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Russell Lab Junior Specialists
Position overview
Position title: Russell Lab Junior SpecialistsApplication Window
Open date: May 22, 2026
Next review date: Monday, Jun 22, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Friday, May 21, 2027 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
Assistant Professor Shelbi Russell of the UCSC Biomolecular Engineering Department (BME) invites applications for junior specialist positions. BME focuses on research and education at the intersection of biology, computer science, and engineering, to drive advances in areas such as genomics, synthetic biology, bioinformatics, and biomolecular modeling.
Under the direction of Assistant Professor Russell, the research specialists will contribute towards genomic data production and analysis, Drosophila maintenance, and Wolbachia and Drosophila candidate gene testing through confocal imaging and cytological analysis.
Applicants with any of the following areas of expertise or experience are strongly encouraged to apply:
- General knowledge in molecular biology, genetics, genomics, cell biology, developmental biology, and bioinformatics (e.g., bash, python, common bioinformatics software for short read alignment and analysis);
- A minimum of one year’s experience making plate-scale Illumina sequencing libraries from genomic DNA;
- A minimum of one year’s experience performing Drosophila genetic crosses and stock maintenance;
- Hands-on wet-lab expertise in plate-scale Illumina library preparation with Tn5 transposase, Drosophila cell culture, Drosophila genetic crosses, and confocal imaging of in vitro and in vivo samples; and/or
- Dry-lab expertise in short-read alignment and python pipeline use, as well as image analysis in ImageJ/FIJI.
Russell Lab: https://russellsymbiosislab.engineering.ucsc.edu
Biomolecular Engineering Department: https://engineering.ucsc.edu/departments/biomolecular-engineering/
Qualifications
- Baccalaureate degree (or an equivalent foreign degree) in biology, chemistry, bio-engineering, biotechnology, or bioinformatics.
- A minimum of one year's experience performing in vitro Drososophila cell culture maintenance and experiments.
- A minimum of one year’s experience with biological sample preparation for confocal microscopy.
- Coding experience (e.g., bash, python, C++, R), preferably with HPC experience.
Your application must demonstrate (e.g., in your C.V. or cover letter) that you meet all of the basic qualifications when you submit your application. There are no exceptions to this requirement.
Application Requirements
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter - Please describe your qualifications and how they align with your interest in this position.
Statement of Research - Please describe your research experience and interests.
Help contact: shlrusse@ucsc.edu
About UC Santa Cruz
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.
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