Position overview
Position title: Associate Project Scientist, Computational and Experimental tRNA Biology
Salary range: Commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Percent time: 90% time
Anticipated start: As soon as possible after initial review of the applications.
Position duration: Initial appointment will be for one year, with the possibility of reappointment. Should the hiring unit propose reappointment; a review to assess performance will be conducted. Reappointment is also contingent upon the availability of funding.
Application Window
Open date: September 22, 2022
Next review date: Monday, Oct 24, 2022 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Friday, Sep 22, 2023 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position Description
The Department of Biomolecular Engineering at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) invites applications for an Associate Project Scientist. Under the direction of Professor Todd Lowe, the project scientist will carry out basic research in transfer RNA biology integrating computational genomics, probabilistic RNA gene modeling, and large-scale biological data. Research duties will include computational analysis and curation of tRNA genes leveraging comparative genomics, RNA gene modeling, small RNA transcriptional data, epigenetics, and gene variant analysis. The project scientist will also lead the research development and regular maintenance of tRNAscan-SE gene detection software, the labs web server analysis software and interface, and develop the next generation of the Genomic tRNA Database (user interface & content curation). The project scientist will also be expected to present their research results at scientific meetings, co-author journal publications of their work, help train junior scientists in the lab, and co-author new federal grant applications. The project scientist will also supervise and/or perform scientific analytic duties associated with the Banana Slug Genomics Center.
Applicants with expertise in RNA gene analysis software development, creation of sequence analysis web servers, SQL biological sequence database development & maintenance, UCSC genome browser software development & content curation, transfer RNA biology, comparative genomics analysis (archaeal, bacterial, and eukaryotic), human variant analysis, epigenomic chromatin analysis, and RNA epitranscriptomics are strongly encouraged to apply.
The hiring unit will not sponsor employment-eligible immigration statuses for this position.
Department of Biomolecular Engineering: https://engineering.ucsc.edu/departments/biomolecular-engineering
Lowe Lab: http://lowelab.ucsc.edu/
Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

• Ph.D. (or an equivalent foreign degree) in biomolecular engineering, computational biology, or related field.
• A minimum of five years' research experience in RNA-focused computational biology research.
• A record of peer-reviewed publications in the area of RNA-focused computational biology research.

Application Requirements
Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter - Letter of application that briefly summarizes your qualifications and interest in the position.
• Co-authored, peer-reviewed scientific publication

Reference requirements

• 2-3 required (contact information only)

Applicants must provide the names and contact information of their references. The hiring unit will request confidential letters* from the references of those applicants who are under serious consideration. Note that your references, or dossier service, will submit their confidential letters directly to the UC Recruit System.

• All letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. For any reference letter provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service, career center), direct the author to UCSCs confidentiality statement at http://apo.ucsc.edu/confstm.htm.

Apply link: https://recruit.ucsc.edu/JPF01386
Help contact: lcrowder@ucsc.edu
Campus Information
The University of California 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, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees. Inquiries regarding the Universitys equal employment opportunity policies may be directed to the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 or by phone at (831) 459-2686.
Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UCSC positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check (see https://www.uscis.gov/e-verify). The university sponsors employment-based visas for nonresidents who are offered academic appointments at UC Santa Cruz (see https://apo.ucsc.edu/policy/capm/102.530.html).
UCSC is a smoke & tobacco-free campus.
If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact Disability Management Services at roberts@ucsc.edu (831) 459-4602.
UCSC is committed to addressing the spousal and partner employment needs of our candidates and employees. As part of this commitment, our institution is a member of the Northern California Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (NorCal HERC). Visit the NorCal HERC website at https://www.hercjobs.org/regions/higher-ed-careers-northern-california/ to search for open positions within a commutable distance of our institution.
The University of California offers a competitive benefits package and a number of programs to support employee work/life balance. For information about employee benefits please visit https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html
As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program Policy. All Covered Individuals under the policy must provide proof of Full Vaccination or, if applicable, submit a request for Exception (based on Medical Exemption, Disability, and/or Religious Objection) or Deferral (based on pregnancy) no later than the applicable deadline. New University of California employees should refer to Appendix F, Section II.C. of the policy for applicable deadlines. (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.) Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements. Additional information and resources for compliance are located on the campus COVID-19 Vaccines webpage.
VISIT THE UCSC WEB SITE AT https://www.ucsc.edu
Job location
Santa Cruz, California
To apply, visit https://recruit.ucsc.edu/JPF01386
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