Life Science Research Professional 1 in School of Humanities and Sciences, Stanford, California, United States at Stanford University

Life Science Research Professional 1

This position has been deemed critical by the School of Humanities and Sciences Dean’s Office and is exempt from the hiring freeze.

The School of Humanities and Sciences (H&S) is the foundation of a liberal arts education at Stanford. The school encompasses 24 departments and 25 interdisciplinary programs. H&S is home to fundamental and applied research, where free, open, and critical inquiry is pursued across disciplines. As the university’s largest school, H&S serves as the foundation of a Stanford undergraduate education no matter which discipline students pursue as a major. Graduate students work alongside world-renowned faculty to pursue and shape foundational research that leads to breakthroughs and discoveries that shed new light on the past, influence the present, and shape the future. Together, faculty and students in H&S engage in inspirational teaching, learning, and research every day.

Department/Program Description: The mission of the Stanford Chemistry Department is to deliver excellence in education and research by attracting the very best faculty and students. The Department serves 26 faculty members, 5 lecturers, ~90-100 postdocs, ~250-300 PhD students, ~10 research staff, and 30 administrative staff, with an annual consolidated budget of approximately $30 million. The Department facilities consist of over 300,000 square feet of research, classroom and administrative space spread over 6 buildings.

Position Summary: The Cegelski Lab (cegelskilab.stanford.edu) at Stanford University, led by Prof. Lynette Cegelski in the Department of Chemistry, is seeking to recruit a Life Science Research Professional 1 (LSRP 1) to participate in exciting research at the chemistry-biology interface. Our research is inspired by the challenge and need for solutions to pressing problems in human health and planetary health and sustainability. We integrate experimental chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology and chemical biology together in creative and unconventional ways to deliver new discoveries and insights addressing these problems. Our group members arrive with diverse backgrounds trained in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical biology, microbiology, physical chemistry, and/or engineering fields.

We have projects ongoing in antibacterial drug discovery integrating chemical biology and mechanistic biochemistry and biophysics directed at the discovery and development of new antibacterial therapeutics targeting difficult-to-treat bacteria. We define the molecular and atomic-level assembly of cell walls and extracellular structures and are constructing blueprints of how bacteria use these building blocks to engineer organized architectures. We design and discover small molecules to interfere with assembly processes—inhibiting cell-wall biosynthesis with antibiotics and inhibiting amyloid assembly and polysaccharide assembly to probe biofilms and the gut-brain axis. We strive to introduce new therapeutic strategies for infectious diseases and neurodegenerative disease.

We are seeking a talented and enthusiastic LSRP 1 to join our team to participate in experiments and contribute to defined research projects. The candidate should have some experience with basic laboratory research and, if new to them, be eager to be trained to proficiently perform experiments including some of the following: bacteriology and antibiotic/inhibitor assays, fluorescence microscopy, biochemical purifications, biochemical assays such as ELISAs and binding assays and protein gel electrophoresis, as well as analytical methods including liquid chromatography (e.g. HPLC). The LSRP 1 candidate should be comfortable with data plotting software and graphics and slide preparation at the level of a college graduate. Routine experiments used frequently once mastered include preparation of nutrient media, bacterial growths, cell-wall and biofilm matrix isolations, binding assays, and microscopy to evaluate bacterial surface architecture and cellular features.

The candidate’s participation in research will likely result in publication opportunities and a successful candidate will be willing to contribute ideas and effort towards preparation of work for publication. The LSRP1 will join other lab members in sharing and contributing to lab organization and operations. There could be opportunities for job growth and advancement for a longer term beyond the initial appointment in our research group.

About the PI: Prof. Lynette Cegelski is a Professor of Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry and Courtesy Professor in Chemical Engineering at Stanford University. She is also a faculty member in the Biophysics Program and a Faculty Fellow of the Sarafan ChEM-H (Chemistry, Engineering and Medicine for Human Health) Institute. Cegelski’s PhD in Chemistry and postdoctoral training in Molecular Microbiology were extremely cross-disciplinary and such interdisciplinarity is the norm for students and postdocs training in the Cegelski group. Cegelski has received several awards, including the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, the NSF CAREER and the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). Cegelski has an extensive track record in mentoring postdocs, graduate students, undergraduate students, and research associates as well as in teaching undergraduate courses in chemistry and biochemistry. In addition, our group has strong collaborations with other groups at Stanford and beyond. See our website for more information on current group members, alumni, research interests, publications, and other resources.

This is a 100% FTE, 1 year fixed term non-exempt position. This position will be based on the Stanford campus.

If you believe that this opportunity is a match for your knowledge, skills and abilities, we encourage you to apply. Thank you for considering employment opportunities with the School of Humanities and Sciences.

CORE DUTIES:

●      Independently conduct experiments; maintain detailed records of experiments and outcomes.

●      Apply the theories and methods of a life science discipline to interpret and perform analyses of experiment results; offer suggestions regarding modifications to procedures and protocols in collaboration with senior researcher.

●      Contribute to publication of findings as needed. Participate in the preparation of written documents, including procedures, presentations, and proposals.

●      Help with general lab maintenance as needed; maintain lab stock, manage chemical inventory and safety records, and provide general lab support as needed.

●      Assist with orientation and training of new staff or students on lab procedures or techniques.

* Other duties may also be assigned.