Junior Specialist: Wnt and Nerve Regeneration Research- Ho & Campana Labs

The Ho and Campana Labs, within the Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy at the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, is recruiting for one 100% Junior Specialist in the specialty fields of Wnt signaling and Schwann cell biology, and neuropathic pain. Junior Specialist positions are short-term appointments, up to two years.

The Junior Specialist has the general duties of working closely with the Principal Investigator (PI) in the planning and execution of research projects. The junior specialist may assist in data collection, entry, and quality control, study design and implementation, literature reviews, and data analysis for preparation of manuscripts or conference presentations, and writing conference abstracts and manuscripts (e.g., methods and results sections, table, and figure generation) for a particular project.

Successful candidates are expected to participate in three major categories of activities listed below:

The Junior Specialist will work collaboratively with the Principal Investigator (PI), and other research personnel, on studies related to questions in developmental biology, Wnt signal transduction, human birth defects and peripheral nerve biology. They will carry out technical and routine laboratory tasks necessary to support the research project(s) in specialized areas. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Assist with lab operation and general management for both Ho and Campana Labs.
• Design, generate and test molecular constructs for Ho and Campana labs.
• Collaborate with research personnel on studies involving the role of Wnt5a‑Ror signaling in normal and disease states. Specific duties include structure‑function study of the Wnt5a/Ror receptor complex and the Dvl protein family, and analysis of genetically modified mutant cell lines carrying mutations in components of the Wnt5a‑Ror pathway. The candidate will also participate in LRP1 dependent cell signaling in Schwann cells as it relates to neuropathic pain and nerve repair.
• Participate in ongoing projects with individual responsibilities assigned in the lab, contributing to study design, data collection, and interpretation to refine future experiments.
• As the Junior Specialist gains expertise in experimental skills and makes substantial, novel discoveries, he/she will be expected to contribute to manuscript preparation and publication.
• Assist with general lab research operations and training of new lab members. The person hired needs to have the ability to work as part of a team and be reasonably flexible in working hours in order to accommodate experimental schedules.
• Assist with grant preparation and review journal manuscripts related to Wnt signaling and developmental cell biology as expertise develops.
• They will review journal manuscripts related to Wnt signaling, developmental cell biology and neurobiology.

• The appointee will engage in dissemination of research beyond the campus, such as through presentations or participation in relevant professional societies or groups.
• They are also expected to contribute to lab meeting presentations, departmental seminars, journal clubs, and other academic activities, as applicable.

• The Junior Specialist will be expected to mentor undergraduate research assistants who rotate through the lab.
• They will also be expected to actively participate in regular lab meetings, group discussions, and other relevant activities.