UCLA PI Name: Dr. David Meriwether
E-Mail: vwli@mednet.ucla.edu
Division/Department: Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine
Expected Weekly Time Commitment: 5 hours

Job Description:

We are seeking a highly motivated undergraduate researcher to assist in quantifying sex hormones (estrogens and androgens) in human biological samples. You will be trained in one of the most valuable skills in modern biochemistry: Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Responsibilities:
Preparation and extraction of human samples (stool/plasma) for lipidomic analysis.
Operating and maintaining high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) systems.
Data analysis and integration of mass spectrometry peaks.
General lab maintenance and buffer preparation.

Requirements:
Commitment: Minimum of 5 hours per week for at least 1 academic year (including summers is preferred).
Attention to Detail: Absolute precision is required for mass spectrometry; small errors compromise data.
Work Ethic: Must be reliable, organized, and eager to learn complex protocols.
Major: Biochemistry, Chemistry, Microbiology, or Related Science fields (coursework in Analytical Chemistry is a plus).
Strongly Preferred: Competent experience with micro pipetting.

What You Will Gain:
Hands-on training with state-of-the-art SCIEX QTRAP 5500Mass Spectrometry.
Mentorship from a PI with a background in Pharmacology and drug development.
Contribution to high-impact research with potential for co-authorship on abstracts/papers.

Application Instructions:

Please email your CV and a brief cover letter explaining your interest in our research to Dr. David Meriwether, PhD at vwli@mednet.ucla.edu.