Associate Project Scientist at the BioPACIFIC MIP Full-time

Associate Project Scientist at the BioPACIFIC MIP

Position overview

Position title: Associate Project Scientist

Salary range: See Table 37B for the salary range for this position. A reasonable estimate for this position is $93,300 – $102,500/year.

Application Window

Open date: July 6, 2026

Next review date: Wednesday, Aug 5, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Wednesday, Aug 5, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications will continue to be accepted until this date.

Position description

The BioPolymers, Automated Cellular Infrastructure, Flow, and Integrated Chemistry Materials Innovation Platform (BioPACIFIC MIP) is seeking to fill an Associate Project Scientist position to support research efforts at the forefront of molecular structural analysis as part of a diverse and dynamic team within the BioPACIFIC MIP at its UCLA site. The successful candidate will support research activities in the field of microcrystal electron diffraction and take a lead role in the application of next-generation methods toward structure determination of key molecules in support of a diverse and vibrant user community. The team at BioPACIFIC MIP is developing new ways to grow high quality protein, polymer and small molecule crystals alongside the new electron diffraction tomography methods to characterize them. Soft material structural determination will be performed using a state-of-the-art TFS Spectra 300C TEM, a microscope specialized for a multifaceted cryogenic workflow. The Spectra is equipped with x-ray spectroscopy, a CMOS, a direct detection, and a hybrid-pixel camera. The Associate Project Scientist will be part of a dynamic team, set within a vibrant environment that promotes collaboration with other UCLA researchers and interaction with many principal investigators. The successful candidate will perform independent research under the supervision of Adam Stieg, Research Scientist and Associate Director of CNSI, splitting time between research collaboration and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) method development. Building community expertise will include attending and presenting at a bi-monthly technical research meeting with affiliate researchers to provide consultation on tool usage, experimental design, and data interpretation. To support the BioPACIFIC MIP mission to provide structural characterization of materials produced in the synthesis and formulation platforms, the Associate Project Scientist will devote 50% time to serve as a scientific and technical expert, providing electron microscopy/diffraction (EM/ED) training and services to BioPACIFIC users. Users will consult with the Associate Project Scientist as the primary technical point-of-contact to develop Project Feasibility and Research plans that maximize the likelihood of success. Twice per year the candidate will participate in an open house that will highlight the facilities and research capabilities to promote use by internal and external users. The Associate Project Scientist position is a 2-year non-senate position, with the possibility of renewal.

Service Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide image/data processing, structure solution and modeling services to BioPACIFIC MIP users.
• Train BioPACIFIC users from collaborating laboratories.
• Coordinate user requests and services.
• Develop, maintain and disseminate updated versions of policies and standard operating procedures.
• Track facility utilization.
• Develop and administrate chemical and biosafety protocols.

Research Duties and Responsibilities:

• The design of strategies and methods for determination of structures for BioPACIFIC researchers.
• Produce publication quality structures and analyses for BioPACIFIC users.
• Design cryoEM experiments and tools to determine molecular and polymeric structures.
• Design and develop software and methods for rapid, automated structural analysis of BioPACIFIC targets using a Spectra 300 STEM and other electron microscopes.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as a liaison between BioPACIFIC users, faculty, committee members, administration and other external institutions/companies.
• Support the BioPACIFIC MIP leadership with service/material transfer agreements, with particular focus on export control and intellectual property considerations.
• Cultivate an inclusive, collegial environment with strong inter-personal communication skills.
• Work on multiple projects efficiently and effectively.
• Assist with preparation of grant proposals.
• Prepare operational reports for use in periodic reviews by the NSF.
• Complete all appropriate safety training as mandated by UCLA Environmental Health & Safety.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications Ph.D in Chemistry, Biochemistry or Physics/Materials Science or related fields.

Additional qualifications Demonstrated publication record in the following fields: x-ray crystallography, electron diffraction or cryoEM methods. 3+ years research experience or equivalent in structural chemistry, biochemistry, or materials science and experience in the determination of crystallographic structures.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae – Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter
• Statement of Research
• Reference check authorization release form – Complete and upload the reference check authorization release form
• UCLA Mission Statement – As the nation's premier public research university, UC's mission is the creation, dissemination, preservation and application of knowledge for the betterment of our global society. We have a particular responsibility to the people of California which we express in the excellence of the education we provide, the impact of the research we do, the comprehensive, life-saving medical services we provide, and the public service mission we are devoted to. The University of California promotes the social mobility of its students, equips them with the tools and experience that furthers their ambitions, and regards their accomplishments across the life span as evidence of the profoundly positive impact of higher education.

  The UCLA campus has expressed these goals in its strategic plan as follows:

  Deepen our engagement with Los Angeles Expand our reach as a global university Enhance our research and creative activities Elevate how we teach Become a more effective institution

  Prompt for candidates for recruitment:

  Reflecting on your personal and professional experiences, highlight your past contributions and future commitments to advancing UCLA's mission as embodied in the 2023-28 strategic plan. These accomplishments and ambitions may be discussed in the context of describing your teaching, scholarship, and service

• Statement of Teaching (Optional)

Reference requirements

• 2-3 required (contact information only)

References may be contacted to verify experience.

Job location

Los Angeles, CA