Location
The Clelland lab is located in the Weill Institute for Neurosciences building on the UCSF Mission Bay campus. We are located in close proximity to our collaborators at UCSF, the Gladstone Institutes and the Innovative Genomics Institute at UC Berkeley.
Our Research
The Clelland lab is devoted to developing novel therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. We are currently creating CRISPR gene editing therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. We are focusing first on frontotemporal dementia (FTD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) caused by single gene mutations, since this class of monogenic neurodegenerative disease is likely to be cured by gene correction.
Current Open Questions in the Lab
Can we reverse disease phenotypes or only halt progression with CRISPR gene editing?
iPSC modeling: How can we better model human disease using cell types (such as neurons and microglia) derived from human patients?
How can we deliver CRISPR to the brain and spinal cord?
What is the best approach to editing C9orf72, MAPT, GRN, PSEN and other genes of interest?
Can we build a better human cellular model of Alzheimer's disease and use it to find novel therapeutic pathways?
Can we do discovery research on humans to accelerate fundamental findings that better translate to humans?
How do we promote rigor in basic and translational science to increase the chances of successful clinical trials while simultaneously supporting the career advancement of our trainees? Is novelty the paramount goal and if not, how do we reward reproducibility, sustainability and rigor?
Lab Openings
We are currently hiring for the following positions:
Postdoctoral Fellow: We are recruiting postdoctoral candidates passionate about basic and translational science, with strong communication skills and a background in any of the following fields: neuroscience, cellular biology, molecular biology, bioinformatics, biochemistry, or bioengineering. Candidates who have completed a PhD or MD degree, have excellent references, and are passionate about developing new tools and methodologies and conducting groundbreaking research are encouraged to apply. Experience in CRISPR gene editing is a plus, but not required. We are a welcoming lab with experience mentoring candidates from underrepresented backgrounds in biomedical sciences.
Please send your CV and cover letter to Claire at email.
Chemist/Biochemist: We are recruiting a chemist/biochemist to help build our transformational delivery particle platform. This person may have a PhD, MD, or industry experience with expertise in synthesizing lipids and/or peptides. Those interested in entrepreneurship are encouraged to apply. Email Claire at email with your CV and cover letter.
Specialists/Research Associates: We hire specialists and research associates with a bachelor's degree and lab experience in molecular biology (from any field) in the spring. See the UCSF job board for details. Interviews often occur in January, so we encourage applicants to reach out in December or early January. We recommend early applications, as open positions fill quickly. Contact Jaime with questions at email.
Undergraduate Interns: We do not typically have the bandwidth to take on undergraduate interns during the school year given the pace of our work. We do host interns from paid summer programs, such as SRTP. Rare exceptions may be considered for students with significant molecular biology or computational experience. For further information about internships, please email Jaime at email.