Senior Research Associate/Lab Manager - 135522

The Department of Medicine (DOM) is the largest department within the UCSD School of Medicine and is responsible for fulfilling the teaching, research and clinical missions of the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. The department employs approximately 500 salaried faculty, 168 academic appointees, 331 residents, fellows and postdocs and 480 staff personnel.

Under direction and in collaboration with the Principal Investigator (PI), the Staff Research Associate/ Lab Manager will be responsible for independently directing and developing experimental workflows to investigate gastrointestinal diseases, particularly pancreatitis and colorectal cancer.

As a full participant in the laboratory environment, the incumbent will be responsible for the planning and execution of the laboratory phases of major research projects. Incumbent will independently administer testing in animal models. Incumbent will independently conduct advanced image analysis. Incumbent will perform various molecular biology techniques such as: RNA and Western Blots, genotyping assays. Incumbent will also assist in the drafting of texts for manuscripts and grant proposals.

The incumbent will additionally be responsible for mouse colony maintenance as well as general laboratory administrative and maintenance tasks. Additional functions include onboarding and training new lab members, ordering reagents, maintaining the lab inventory, oversee maintenance of the mouse colony, and ensuring that supplies are ordered in a timely manner. The incumbent will handle tasks related to EH&S to ensure the lab is compliant with safety requirements.

Incumbent will train and and provide work direction to undergraduate and postgraduate researchers. They will have high level understanding of cell biology and ability to execute, design, and interpret experiments in close collaboration with other laboratory members. Other duties assigned as needed.

• Extensive theoretical and experimental knowledge in advanced molecular biology and cell physiology.

• Aseptic techniques for cell culture.

• Demonstrated ability to contribute to experimental design, analysis, interpretation of the results, and troubleshooting.

• Demonstrated experience assisting with writing scientific manuscripts and contributing to teamwork in molecular biological experiments.

• Demonstrated ability and experience in Western Blot, immunoprecipitation, site-directed mutagenesis, PCR, qPCR, and single-cell RT-PCR.

• Demonstrated ability and experience in electrophysiological experiments and immunofluorescence experiments using a fluorescence microscope.

• Demonstrated skill to work with animals, as well as animal and human tissues.

• Demonstrated knowledge of the following specialized programs; SnapGene, GraphPad, EndNote, and MS Word/Excel/PowerPoint.

• Demonstrated ability to read scientific literature, understand appropriate study design, follow study procedures and protocol, and maintain participant confidentiality.

• Demonstrated effective time management skills to plan and organize work assignments in an efficient and productive manner.

• Enthusiasm for learning and a genuine interest in scientific research. Willingness and ability to learn new skills, research methods, and scientific principles.

• Effective and diplomatic oral and written communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to work with a variety of personnel from different laboratories and instruct in optimal procedures for assays.

• Proficiency in techniques like CRISPR-Cas9, DNA cloning, sequencing, PCR, RNA analysis, protein expression and purification, and bioinformatics tools.

• Ability to design experiments, analyze complex data, and use statistical software.

• Experience in managing projects, including budgeting and overseeing junior staff or students.

• Strong written and oral communication skills for writing reports, publishing research findings, and presenting at conferences.

• Demonstrated ability and experience in gene cloning and silencing, production of Adeno- and Adeno-associated virus to transduce genes in the cells and tissues.

• Experience in working collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams.

• Innovative thinking and problem-solving skills to develop new techniques or troubleshoot experimental protocols.

• Demonstrated ability and experience to isolate heart and lung vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells and prepare primary cultured cells for molecular biological and cell physiological experiments.

• Demonstrated ability and experience in gene cloning and silencing, production of Adeno- and Adeno-associated virus to transduce genes in the cells and tissues.

• PhD in Synthetic Biology, Molecular Biology, Bioengineering, Biotechnology, or a related field is often essential. Postdoctoral or equivalent experience in a relevant area of synthetic biology or microbial engineering, demonstrating skills in genetic manipulation, bacterial culture techniques, and other relevant molecular biology techniques.

• Must be available to work some weekends & evenings to complete experiments.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.