DESCRIPTION

The UCSD Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (CMM) is one of two basic science units in the School of Medicine where world-class researchers study fundamental cellular processes and pathways using a variety of techniques from classical genetics and fluorescence microscopy to high throughput genomics, systems biology, and crystallography. Our 37 faculty and over 200 postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, and research staff work on the cutting edge of biology, cutting across fields from basic biochemistry and genetics to genomics, systems biology and stem cell biology.

The Institute for Network Medicine [www.cnetmed.ucsd.edu] unites several research disciplines to develop disruptive solutions, transform life sciences, and technology and enhance the quality of human life. Founded in Mar of 2018, iNetMed houses three centers, which are collaboratively developing new, human-centered approaches to drug discovery and technological innovation. These positions are geared towards "human centered drug discovery". Human-Centered Drug Discovery: The world's drug discovery machinery has a tragic paradox. Academic labs, pharmaceutical companies and biotechs have better tools than ever before: supercomputers, genomic sequencers, PCR. Despite these incredible technologies, the drug discovery success rate is lower now than it was in the 1970s. There are two reasons for this: First, the era of 'big data' has not been translated into effective drugs, as was initially expected. Second, current approaches for target discovery rely far too much on inbred animal models (mice, rats, etc.), and drugs that work wonders in these animals. These pre-clinical studies fail far too often, then too late in clinical trials, making the process wasteful and imprecise. To overcome these challenges, iNetMed's two Centers, the Center for Precision Computational System Network (PreCSN) and HUMANOID Center of Research Excellence (CoRE) are working collaboratively to provide an end-to-end new paradigm and platform for drug discovery that begins with target identification (at PreCSN) and ends with target validation in human disease models (at HUMANOID).

The Stem Cell Research Associate will mostly work within the UC San Diego HUMANOID CoRE (humanoid.ucsd.edu), an organoid-based research core that strives to build disease models for testing therapeutics.

Under close supervision, assist with and perform standard laboratory procedures with adult human stem cells and primary cells, human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), including embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), as well as other experimental procedures. Perform a number of standard repetitive laboratory procedures with stem cells, primary cell lines and immortalized cell lines, as needed, with the intent to build disease models that will aid in drug discovery for grand challenges in human diseases that are still without cure.

Use basic molecular biology and microscopy techniques to assist in conducting a number of experimental procedures. The research associate will use microscopes, high content imaging, plate-readers, flow cytometers, cell fractionarors, isolators, microfluidic chambers, and available robotics to assay effects of small molecules on stem cells and organoids grown from stem cells will be necessary. The incumbent will assist in performing standard experimental protocols in tissue culture to meet the needs of the research projects, providing ideas and rationale to help improve tests that are unsatisfactory. Perform general lab duties including ordering supplies and equipment repair.

Under appropriate guidance, the incumbent will edit and maintain database of human tissue and organoids in the HUMANOID biorepository, maintain up-to-date clinic IRBs (Consent forms and IRB protocols), and serve as runner if needed to secure patient-derived tissues from clinics and bring them to the HUMANOID for organoid isolation. For these tasks, the incumbent will need to use word, excel and powerpoint software and computers. Must be willing to drive/access public transportation as needed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Theoretical knowledge of molecular and cellular biology or closely related field as typically acquired at a collegiate level or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Knowledge of or experience in sterile cell culture