RESEARCH SCIENTIST/ENGINEER SENIOR

Company: University of Washington
Location: Seattle
Posted on: November 18, 2024

Job Description:

If you are using a screen reader and experience any difficulty accessing our web pages, please call 206-543-2544 or email UWHires and we will be happy to assist you. jump to content Benefits: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills, and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty. All of which has allowed the UW to be nationally recognized as a "Great College to Work For" for four consecutive years.

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences within the UW School of Medicine is the third largest clinical department within the School of Medicine with 330 full-time faculty members, 460 courtesy faculty members, and over 350 staff. Department faculty provide clinical services in 5 hospitals, 14 primary care locations, and several outpatient sites in addition to telepsychiatry consultations to more than 150 clinics in Washington and beyond. As the only academic psychiatry department serving the five state WWAMI region (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho), the Department's highly competitive residency training program is largely responsible for developing the mental health workforce in the Pacific Northwest. The Department's robust research portfolio totals $67 million in grants and contracts per year for projects ranging from clinical neurosciences to treatment development to health policy and population health. The Department is recognized as an international leader in developing, testing, and implementing Collaborative Care, an integrated care model increasingly seen as a solution for population-based mental health care. Other areas of excellence include Addictions, Autism, High Risk Youth, Neurosciences, and Trauma, and the Department is developing innovative new programs in Technology and Mental Health, Global Mental Health, Maternal and Child Mental Health, and Targeted Intervention Development. Psychiatry is the third largest department in the School of Medicine and the largest non-divisioned department. The overall annual operations funding from all sources is over $130 million.

The Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences within the UW School of Medicine currently has an outstanding opportunity for a Research Scientist/Engineer - Senior position.

The Korvatska Lab's research is focused on unraveling the molecular mechanisms behind cognitive decline associated with various neurodegenerative processes. Our current projects investigate both monogenic and complex conditions, such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Parkinson's Disease (PD), and PD-related movement disorders. A central focus of our work is identifying the "hidden heritability" of these disorders, attributed to variants that regulate gene expression.

We employ computational tools to predict the impact of genetic variants on gene expression and splicing, and we assess the regulatory potential of these variants through gene reporter assays. This research is further supported by comprehensive "omics" analyses of gene and protein expression in patient-derived cells, tissues, and cell line models. The lab maintains active collaborations with other laboratories at the University of Washington and the Puget Sound Veteran Affairs Medical Center, with support from various funding sources.

The Senior Research Scientist/Engineer (RSE) will play a critical role in advancing the UW's research in neurodegeneration and dementia, specifically enhancing the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences' research productivity, innovation, and global reputation. This position will lead research projects aimed at uncovering genetic mechanisms that drive AD and other neurodegenerative disorders. The Senior RSE will foster existing collaborations within UW and the Veteran Affairs Medical Center, while initiating new partnerships, further elevating the University's global visibility and contributing to breakthroughs that could impact millions affected by these conditions.

The role supports multiple research projects funded through diverse sources and requires a high degree of independence and expertise in neurodegenerative disease genetics. The Senior RSE will be instrumental in study design, grant and manuscript writing, protocol development, and dissemination of findings. Additionally, the incumbent will supervise lab personnel, mentor early-career scientists, and provide hands-on training in advanced techniques such as gene reporter assays, RNA sequencing, and proteomics.

Furthermore, the Senior RSE is expected to seek and apply for exploratory research grants (e.g., UW RRF, NIH R21) as Principal Investigator (PI) or co-PI, with the aim of generating preliminary data for major funding opportunities. The successful candidate will contribute to research publications as senior or lead author and will be involved in writing and submitting provisional patent applications to the UW CoMotion office.

This position requires a high level of independence, reporting to leadership only when significant issues arise, and is a pivotal contributor to the University's goals of advancing medical research, improving public health, and supporting the development of early-career scientists.

Core working hours are 9 AM to 6 PM, but flexibility is required. The workload may vary, and completing tasks takes precedence over adhering to a fixed schedule. Flexibility in work schedule and intensity is essential.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Personnel Training, Collaborations, and Project Management (40%)

• Supervise and mentor technicians and trainees working on various research projects and data analyses.
  
• Collaborate with internal and external labs to design experiments, analyze data, and foster new research collaborations as necessary.
  
• Work closely with biostatisticians and bioinformaticians to ensure the quality and integrity of "omics" data analyses.
  
• Assist the Principal Investigator (PI) with managing research grants, including budgeting and overseeing research expenditures and subcontracts.
  
• Present and disseminate research findings at national and international scientific conferences.
  
  Scientific Operations (30%)
  
• Design and optimize reporter assays to screen for pathogenic DNA variants.
  
• Develop and streamline pipelines for analyzing transcript isoform repertoires using long-read RNA sequencing, qRT-PCR, and related molecular techniques.
  
• Conduct quantitative proteomic experiments to explore interactions between dementia-related genes and RNA-binding proteins that are aberrantly expressed in patient brains.
  
  Grantsmanship and Manuscript Writing (30%)
  
• Write and edit scientific manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals.
  
• Collaborate with the PI to prepare grant applications, assess the feasibility of proposed studies, and develop project cost analyses.
  
• Seek funding opportunities for exploratory research and submit grant applications as Principal Investigator (PI) or co-PI.
  
  MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
  
  
• Ph.D. in Genetics, Genome Sciences, or a related field, with 6+ years of postdoctoral training or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  
  Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
  
  ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
  
  
• Proven expertise in designing and executing reporter assays for gene expression analysis.
  
• Experience with mass spectrometry analysis of RNA-binding proteins.
  
  DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
  
  
• Extensive knowledge of RNA biology, particularly RNA splicing, as it relates to human diseases.
  
• A strong publication record, with first- and senior-author contributions in peer-reviewed journals.
  
• Proficiency in scientific writing, with experience in NIH grant writing and submission processes.
  
• Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and advanced critical thinking.
  
• Substantial experience in training and mentoring early-career scientists.
  
  Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select "Apply to this position". Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your "My Jobs" page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are access ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed. Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, the University of Washington will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu .Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law .
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Keywords: University of Washington, Federal Way , RESEARCH SCIENTIST/ENGINEER SENIOR, Engineering , Seattle, Washington