Junior Specialist - Brostoff

Position overview

Salary range: A reasonable salary estimate for the Jr. Specialist position is:

Exempt:
Step 1 - $57,000/year;
Step 2 - $60,700/year

Non-exempt:
Step 1 - $27.30/hour;
Step 2 - $29.08/hour

Open date: September 10, 2026

Next review date: Tuesday, Sep 29, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Final date: Monday, Nov 30, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

The junior specialist will participate in publishable research focusing on host immune responses to both infectious disease and cancer. This research will use a very broad variety of research techniques in molecular biology and virology as well as spectroscopy and machine learning. General responsibilities will primarily include execution of research projects, laboratory management, biorepository cataloguing and maintenance of freezer organization, and assisting trainees in the laboratory.

The candidate must exhibit exceptional organizational and interpersonal communication skills and must be willing to work as part of a team.

Research (80%):

Experimental research:

A successful candidate will be able to perform laboratory techniques including peripheral blood mononuclear cell isolation and culture, intracellular cytokine staining, and flow cytometry. The candidate will perform Raman spectroscopy on biofluid samples collected from the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital with subsequent application of machine learning to automate sample characterization. The candidate will be expected to perform these techniques independently.

The candidate will also be responsible for cataloguing and maintaining the lab’s biorepository of tissue samples and fluids using Freezerworks software. The individual may also assist with data analysis, generation of publication quality figures, and manuscript writing.

Laboratory management:

In addition to experimental research, the candidate will be expected to assist with lab management, including ordering supplies, maintaining safety and training records, maintaining a clean laboratory environment, and provide overall support for ongoing experiments. The candidate will provide hands-on support for trainees in the lab as well.

It will be occasionally necessary to work outside of standard business hours to accommodate certain laboratory techniques. This will represent less than 5% of the candidate’s total average work hours per month.

Professional competence (10%):

The candidate will be expected to participate in lab meetings and journal club, with the ability to critically evaluate literature and present scientific data in these meetings as well as presenting data during individual meetings with the PI.

University and public service (10%):

As a full-time lab member, this position includes responsibility for maintaining safety standards and meeting regulatory requirements of the university. There will be a focus on University and public service outreach and extension with a focus on topics related to their research.

• * Bachelor's degree in biological sciences, biomedical engineering, or related field
• * Previous laboratory experience

• * Demonstrated knowledge of basic concepts related to immunology, cancer, and virology
• * Laboratory experience in basic techniques used in molecular biology (PCR, immunostaining techniques, cell culture)
• * Experience with PBMC isolation and culture, intracellular cytokine staining, and flow cytometry
• * Experience with Flow Jo software
• * Data science, machine learning, and biostatistics skills

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