Work in Washington Veterans Jobs

Req #: 233127

Department: DEPARTMENT OF DERMATOLOGY

Posting Date: 04/15/2024

Closing Info: Open Until Filled

Salary: $6,000 - $7,500 per month

Shift: First Shift

Notes: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. (https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/benefits-professional-staff-librarians-academic-staff-20230701_a11y.pdf )

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

The UW School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology has an opening for a Research Scientist/Engineer 3 (E S UAW RSE) in the laboratory of Dr. Cory Simpson in the well-resourced, collaborative, and innovative scientific environment at the South Lake Union campus. The Research Scientist will have a unique opportunity to work closely with Dr. Simpson, a physician-scientist trained in dermatology and a committed mentor, to help launch a basic science research program focused on skin development and disease. Coupling advanced techniques in cell biology, gene editing, and live microscopy with an organoid model of human skin, the Simpson Lab aims to translate our lab findings into novel ways to regenerate and repair the skin in dermatologic disease. Under the direction of the PI, the successful candidate will generate important data and provide critical logistical support to help achieve our long-term goal of finding novel dermatologic therapies for both rare genetic disorders and common diseases like eczema, psoriasis, or skin cancer.

We are seeking a Research Scientist who will provide a consistent commitment to advance multiple projects in the lab through (1) independently completing recurring wet lab tasks essential to our research operations in a timely and careful manner, (2) designing, executing, and recording results of high-quality experiments under the guidance of the PI and (3) overseeing and organizing lab reagent inventory, regulatory compliance, equipment maintenance, and established experimental protocols to ensure our ability to generate reproducible, reliable, and compelling data. While our lab aims to advance cutting-edge science, we are also committed to advancing the career goals of the people who fuel our science by providing a supportive and inclusive teamwork environment, earned opportunities for co-authorship and conference presentations, and a commitment to mentorship of all lab members. We believe this will be a rewarding position offering training in innovative scientific methods to advance research projects ultimately focused on improving human health.

Our lab studies the epidermis, which is the outermost layer of the skin that serves as a protective shield for the body. This position will provide critical support to our basic science wet lab research program focused on understanding how the epidermis regenerates and how it is compromised in dermatologic diseases. We grow keratinocytes in 3-D organoid skin cultures that can be analyzed using live microscopy to visualize real-time tissue development. As well, we employ genetic engineering in human keratinocytes and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) to model inherited skin diseases in the lab. Ultimately, we aim to identify novel strategies to promote tissue regeneration after skin injuries and to treat dermatologic disorders lacking effective therapies. This Research Scientist 3 position will include both wet lab duties and organizational responsibilities with the option to advance toward a long-term lab manager position to oversee our research operations.

The Research Scientist will perform wet-lab experiments and tasks (50%), oversee lab organization, equipment, inventory, protocols, and regulatory compliance (25%), and train junior members of the lab in standardized techniques and instrumentation (25%). The Research Scientist is capable of working independently and collaboratively under the direction of the PI. Specific duties include:

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Wet Lab Experimentation (50%)

• Keep a complete, legible, and up-to-date laboratory record of all experiments and results.

• Design and execute plasmid cloning strategies including mutagenesis, fluorophore tagging, and transfer into retroviral vectors.

• Use sterile technique for culture and drug treatment of primary cells, immortalized cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC).

• Design CRISPR gene editing strategies and differentiation protocols for induced pluripotent stem cells.

• Oversee the introduction of iPSC cultures in the lab and develop an epidermal keratinocyte and organoid differentiation protocol.

• Perform transfection of cell cultures for transgene expression or RNAi-based gene silencing.

• Produce and utilize non-pathogenic retroviral stocks for transduction of human cell cultures.

• Collect RNA and protein lysates from cell cultures and analyze by qPCR and Western blotting.

• Fix cells/tissues and perform immunostaining using multiple fluorescent antibodies.

• Design microscopy experiments and prepare cell cultures for live confocal imaging.

• Learn from PI to independently generate organoid skin cultures and submit for histology.

• Learn to obtain wide-field and confocal fluorescence microscopy images suitable for analysis.

• Analyze and prepare data in graphs and figures for lab meetings, grants, formal presentations, or publications.

• Transfer new methodologies from published research studies into the laboratory.Lab Organization (25%)

• Monitor, order, and organize lab supplies to maintain adequate inventory.

• Keep complete, accurate, and detailed records of all purchases and provide to the PI.

• Safely utilize and monitor lab equipment and arrange necessary maintenance or repairs.

• Establish collaborations for use of shared resources and equipment as appropriate.

• Ensure timely replenishment of common lab chemicals, solutions, and other supplies.

• Oversee biosafety lab inspection, biological use authorization, chemical/biological inventory, and IRB/IACUC protocols.

• Attend lab meetings, weekly one-on-one meetings, Journal Club, seminars, and other group meetings related to our research.Training (25%)

• Teach junior lab members basic lab techniques including cell culture, immunofluorescence, immunoblotting, and microscopy.

• Maintain up to date training logs for lab members including required trainings for biohazards and chemicals.

• Help junior lab members troubleshoot experiments as needed.

• Develop and update standardized protocols for experiments to be used by lab members.

• Create a healthy, safe, violence-free environment by reporting any concerns or conflicts to the PI. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Microbiology, or related field and 4 years of relevant experience OR Equivalent combination of education/experience.

• Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS Specific knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the job satisfactorily include:

• Must be familiar with common laboratory equipment, protocols, and safety measures including those inherent to Biosafety Level 2.

• Must have prior experience with molecular biology techniques necessary for plasmid cloning, PCR, and mutagenesis.

• Must have prior experience with sterile cell culture including iPSC, Western blotting, immunofluorescence staining, immunohistochemistry, and fluorescence microscopy.

• Must have experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Prism, and ImageJ/Fiji to record and view experimental results.

• Must have excellent organizational skills to track lab orders and expenses, develop and update detailed lab protocols and compliance documents, collect and analyze data, and construct clear graphs and figures. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Previous experience designing and leading a research project.

• Prior supervision and training of new lab members including students.

• Knowledge of UW ordering system and UW lab compliance requirements and protocols.

• Knowledge of the manuscript process and grant application process.

• Strong written and oral communication skills. Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are access ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.