Staff Research Associate 2

The Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at UCLA, focusing on lung injury, infection, and inflammation, is seeking a Staff Research Associate II to study how innate immune responses, such as the complement system, affect the severity of injury at mucosal surfaces like the lung. The role involves conducting various molecular biology procedures, working with both mouse and human biospecimens. Mouse experiments include handling, treating, imaging, drug administration, and postmortem tissue analysis using techniques like immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry. This role will involve work with human biospecimens as well as handling lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage specimens. Routine molecular biology tasks include PCR and tissue culture using mammalian cell systems, such as cell expansion, screening, freezing/thawing, and lentivirus production. The role also requires maintaining the mouse colony, laboratory records, and equipment, as well as placing and receiving orders, ensuring lab cleanliness, following safety protocols, and training students and new lab members.

Hourly range: $28.88-$46.46

Required:

• Bachelor's Degree in biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology or a related field, and one year of experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge of basic genetics, molecular biology and biochemical principles.
  
• Ability to observe established laboratory policies and procedures, operate basic lab equipment such as centrifuges and willingness to learn new assays and procedures.
  
• Ability to work with the moderate level of supervision, work in a team and maintain positive relations with collaborators on the project.
• Ability to carefully handle mice according to ARC guidelines and be responsive as the primary responder for DLAM health cases.
• Proficiency in techniques such as ELISA, western blotting, flow cytometry.
• Ability to create and maintain records accurately, and organize raw data into a comprehensible form, with excellent organizational skills.
  
• Ability to take charge of the execution of research projects or major portions of research projects which have been broadly outlined by the Principal Investigator.
• Ability to function in a high stress environment and deal with change, conflicting/competing demands and changing priorities
• Demonstrated computer skills including knowledge of MS Excel, MS Powerpoint, MS Word and GraphPad Prism.
• Ability to effectively communicate results via well labeled and attractive publication-quality figures and informative, easy to interpret slideshow presentations.
• Interpersonal skills to effectively interact with a diverse group of faculty, staff, postdoctoral fellows and students, especially of various social, cultural, economic, and educational backgrounds in a friendly and effective manner.
• 13. Demonstrate previous experience teaching and training students in laboratory research. Train new members of the lab in laboratory techniques.
• Experience in performing time course experiments in animal models.
• Aptitude and willingness to collect and work with human biospecimens.
• Engage in difficult and complex research projects under the supervision of the Principal Investigator and designated researchers.
• Ability to prioritize and organize projects through multiple phases. Ability to meet deadlines and follow through on multiple tasks simultaneously with careful attention to detail, accuracy, completeness and thoroughness.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive material with discretion, tact, sensitivity and diplomacy.