Position overview Position title: Junior/Assistant/Associate/Full Specialist
Salary range: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See the following table(s) for the current salary scale(s) for this position: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2025-26/represented-july-2025-scales/t24-b.pdf . The current full-time base salary range for this position is $55,000 - 194,800. "Off-scale" salaries, which yield compensation that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions.

Percent time: 100

Anticipated start: Winter/Spring 2026

Position duration: Initial appointment is for one year with the possibility of renewal based on performance and funding availability.

Application Window
Open date: February 25, 2026

Next review date: Friday, Jul 17, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Friday, Jul 31, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

The Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of California, Berkeley seeks applications for up to three Junior/Assistant/Associate/Full Specialist positions in the Upadhyayula Lab, in the area of Biological Science .

The Advanced BioImaging Center (ABC) at UC Berkeley aspires to be a world leading multidisciplinary imaging center that drives important biological discoveries through critical new advances in all aspects of imaging technology and that drives the dissemination of that technology through a multi-pronged education strategy to scientists around the world. ABC was intentionally designed to maximize scientific productivity and impact by adopting groundbreaking imaging technologies such as the next-generation adaptive optical multifunctional microscope, incorporating the high-level technical expertise of instrumentation scientists , applied mathematicians, and computational scientists, and building worldwide collaborations aimed at tackling the challenges posed by terabyte and petabyte-scale imaging data processing, visualization, and dissemination. You will have access to leading - edge imaging and computing hardware, as well as exposure to the Bay Area's brightest minds from a range of diverse disciplines, including in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Mathematics, and more.

The positions involve close collaboration on a number of new and ongoing empirical projects in the fields of microscopy and data analysis. The incumbent will work on tera-to-petabyte scale research data and will have the opportunity to gain exposure to and training with a broad set of research topics and methodologies. The roles exercise judgment within generally defined practices and policies in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions.

The duties of the positions include:
Operate and maintain the next generation multi-functional adaptive optical microscope(s) and other pre-commercial optical microscopes.
Develop new imaging and data processing tools
Assist with data acquisition using advance pre-commercial microscopy systems to image biological samples ranging from cells in culture, such as bacteria, mammalian cells, and organoids to intact organisms, such as zebrafish or mice, etc.
Be involved in the applications of these tools for biological imaging; collaborate with Postdocs and graduate students on specific projects to test, learn and implement for general and specific use cases.
Be an integral part of the expert team working together with computational scientists and biologists in experimental design to tackle complex biological questions in a quantitative manner.
Train and assist students and researchers in the use of software applications
Train and assist users with their imaging or data processing tasks.
May supervise undergraduate students.
General organization and management of software documentation.

Lab : https://abc.berkeley.edu/

Contract : https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/resources/employment-policies-contracts/bargaining-units/academic-researchers/contract/

Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
Bachelor's degree (or equivalent international degree) or enrollment in a Bachelor's (or equivalent international degree) program.

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)
Bachelor's degree (or equivalent international degree)

Preferred qualifications
Degree field of molecular & cell biology, computational biology, computer science, math, physics or related field.
Research experience in computational biology, computer science, math, physics or related field.
Experience with programming (C++, Labview, MATLAB, python).
Experience with design, documentation, testing and implementation of high performance software for image processing.
Experience with CI/CD for software deployment.
Experience developing software for tera-to petabyte scale imaging applications.
Ability to work on a number of projects simultaneously.
Organized and attentive to detail.
Strong written and oral communication skills.
Interest in learning new techniques.
Upper division course in genetics is strongly preferred.
Coursework in molecular biology and biochemistry.
Proficiency in bioinformatics.
Computational analysis of datasets.
Basic molecular biology techniques.
Ability to design and interpret experiments.
Ability to prepare figures for manuscripts.
Demonstrated proficiency to work as part of a research team.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

Cover Letter

Statement of Research (Optional)

Reference requirements

3 required (contact information only) Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05255

Help contact: harrisonmd@berkeley.edu

About UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our public mission of research, teaching, and service, consistent with UC Regents Policy 4400 and University of California Academic Personnel policy ( APM 210 1-d ). These values are embedded in our Principles of Community , which reflect our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation, and our deep commitment to contributing to a better world. Every member of the UC Berkeley community has a role in sustaining a safe, caring and humane environment in which these values can thrive.

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

For more information, please refer to the University of California's Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy and the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy .

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Unless stated otherwise, unambiguously, in the position description, this position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Job location
Berkeley, CA

To apply, visit https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05255

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