Principal Gene & Cell Therapy Specialist; Specialist - Kasahara lab

Position Description

The Principal Gene & Cell Therapy Specialist role involves specialized processing and analysis of brain tumor and blood samples from patients enrolled in a multi‑center clinical trial of retroviral gene therapy for high‑grade glioma, including immunohistochemical and next‑generation sequencing studies of frozen tumor tissues and glioma stem cell cultures derived from patient tumors, as well as immunophenotyping by flow cytometry and molecular analysis of immune cell subsets from patient blood samples to examine anti‑tumor and anti‑viral immune responses over time.

In addition, this position is responsible for functional studies using tumor‑selectively replicating retroviral vectors in patient‑derived primary glioma stem cell cultures in vitro and orthotopic intracranial brain tumor models in vivo.

This individual is expected to work independently to design and perform research studies, to troubleshoot technical problems, to record, organize, and analyze data for submission of progress reports, manuscripts, and conference presentations, and to communicate and coordinate with collaborators including clinical co‑investigators and their clinical trial staff within UCSF and elsewhere for receiving and processing patient specimens and shipping out reagents as needed.

This individual will also serve as laboratory manager, with specific duties which include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Ordering, purchasing, and maintenance of all required reagents and supplies for lab activities, and monitor and maintain inventory of supplies and stocks.
• Maintaining institutional biosafety and animal care protocols, laboratory safety records, and standard operating procedures.
• On‑going routine maintenance of lab equipment and facilities, including regularly scheduled equipment calibrations and annual renewal of equipment maintenance contracts, hood inspection and re‑certification, and repair as necessary.

Required Qualifications:

• Full Specialist - terminal degree (or equivalent degree) or ten or more years of experience in the relevant specialization.
• Sophisticated knowledge of molecular biology, cellular biology, virology, and immunology in application to gene therapy using viral vectors, including the following specialized technical expertise:
  • Plasmid construction (by restriction enzyme digest, overlap extension PCR, Gibson assembly, etc.) and cloning by bacterial transformation, large‑scale propagation and purification.
  • Mammalian cell culture of established cell lines and patient‑derived primary human cells, and isolation and propagation of normal and malignant stem cells.
  • Retroviral replicating vector production by transient transfection, and establishment of stable vector producer cells including isolation of clonal producer cell sublines.
  • Retroviral replicating vector titer determination, both physical titers by qPCR or ddPCR‑based quantitation of vector genomes and infectious titers by quantitation of target cell transduction and transgene expression analysis.
  • Molecular analysis (including qPCR, ddPCR, scRNAseq, Nanostring analyses), immunohistochemistry or immunocytochemistry, and functional evaluation (including flow cytometry, xCelligence real‑time cell analysis) of retroviral replicating vector transduction and transgene delivery in patient‑derived primary human glioma tissues, dissociated glioma stem cells and organoid cultures, and patient‑derived xenograft (PDX) tumor models.

See Table 24B for the salary range for this position. A reasonable estimate for this position is $93,200 - $194,800.

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae – CV must clearly list current and/or pending qualifications (e.g., board eligibility/certification, medical licensure, etc.).
• Cover Letter (Optional)
• Statement of Research (Optional)
• Statement of Teaching (Optional)

Reference requirements: 3 required (contact information only).

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government…