Teaching Laboratory Specialist - 140066

This position supports both the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics

Across both departments, the academic community includes approximately 65 ladder-rank faculty, an additional 12-15 instructional faculty, and approximately 150 academic researchers and postdoctoral scholars. This community presents a wide range of complex academic and administrative considerations, including Health Sciences Compensation Plan participation and collaborations with external research institutions.

The departments also include approximately 70 career staff, ~60 temporary or student staff, and approximately 300 Master's and Ph.D. students. Undergraduate majors exceed 1,000 students, with total undergraduate and graduate course enrollments surpassing 24,500 annually.

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry manages ten recharge facilities supporting national as well as UC San Diego-wide research endeavors in academia and industry, including Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Molecular Mass Spectrometry, Biomolecular and Proteomics Mass Spectrometry, Cryoelectron Microscopy, Biophysics Instrumentation, Inorganic Characterization Instrumentation, Protein Crystallography, Small Molecule X-Ray Crystallography, the Fabrication Facility, and the on-campus Chemistry Storehouse. In addition, the department is home to three national research center grants and manages three major NIH training grants and one Department of Education training grant, which support graduate students and postdoctoral scholars across UC San Diego departments and external research organizations.

This position provides specialized technical and operational support in an instructional setting, working as part of a team of laboratory staff to prepare materials and provide instructional support for the Undergraduate Teaching Laboratories in the Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics. Under the general supervision of the Instructional Labs Supervisor, and in close collaboration with faculty instructors, the incumbent provides primary technical support for CHEM 109, Recombinant DNA Laboratory and secondary/back-up support for CHEM 108, Protein Chemistry Laboratory.

The incumbent also serves as backup support for other undergraduate laboratory courses as needed. The incumbent works independently to ensure these teaching laboratories operate in a safe, organized, and efficient manner. CHEM 109 introduces students to molecular biology tools and experiments involving recombinant DNA techniques, including DNA purification, restriction enzyme digests, PCR, and aseptic procedures. CHEM 108 focuses on techniques used to study protein structure and function, including electrophoresis, protein purification, column chromatography, enzyme kinetics, and immunochemistry. In support of these courses, the incumbent is responsible for preparing reagents, buffers, media, biological and chemical materials, instrumentation, and experimental set-ups so that students can complete scheduled experiments accurately and on time.

The position has primary responsibility for maintaining the operational readiness of the Recombinant DNA and Protein Biochemistry teaching laboratories. Duties include stocking and inventorying chemicals, consumables, biological materials, and laboratory supplies; preparing and testing experiments in advance; troubleshooting protocols and equipment; maintaining shared instruments; coordinating waste handling and disposal; and helping ensure compliance with applicable chemical hygiene, biosafety, and laboratory safety practices. Because CHEM 109 includes recombinant DNA methods, the incumbent must support safe laboratory operations through proper training, protocol adherence, containment awareness, and clear communication of precautions to instructional personnel and students, with campus biosafety expectations for work involving recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid materials.

The incumbent also trains and supports faculty, teaching assistants, and student employees in the proper use of laboratory instruments, experimental procedures, and safety practices. This role may contribute to refining existing experiments, assisting faculty with the development, testing, refinement, and implementation of laboratory experiments and protocols. A central expectation of the position is to promote a culture of safe and responsible laboratory practice while ensuring high-quality instructional support for complex upper-division biochemistry and molecular biology laboratory courses.

• Although the incumbent's primary assignment is CHEM 109 and CHEM 108, the position also requires flexibility to provide coverage in other undergraduate instructional laboratories during staff absences, peak workload periods, or special instructional needs.

• Must be willing to work odd hours to accommodate class schedules.

• Must be willing to work around poisonous, carcinogenic, and explosive substances daily.

• Demonstrated experience developing, modifying, testing, and documenting laboratory procedures and protocols for instructional use.

• Demonstrated experience scheduling work, reallocating resources, and reassessing priorities in a dynamic instructional laboratory environment.

• Demonstrated experience planning, organizing, prioritizing, troubleshooting, evaluating, and independently managing laboratory operations in a complex instructional or scientific environment.

• In-depth knowledge and understanding of chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology principles, laboratory techniques, instrumentation, and instructional laboratory practices.

• Knowledge of laboratory management practices, including responsibility for laboratory operations, ordering supplies and equipment, and ensuring proper operation and maintenance of laboratory instrumentation and facilities.

• Demonstrated ability to evaluate laboratory procedures and experimental protocols, recommend modifications, and adapt techniques, equipment, or materials to support instructional laboratory objectives and improve laboratory operations.

• Knowledge of University purchasing, inventory management, and accounting processes related to laboratory operations.

• Knowledge of University, Department, chemical hygiene, biosafety, and laboratory safety procedures, including hazardous waste management. Ability to effectively implement and enforce safety policies and procedures in instructional laboratory environments.

• Strong theoretical and practical knowledge in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biology, or other related field acquired through a Bachelor's degree or higher in a related science; or an equivalent combination of education and laboratory experience.

• Highly developed organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent laboratory courses, adjust priorities with little notice, and perform effectively under changing deadlines and operational demands.

• Demonstrated skill in training and providing technical guidance to student employees, teaching assistants, and instructional personnel regarding laboratory procedures, instrumentation, safety practices, and experimental techniques.

• Knowledge of and skill in performing laboratory techniques utilizing scientific procedures, methods, instrumentation, and experimental protocols employed in chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology laboratories. Ability to troubleshoot procedures, analyze results, and adapt methods to support instructional laboratory objectives.

• Ability to evaluate new laboratory techniques, technologies, and scientific concepts and adapt them for use in undergraduate chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology teaching laboratories.

• Demonstrated knowledge of laboratory instrumentation and equipment used in undergraduate chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology teaching laboratories.

• Knowledge of proper handling, storage, preparation, and usage of chemicals, biological materials, reagents, and laboratory supplies.

• Proven interpersonal skills, including the ability to maintain a professional and collaborative attitude while interacting, communicating, and cooperating effectively with undergraduate students, teaching assistants, staff, faculty, and administrators from diverse backgrounds and with varying levels of laboratory experience.

• Demonstrated skill in developing and implementing short- and long-range plans. Ability to identify, prioritize, and allocate resources to support undergraduate teaching laboratory operations and instructional needs.

• Ability to identify equipment and facility maintenance needs, analyze operational issues, determine corrective actions, troubleshoot equipment malfunctions, and facilitate repairs with appropriate service providers and campus support units.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, solve problems, and meet multiple deadlines in a fast-paced instructional laboratory environment.

• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on Background Check results.