Research Scientist

The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles and is the largest private employer in the City of Los Angeles. USC is consistently ranked among the nation’s most prestigious universities, and the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology features one of the world’s best degree and research programs in gerontology. The USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology has an international reputation as a hub of aging research and with additional strong programs throughout the university, leads the way in defining and advancing the field of gerontology: https://gero.usc.edu

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Sanabria lab at the University of Southern California Leonard Davis School of Gerontology seeks an enthusiastic, scientifically curious Research Scientist. Research in the Sanabria lab utilizes primarily the model organism, C. elegans, and supplements our research with mammalian cell culture and work in tardigrades and the African turquoise killifish. Our research focuses on the intersection of stress and aging – understanding how an organism responds to stress, how the capacity to deal with stress declines during the aging process, and understanding whether cellular stress responses can be hijacked to combat the aging process. We utilize various techniques in genetics, molecular biology, cell biology, and biochemistry but specialize in large-scale genetic screens and advanced microscopy.

The ideal candidate is a goal-oriented and passionate individual who enjoys collaborative work environments in a high-energy academic laboratory. Primary responsibilities will include lab maintenance, performing independent and directed research, writing grants and publications, managing equipment and inventory, and managing a team of 4-5 individuals within the lab. Knowledge of and experience working in higher education is essential. The ideal candidate will also have a strong understanding of Microsoft Office (word, excel, PowerPoint), microscopy (wide-field, confocal, super-resolution microscopy) as well as image-acquisition software (e.g., LASX and ImageJ), exceptional organizational skill, computational skills (R and python to analyze RNA-seq, single-cell RNA-seq, metabolomics, lipidomics, proteomics), and ability to perform microinjections is essential.  

USC and the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology are committed to promoting inclusiveness and diversity, broadly defined, among our students, staff, and faculty. Thus, we seek candidates whose research, teaching, and /or service have prepared them to help us fulfill this commitment.

Roles and responsibilities to include:

• Conduct comprehensive research, which includes experimental design, developing and writing research proposals that will be submitted as grants, and presenting work at conferences and through written manuscripts.
• General lab management and maintenance including organization of inventory and ordering; preparation of medias and solutions; handling and disposing waste; and collecting and sterilizing glassware and equipment.
• Maintain research facility in orderly, operable condition including management of equipment, data, databases, inventory, and lab safety.
• Supervising laboratory trainees including graduate students, management of technicians, and undergraduate researchers.
• Providing support in the maintenance of microscopy equipment, specifically a high-resolution confocal microscope by managing shared calendars, coordinating training and support through service contracts
• Standard molecular biology, including PCR, gel electrophoresis, and molecular cloning.
• Perform standard genetics in C. elegans including crossing and making transgenic lines through microinjections and genome editing with the assistance of a mentor.
• Perform standard microscopy experiments on stereo, compound, and confocal microscopes independently on multiple model systems, including live and fixed C. elegans and tardigrades, as well as fixed turquoise killifish samples.
• Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The University reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Preferred Qualifications:

• The ideal candidate will possess a Ph.D. in Molecular, Cell, or Developmental biology, Genetics, or other related Life Science field. 7 years of postdoctoral training is preferred.
• The ideal candidate will have acquired a minimum of 3 years of external funding through grants (e.g., NIH fellowships, NSF fellowships, private foundation grants, etc.).
• The ideal candidate has a minimum of 3 first-author publications in competitive scientific journals.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office, Image Acquisition Software (e.g., LASX, ImageJ, NikonElements, ZenBlue, ZenBlack, etc.), Adobe Suite (illustrator, photoshop), R, python.
• Experience working with Leica microscopes (stereo, widefield, and confocal) is preferred, but minimally, at least 5 years of experience on any high-resolution or super-resolution confocal platform is acceptable.
• Experience supervising and managing a team of at least 4-5 individuals for 3 years.

This is an exempt position with work expected to be fully on campus in the Andrus Gerontology Center from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM during normal hours of operation, after hours, and on weekends as needed. Some travel for training and conferences to maintain skills and knowledge is required.

The annual base salary for this position is $89,000 to $90,295.  When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

This position is funded by a research grant. Accordingly, this position is contingent upon receipt of the necessary funding from this or any subsequent grant to continue employment.  ​

To Apply

If you are interested, please submit your completed application and include a cover letter and resume with references. Thank you for your interest!

USC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring ordinance. We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at uschr@usc.edu.  Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

Minimum Education: PhD Minimum Experience: 5 years Minimum Field of Expertise: Previous directly related education and experience in research specialization with highly advanced knowledge of equipment, procedures, analysis methods, principles, theories, and concepts.

Salary : $89,000 - $90,295