Animal/Laboratory Staff Research Associate I - 135173

The Department of Pediatrics is one of the largest departments within the School of Medicine with approximately 171 Faculty, 50 postdoctoral fellows (both MDs and PhDs) along with over 300 support staff (not including hospital staff). In addition, the Department has 57 clinical residents and fellows distributed across the Divisions. The missions of research, education and patient care are intertwined, and are integral to the goals of the department. The Department has undergone significant growth in recent years with a consolidated budget of approximately $106 million including sponsored projects expenditures of approximately $54 million and clinical revenue of over $ 52 million. This expansion of the Department's research and clinical portfolio is expected to continue in the next few years.

The Department's 16 divisions include Academic General Pediatrics, Child Development & Community Health; Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology; Cardiology; Dysmorphology; Emergency Medicine; Endocrinology; Gastroenterology; Genetics; Genome Information Sciences; Hospital Medicine; Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics; Infectious Diseases; Neonatology; Nephrology; and Respiratory Medicine.

In 2001, physicians and leadership of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), Rady Children's, and Children's Specialists of San Diego (CSSD) unified pediatric patient care, research, education and community service programs, creating a university-affiliated children's health system to serve the region. Over the past two decades, an extensive list of joint programs has developed, with many physicians and researchers playing a role at both institutions.

This affiliation has consolidated the clinical, teaching, research and public service programs of the UCSD School of Medicine's Department of Pediatrics with San Diego's only health care system dedicated to the health and well-being of children. In 2009, this partnership was furthered by the creation of Rady Children's Specialists of San Diego, a Medical Foundation, and is now recognized as having global leaders in research, technology, translational medicine, education and clinical excellence.

The Coufal lab studies neuroimmunology and the role of microglia, the inflammatory cell type of the brain, in neurodevelopment, aging, and both idiopathic and genetic neurologic disease using a variety of in vitro and in vivo models and stem cell derived microglia.

Under supervision, the Staff Research Associate will be part of a study project aimed at identifying a disease phenotype in our animal model. The incumbent will be involved in animal work including the maintenance of a colony of mice with molecular biology work for genotyping. Colony management duties also include establishing breeding timelines to accommodate research needs, keeping a detailed record in the database, apply murine surgical techniques followed by dissection and collection of tissue samples (brain and spinal cord). The Animal/Laboratory Staff Research Associate will learn and apply cryostat sectioning, immunohistochemistry followed by confocal imaging and image analysis as well as western blotting technique. Additionally, the incumbent has opportunities to learn and master a variety of techniques including induced pluripotent stem cell in vitro research if desired. The Staff Research Associate contributes to experimental design as able. Performs other duties as assigned.

• Theoretical knowledge in Biology or Molecular Biology or related field or equivalent knowledge and experience to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of the position.

• General laboratory experience.

• Experience in handling molecular biology equipment - multichannel pipetters, epMotion robot, tape station etc.

• Ability to recognize, report and troubleshoot technical problems.

• Excellent communication skills required.

• Proficiency in laboratory animal handling and procedures.

• Attention to details, high standards for accuracy and documentation. Excellent organizational and record- keeping skills.

• Must have the ability to work under own initiative as well as to work meticulously under close direction.

• Excellent time management and communication skills.

• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a laboratory setting and coordinate with multiple teams.

• Proficiency in rodent dissection, tissue sampling, and DNA/RNA extraction.

• Ability to take direction, be detail oriented, follow step-wise protocols, and perform repetitive tasks in a fast-paced laboratory environment. Able to learn new procedures.

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, establishing and maintaining good working relationships with P.I., supervisor, postdoctoral scholars, and other members of the research group.

• Experience to conduct basic data analysis with instruction and proven record-keeping abilities.

• Must have completed academic courses in relevant subjects, such as genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, organic chemistry.

• Bachelor's degree in biology, Molecular Biology, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and laboratory experience.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.

• Must be able to work in environment where biological and chemical hazards are present.

• Must be able to handle laboratory animals.

• Must be able to perform basic lab techniques including ICH-IF.

• Must be able to work with human cells including established induced pluripotent stem cells and human embryonic stem cells.

If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

If applicable, life-support certifications (BLS, NRP, ACLS, etc.) must include hands-on practice and in-person skills assessment; online-only certification is not acceptable.

UC San Diego Health Sciences is comprised of our School of Medicine, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, and our Student Health and Well-Being Department. We have long been at the forefront of translational - or "bench-to-bedside" - research, transforming patient care through discovery and innovation leading to new drugs and technologies. Translational research is carried out every day in the hundreds of clinical trials of promising new therapies offered through UC San Diego Health, and in the drive of our researchers and clinician-scientists who are committed to having a significant impact on patient care. We invite you to join our team!

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