Archive for category: Open Research Positions

UCLA PI Name: Liying Zhang
E-Mail: LiyingZhang@mednet.ucla.edu
Division/Department: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Lab website: https://www.uclahealth.org/departments/pathology/meet-our-faculty/liying-zhang-md-phd
Expected Weekly Time Commitment: 20

Job Description:

Are you looking to make a tangible impact in the fight against cancer? The Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine is seeking a motivated Volunteer Research Assistant to join the visionary lab of Dr. Liying Zhang. This isn’t just a volunteer role—it’s a front-row seat to the future of biomedical science.

The Mission
You will play a vital role in supporting cutting-edge research focused on the identification and detection of biomarkers. Our work spans tumor specimens, blood, and other bodily fluids, aiming to revolutionize how we handle:

• Early Diagnosis: Finding cancer sooner.
• Prognosis: Predicting patient outcomes with precision.
• Treatment: Personalizing therapies for better results.

Why Join Us?
• Hands-on Experience: Move beyond the textbook and gain real-world laboratory skills.
• Meaningful Contribution: Work on “liquid biopsy” and tissue research that directly impacts patient care.
• Mentorship: Learn under the guidance of Dr. Liying Zhang in a collaborative, high-impact environment.

Key responsibilities include:
• Research & Collaboration: Participate in weekly lab meetings and conduct targeted literature reviews for reagents (antibodies) and experimental protocols.
• Wet Lab Operations: Assist with specimen processing and management; perform molecular techniques including ELISA, PCR, and nucleic acid extraction from biospecimens.
• Data & Analysis: Analyze experimental results and maintain accurate digital/physical records.
• Lab Management: Oversee daily operations, including inventory/ordering, equipment maintenance, and biohazardous waste disposal in compliance with safety standards.
• Mentorship: Lead the training and onboarding of new undergraduate researchers.

Application Instructions:

To apply, please combine your Research Statement, CV, and academic transcript into a single PDF file and email it directly to Dr. Liying Zhang (LiyingZhang@mednet.ucla.edu).

UCLA PI Name: Keith Vossel
E-Mail: kcassiano@mednet.ucla.edu
Division/Department: Neurology
Lab website (if applicable): https://vossellab.dgsom.ucla.edu/
Expected Weekly Time Commitment: 10-15 hrs

Job Description:

We are looking for Undergraduate students looking for experience in a Clinical Lab setting. Job duties include but are not limited to:
– Conduct screening calls for potential research participants regarding family medical history and continued interest in lab’s recruiting studies
– Acquired formal training in participant screening procedures, study workflow management including medical data collection and compliance
– Report to clinical staff on progress

Preferable:
– Bilingual (Spanish)
– Music Production/Software knowledge or Music Industry Minor
– Clinical experience (hospital volunteering, senior centers, etc.)
– Good interpersonal skills and effective communicator

Application Instructions:

Please email Coordinator Kate Cassiano at kcassiano@mednet.ucla.edu with your resume, CV, and a short message explaining your interest.

Division/Department Overview:

The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (DPLM) at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (CSMC) is one of the nation’s premier academic pathology departments.  The DPLM provides exceptional diagnostic support to help physicians guide patient therapy at CSMC and its affiliated hospitals.  CSMC is ranked by US News and World Reports as one of the top-10 hospitals in the nation.

In addition to world-class patient care services, the DPLM has 10 basic and translational research laboratories which study a wide range of biomedical topics including cancer biology, microbiology, renal disease and physiology, immune function, neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration.  Dr. Tourtellotte’s lab is funded by the NIH to study molecular mechanisms regulating neurodevelopment and peripheral and central neurogenerative disease such as Alzheimer’s disease.  He has mentored many PhD and MD/PhD students who have performed their dissertation research in his lab, and he is actively involved in mentoring undergraduate students, medical students and clinical residents and fellows.

Job Description:

The research intern will work closely under the supervision of senior scientists and the PI in the lab to learn molecular and biochemical techniques and participate in ongoing research projects.  A wide range of molecular, biochemical, morphological and tissue culture techniques are used in the lab to elucidate basic mechanisms of development and neurogenerative diseases.  In addition, the lab generates transgenic and gene targeted mice to model disease mechanisms that require behavioral, microsurgical, histological and physiologic techniques to analyze disease-related phenotypes and mechanisms.

Role Activities & Timeline:

Provide a detailed description of the activities that will be completed during this appointment. For interns, this should include specific information regarding mentorship and curriculum, including an intended timeline for the activities.
By the end of each quarter (3 months)
•    The intern will broaden their research skills through training under the mentorship and supervision of the lab’s faculty mentor.
•    The intern will learn how to perform molecular cloning using RT-PCR, PCR, restriction enzyme digestion, ligation, and cell transformation.
•    The intern will learn proper recordkeeping by documenting data in lab notebooks and presenting findings to the mentor and in departmental presentations.
•    The intern will learn how to conduct a literature review related to the project they are training on.
•    The intern will learn how to design experiments based on specific research questions.
•    The intern will practice implementing experimental designs and troubleshooting issues that may arise.

Requirements:
•    Must be 18 years of age or older.
•    Must have a HS Diploma or GED.
•    Must reside in the greater Los Angeles area or surrounding cities while conducting all activities related to the intern or visitor appointment.
•    INTERNS: Those participating for academic credit must receive academic credit for the duration of the internship.
•    VISITORS: Must be receiving funding from an eligible sponsoring institution (employer, educator, funder, etc.).

Preferred Education & Experience:
Undergraduates enrolled in a life sciences degree program with strong interest in biomedical research.  Interest in pursuing advanced graduate medical (MD), life science graduate (PhD) or physician-scientist (MD/PhD) is the typical aspiration of students who are particularly successful in this internship program.  A passion for advancing scientific discovery and medial knowledge is highly desirable.

Application Instructions:

Apply using the following link: https://careers.cshs.org/job/los-angeles/research-intern/252/91186630416

UCLA PI Name: Louis Bouchard
Division/Department: Chemistry and Biochemistry
Lab website: https://sites.google.com/view/bouchardlabucla/
Expected Weekly Time Commitment: 10 hours per week

Job Description:

Our lab, led by Professor Louis Bouchard, focuses on developing computational methods at the intersection of chemistry, biochemistry, physics, and data science. We are looking to onboard students to join the dry lab side of our project.

The dry-lab position is centered on numerical modeling, data analysis, and algorithm development. One of our current projects investigates signal denoising, the process of recovering clean signals from noisy measurements, which is a major topic in spectroscopy, medical imaging, and other data-intensive experimental sciences. The project explores a generalized denoising framework based on stochastic differential equations (SDEs), drawing inspiration from modern diffusion models and score-based generative modeling.

As a research assistant, you will work with modern Python-based tools for signal processing and machine learning, benchmark SDE-based denoising methods against established baselines, and contribute to the theoretical and computational validation of a framework with potential applications across multiple scientific domains. This position is particularly well-suited for students interested in applied mathematics, machine learning, computational chemistry or physics, and data-driven modeling. Prior experience with Python programming is required, and familiarity with scientific computing or statistics is a plus.

Application Instructions:
Please fill out the following Google form, and attach your resume/CV. For inquiries, email jonathankim1626@ucla.edu.

Recruitment Form:
https://forms.gle/8PiVqzdeLLoYqJic7