Professional Research Assistant

University of Colorado
$44000.00-$49000.00
paid time off, tuition assistance
United States, Colorado, Boulder
Sep 09, 2026
Requisition Number: 74047 Location: Boulder, Colorado City Boulder State Colorado Employment Type: Research Faculty Schedule: Full-Time Date Posted: 11-Aug-2026 Close All Job Summary A Professional Research Assistant Position is available in the Park laboratory in the MCDB Department at University of Colorado-Boulder. CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Who We Are We study how cells destroy old or damaged proteins, by building a molecular machine, known as the proteasome. In many cancers and neurodegenerative syndromes (e.g. Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease), the proteasome is known to malfunction. Consequently, "bad" proteins build up and form toxic aggregates. Our goal is to find a new rationale to fix proteasome malfunction. For this, we discovered how cells build functional proteasomes, using dedicated proteins-assembly chaperones. The Park laboratory has established both in vitro and in vivo systems to address this fundamentally important problem. To learn more about our research, please refer to the website (https://www.colorado.edu/mcdb/soyeon-park). What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be A prospective Professional Research Assistant will learn and utilize various genetic, biochemical and cell biological strategies to study "novel spatial quality control" during proteasome assembly (see our recent paper in Nature Communications, 2025, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-58703-8). This mechanism involves nuclear localization signals of proteasome subunits, and evolutionarily conserved chaperones, including Gankyrin, a known onco-protein in humans. What You Should Know A minimum two year commitment for the position is desired. What We Can Offer The salary range for this position is $44,000 to $49,000 annually. Benefits At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one of Forbes' America's Best Large Employers, ranking #4 among large employers in Colorado and #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program. Be Statements Be ambitious. Be pioneering. Be Boulder. What We Require Bachelor's Degree preferably in Biology or related scientific field. What You Will Need Experience with any model organisms (e.g. yeast, plant, worm) is important, including handling, culture, and storage. What We Would Like You to Have Proficiency with PCR, plasmid cloning, DNA gel electrophoresis, basic protein methods (protein extraction, SDS-PAGE etc.) is a plus. Some experience with structural analysis of proteins is a plus (e.g. alphafold, Chimera etc.) Special Instructions To apply, please submit the following materials as PDFs: Resume/CV Cover Letter If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources department using an approved online vendor. If your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit a translated version (if applicable) as an optional attachment. During the application process you will need to enter contact information for a reference who can write a letter of recommendation on your behalf. We will request letters and additional materials, if needed, as the search progresses. Please apply by August 25, 2026 for full consideration. The position will remain posted until filled. Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs. In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.