Department of Pediatrics – Junior Specialist in Bioinformatics (Piao Lab)

UCSF School of Medicine and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals

Department of Pediatrics & Weill Institute for Neurosciences

Junior Specialist

The Piao Lab at the Weill Institute for Neurosciences of the University of California, San Francisco is actively seeking a Junior Specialist to assist in bioinformatic and computational biology research.

We invite highly motivated, independent, and organized individuals to join our team. As part of our collaborative environment, you will contribute to the study of neuroimmune interplays and their impact on typical brain development, homeostasis, and their role in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.

The selected candidate will join a major academic medical center and established training program. This position would actively contribute to the Department's mission of excellence in research, education, and patient care.

Key Responsibilities :

The Piao lab investigates neuro-immune, glial-glial, and glial-neuronal interactions in brain development and diseases. Each project involves single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing.

This position is created for someone with prior computer science and coding experience. Major responsibilities include, but are not limited to :

Participate in Ongoing Studies :

Engage in studies involving single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing.

Conduct Independent Research :

Pursue independent research projects within the scope of glial-glial and glial-neuronal interactions in brain development and diseases under guidance.

Perform Administrative Tasks :

Share administrative duties with other SRAs in the lab.Gain experience in routine lab management, including ordering, equipment maintenance, and writing and managing lab protocols.

Required Qualifications :

Specialists appointed at the Junior rank must possess a baccalaureate degree (or equivalent degree) or at least four years of research experience (e.

g., with instrumentation and research equipment, social science research methods, or creative activities).

Experience in at least one of the following : Python, R, or MATLAB.

Preferred Qualifications :

• Knowledge of biology, neuroscience, or a related field.
• Minimum two-year undergraduate wet laboratory research experience.
• Meticulous recordkeeping, organizational skills, and excellent communication skills.
• Strong passion for science and a positive attitude.
• Strong scientific writing skills and prior editing experience.
• Prior experience with Linux environments, including but not limited to shell scripting and WSL.
• Experience with online databases such as GEO, dbGaP, and Synapse is preferred.

Appointees in the Specialist Series will be expected to engage in specialized research, professional activities and do not have teaching responsibilities.

Specialists are expected to use their professional expertise to make scientific and scholarly contributions, and may participate in University and Public Service.

Screening of applicants will begin immediately and will continue as needed throughout the recruitment period. Salary and rank are commensurate with the applicants experience and training.

See for the salary range for this position. A reasonable estimate for this position is $51,300-$54,600.

Interested candidates can apply online at with a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for 3 references.

Applicant materials must list current and / or pending qualifications upon submission. The selected candidate must meet all of the qualifications at the time of appointment.

For more information contact the Principal Investigator :

Xianhua Piao, MD, PhD

Professor In Residence

Division of Neonatology

UCSF Department of Pediatrics

The University of California San Francisco (UCSF) is one of the top biomedical research institutions in the nation. For the 17th year in a row, UCSF garnered the top spot among public institutions in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2023.

The Department’s clinical enterprise is based at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital San Francisco, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, Mount Zion, Zuckerberg San Francisco General, and at a number of outreach clinics throughout Northern California, providing the Department with an unsurpassed opportunity to meet the needs of infants, children, and young adults throughout the Bay Area.

For 2023-2024, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals ranked in all 10 children’s specialties in U.S. News and World Report. Nestled in a dynamic and unique geography distinguished by unprecedented innovations in technology, UCSF and the Department of Pediatrics are able to bring research and industry together to advance health.