Research Associate III - Rheumatology

Updated: over 2 years ago
Location: Los Angeles, CALIFORNIA
Deadline: The position may have been removed or expired!

Requisition # HRC0630625

When you join Cedars-Sinai, you become part of a team that is at the forefront of medical advancements and life-saving medical and scientific breakthroughs. Cedars-Sinai is one of the leading institutes for driven research funding from the National Institutes of Health. As an international leader in biomedical research, we translate discoveries into successful treatments with global impact.


Principal Investigator, Caroline Jefferies, PhD is searching for a Research Associate III to join the team!

The research of Caroline Jefferies, PhD, is focused on understanding the role that RNA/DNA sensing mechanisms in monocytes and neutrophils play in driving autoimmune disease. The lab’s main area of focus is understanding these pathways in lupus, a debilitating, chronic autoimmune disease that presents as a broad spectrum of symptoms and manifestations. You will join a translational immunology lab whose focus is the role of the innate immune system in driving the autoimmune disease Lupus. Your role as a member of this team will contribute to on-going projects, which utilize molecular biology and immunological techniques to address on-going questions in the lab.

Projects you might be involved include:

  • Understanding what contributes to the development of lung disease or heart disease in Lupus patients;
  • Understanding how gene expression is regulated in Lupus immune cells;
  • You will use both animal models and primary immune cells from Lupus patients to address these questions.

Under general guidance, the Research Associate III (RA III) works closely with Principal Investigator, providing technical and/or administrative support in large or multi-project oriented labs. May be requested by PI to take on specific supervisory activities, and provide administrative leadership, and/or technical expertise. May develop hypothesis and assist in planning steps for the investigative process. Will review and remain current on literature as it relates to clinical/research study. Coordinates all lab and/or clinical activities, including but not limited to, budgetary/financial compliance, preparation of grant proposals, and creating independent presentations. Not responsible for generating grant funds.


Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Provides miscellaneous clinical/research support (ad hoc data analysis, hypothesis development, programming, troubleshooting, etc.).  
  • Organizes clinical/research trials in conjunction with the Principal Investigator and sponsor and/or funding source.
  • Monitors and ensures compliance with safety standards and procedures.  
  • Analyzes data and prepares scientific findings for publication as author or co-author.  
  • May make independent presentations.  
  • May provide system administration and maintenance for the local workstation network.  
  • Leads and trains Research Lab Assistants, Research Fellow, lower level Research Associates, and other related support staff and may be requested by PI to take on specific supervisory activities.
  • Orients new Research Fellows and/or Research Scientists to day-to-day lab operations and procedures.  
  • Conducting animal experiments to assess how UV contributes to skin disease in Lupus.
  • Setting up models to assess skin inflammation in lupus – including air liquid interface cultures, staining biopsies to analyze inflammation.
  • Using co-immunoprecipitation and western blotting to look at protein-protein interactions and post-translational modifications of proteins.
  • Other laboratory analysis as appropriate such as RT-PCR, IF, Western blotting.

  • Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree in biological sciences, required.
  • Master's Degree of Science, preferred.
  • Three to five (3-5) years of experience in area of research specialization.  
  • Technical skills and expertise in an area of study including, but not limited to, Molecular/Cellular Biology, Neuroscience, engineering, or mass spectometry.
  • Experience in cutting-edge histology/imaging techniques including quantitative bright-field and fluorescence microscopy, confocal microscopy, and electron microscopy is required.
  • Strong computer skills (MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access, PowerPoint).  
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; excellent organization skills and very detail-oriented; learns new tasks quickly; self-motivated; works well independently with minimal supervision; works well with others, and able to multitask.  
  • Strong interpersonal skills for interaction with peers, patients, physicians, and other customers of the medical center. Thorough technical and theoretical understanding of PI’s research objectives.  
  • Mastery of complex or unusual technical procedures and protocols.  
  • Ability to research, develop and implement new laboratory procedures and protocols.  Knowledge of human resource and administration policies and procedures.  Knowledge of budgetary requirements and policies.

  • Working Title: Research Associate III - Rheumatology
  • Department: Home Dept - Rheumatology
  • Business Entity: Academic / Research
  • City: Los Angeles
  • Job Category: Academic/Research
  • Job Specialty: Research Studies/Clinical Trials
  • Position Type: Full-time
  • Shift Length: 8 hour shift
  • Shift Type: Day

Cedars-Sinai is an EEO employer. Cedars-Sinai does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of the race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, physical or mental disability, legally protected medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics or any genetic information), marital status, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age (40 or older), military and/or veteran status or any other basis protected by federal or state law. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at [email protected] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

Cedars-Sinai will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories, in accordance with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

At Cedars-Sinai, we are dedicated to the safety, health and wellbeing of our patients and employees. This includes protecting our patients from communicable diseases, such as influenza (flu). For this reason, we require that all new employees receive a flu vaccine based on the seasonal availability of flu vaccine (typically during September through March each year) as a condition of employment, and annually thereafter as a condition of continued employment.

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