Junior Specialist – Erlebacher lab

About the role

The Junior Specialist will work in a basic/translational science laboratory on the UCSF Parnassus campus that focuses on immunological and epigenetic features of pregnancy, including why the fetus is not rejected by the maternal immune system, how labor induction is timed and controlled, and causes of pregnancy complications. The work builds upon the lab’s recent publications in Cell, Immunity, and Nature.

Responsibilities

• Work independently on multiple projects under the supervision of the PI and lab members.
• Perform detail‑oriented tasks, manage multiple tasks simultaneously, prioritize experiments, and work with minimal supervision.
• Maintain excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Engage in specialized research and professional activities; contribute scientifically and scholarly; may participate in University and public service (Specialist series expectations).
• Perform lab managerial duties: reagent and supply orders, maintenance of laboratory supplies, interfacing with EH&S and IACUC.

Skills

• Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining of tissue sections, including photomicroscopy.
• Molecular biology techniques: RNA extraction, PCR, qPCR, RT‑PCR, western blots, PCR primer design using online programs.
• Cell culture, including cell transfections, treatments, and lentivirus preparation.
• Mouse colony maintenance: tailing mice for genotyping, weaning litters, preparation of tail DNA, PCR analysis, record keeping.
• Mouse pregnancy experiments: drug administration and labor induction timing.
• Isolation