experience (50-100% appointment effort). The successful candidate will conduct research in the area of basic neuroscience, neurobiology and systems neuroscience.

The Project Scientist makes significant and creative contributions to a research or creative project in their academic discipline. The appointee possesses the subject matter expertise and the creative energy necessary to function at a high level of competence. The appointee will participate in activities to increase, improve, or upgrade competency in the neuroscience field. Appointees with Project Scientist series may engage in University and public service.

They do not have teaching responsibilities. Although the Project Scientist is expected to work independently under the general guidance of an academic member with an independent research program (i.e., Professor, Professional Researcher, etc.), they are not required to develop an independent research program or reputation. The Project Scientist will carry out research or creative programs with supervision by an individual in an academic title that carries with it automatic Principal status.

The Project Scientist does not usually serve as a Principal Investigator but may do so by exception.

The incumbent will work under the supervision of Dr. Campana and work cooperatively and collegially in a diverse environment.

• Design, initiate and refine experimental approaches to study painful peripheral neuropathy
• In collaboration with the PI, the candidate will develop research plans and carry out many of the experiments and analyses
• Plan transgenic mouse model systems to investigate Schwann cell:
  Immune interactions related to neuropathic pain (oral cancer pain, chemotherapy induced neuropathy and sciatica)
• Apply advanced techniques (Zeta View, Oni, Exodus, NTA) to investigate extracellular vesicles in peripheral nerve communication
• Perform experiments to define the role of Schwann cell derived extracellular vesicles in heath and disease
• Prepare reagents via protein expression and purification of proteins for in vitro and in vivo studies
• Perform discovery-based approaches in transcriptomics and proteomics to identify novel contributors to the development of pain related outcome. Compare existing national data bases with planned experiments to optimize datasets and utilize appropriate statistical and computational analyses of single cell RNA sequencing data
• Mentor Visiting Scholars (MD, PhDs) from Japan, postdoctoral trainees and graduate students. This includes methods development of projects, troubleshooting problems, interpreting results and planning follow up experiments
• Coordinate collaborative research efforts across multidisciplinary projects and external partners

• Obtaining and maintaining appropriate laboratory and safety protocols
• Managing animal protocols
• Reviewing grants and manuscripts

• Summarize and analyze research findings in figures for manuscript submission, conference proceedings and presentations
• Contribute as a lead author or co-author on publications annually
• Provide critical review of manuscripts and proposal from other lab members

• Assist the PI in writing proposals by drafting sections related to Aims, Methods and Preliminary Data
• Assisting the PI with developing new projects that form the foundation of new grant application submissions. Specifically, those that are outlined by NIH RFAs

• Contribute expertise to professional societies and conferences appropriate to their specific field of neuroscience
• Participate in departmental research initiatives such as retreats and seminars