Junior Specialist - Silverman Lab

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, Davis invites applications for a qualified Junior Specialist for the Silverman Lab.

This position will be involved in interdisciplinary studies focusing on questions towards advancing translation for rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorders in neuroscience. Successful candidates will also participate in career building opportunities.

The incumbent for this position will be involved in interdisciplinary studies focusing on questions in translational neuroscience using in vitro and in vivo preclinical model systems of neurodevelopmental disorders. The incumbent will have the opportunity to work with preclinical cellular and rodent models of genetic neurodevelopmental disorders as well as environmental exposures that impair neurological and neuropsychiatric health. The incumbent will provide technical support and will actively participate in the research for grants funded by the National Institutes of Health and private foundations.

The incumbent will contribute to maintaining efficient laboratory management and workflow, ordering, grant writing, leading annual inspections for biological and chemical safety and manuscript preparation.

The Silverman Lab conducts in vitro and in vivo preclinical model systems of neurodevelopmental disorders including rodent behavior, neurophysiological and anatomical analyses of preclinical cellular and rodent models of human neurological and neuropsychitric disorders, with a large focus of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) defined by autism spectrum disorders (ASD), intellectual disability disorders (DD) and pediatric epilepsy. Tasks that measure learning and memory, neurological evaluations, sensory, motor, anxiety-related, sleep, seizures, and other abnormalities in vivo.

RNA and protein quantification, drug administration, neuronal imaging and analysis, in vitro are additional components of the position.

This position is through the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California Davis School of Medicine, in association with the UC Davis MIND Institute.

• Understanding of general laboratory procedures including sterile techniques, preparation of analytical reagents, small animal work, tissue dissection for cell culture work and biological assays, and use of analytical laboratory equipment.
• Ability to independently and proactively gather research information that will allow for forward progress and problem solving in the laboratory.
• Work successfully among a fast paced competitive, interdisciplinary team.
• Breeding of genetically modified mice, basic rodent husbandry, andtissue dissection.
• Harvest tissue from genetic models and environmental exposure models.
• Harvest tissue from genetic models and environmental exposure models to plate and generate primary neuronal culture models
• Be responsible for information critical to maintaining live mutant rodent colonies, and maintaining primary neuronal cultures,with outstanding, organized records.
• Utilize fibroblasts, induced pluripotent stem cells and iPSC differentiated neurons
• Assist and Perform genotyping subjects with a high level of knowledge of DNA extraction and PCR procedures
• Perform rtPCR for RNA, and western blotting for protein and troubleshooting of these biological assays.
• Analyzing physiological and biological data.
• Data management, processing, and statistical analysis of experimental data.
• Flexibility with time and research project focus areas.
• Writing experimental methods, data graphics, and statistical software.

• Work with PI to track grant budgets.
• Take regular inventory of supplies, prepare orders, and…