A Research Associate I position is available in the laboratory of Amir Zarrinpar, MD, PhD, at University of California, San Diego in La Jolla, CA. The lab is interested in developing microbiome-based therapeutics by engineering native, undomesticated bacteria to express both prokaryotic and eukaryotic functions to affect host health. Our previous work in this area (Russell, et al. Cell 2022) show that engineered native bacteria can engraft and ameliorate disease, hence serving as a model for functional cures for chronic diseases.
Under supervision, the incumbent will focus on learning and performing simple to moderate complexity experiments independently and collaboratively, including PCR, qPCR, and ELISAs. In addition, the incumbent will be taught animal husbandry and mouse colony management in order to independently handle mice, assist in performing in-vivo phenotyping experiments, and maintain multiple mouse colony lines for the lab. Other job duties include maintaining lab instruments and equipment, preparing laboratory supplies such as reagents and plate media, and recording accurate laboratory notes and data.