RESEARCH SCIENTIST/ENGINEER 3

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The UW School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology has an opening for a Research Scientist/Engineer 3 (E S UAW RSE) in the laboratory of Dr. Cory Simpson in the well-resourced, collaborative, and innovative scientific environment at the South Lake Union campus. The Research Scientist will have a unique opportunity to work closely with Dr. Simpson, a physician-scientist trained in dermatology and a committed mentor, to help launch a basic science research program focused on skin development and disease. Coupling advanced techniques in cell biology, gene editing, and live microscopy with an organoid model of human skin, the Simpson Lab aims to translate our lab findings into novel ways to regenerate and repair the skin in dermatologic disease. Under the direction of the PI, the successful candidate will generate important data and provide critical logistical support to help achieve our long-term goal of finding novel dermatologic therapies for both rare genetic disorders and common diseases like eczema, psoriasis, or skin cancer.

We are seeking a Research Scientist who will provide a consistent commitment to advance multiple projects in the lab through (1) independently completing recurring wet lab tasks essential to our research operations in a timely and careful manner, (2) designing, executing, and recording results of high-quality experiments under the guidance of the PI and (3) overseeing and organizing lab reagent inventory, regulatory compliance, equipment maintenance, and established experimental protocols to ensure our ability to generate reproducible, reliable, and compelling data. While our lab aims to advance cutting-edge science, we are also committed to advancing the career goals of the people who fuel our science by providing a supportive and inclusive teamwork environment, earned opportunities for co-authorship and conference presentations, and a commitment to mentorship of all lab members. We believe this will be a rewarding position offering training in innovative scientific methods to advance research projects ultimately focused on improving human health.

Our lab studies the epidermis, which is the outermost layer of the skin that serves as a protective shield for the body. This position will provide critical support to our basic science wet lab research program focused on understanding how the epidermis regenerates and how it is compromised in dermatologic diseases. We grow keratinocytes in 3-D organoid skin cultures that can be analyzed using live microscopy to visualize real-time tissue development. As well, we employ genetic engineering in human keratinocytes and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) to model inherited skin diseases in the lab. Ultimately, we aim to identify novel strategies to promote tissue regeneration after skin injuries and to treat dermatologic disorders lacking effective therapies. This Research Scientist 3 position will include both wet lab duties and organizational responsibilities with the option to advance toward a long-term lab manager position to oversee our research operations.

The Research Scientist will perform wet-lab experiments and tasks (50%), oversee lab organization, equipment, inventory, protocols, and regulatory compliance (25%), and train junior members of the lab in standardized techniques and instrumentation (25%). The Research Scientist is capable of working independently and collaboratively under the direction of the PI. Specific duties include:

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Wet Lab Experimentation (50%)