Staff Research Associate 3 (9611C), QB3 Institute #89409

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Departmental Overview

The California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences at UC Berkeley (QB3-Berkeley) harnesses the quantitative sciences of physics and engineering to unify our understanding of biological systems at all levels of complexity, from atoms and molecules to cells, tissues, and entire living organisms. QB3-Berkeley scientists make discoveries that drive the development of technologies, products, and wholly new industries, ensuring that California remains competitive in the 21st century.

Position Summary

The Staff Research Associate 3 serves under the direction of Professor David Schaffer, Director of QB3 and Bakar Labs. This position is responsible for overseeing all animal work in the lab, including the design of animal experiments and the creation of original plans for each phase of animal projects. The Staff Research Associate 3 conducts highly technical and physically precise animal surgeries, orders and maintains animal colonies, interprets data yielded by animal studies, and prepares complete written reports on all phases of laboratory animal studies.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is October 28, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.

Responsibilities

Animal Study Management and Planning - 20%

• This position will help ensure that the Schaffer Lab is run efficiently through diligent oversight of all animal studies in the lab.
• Additionally, proper animal management will include following Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) guidelines, regulations, protocols, and policies that are imperative to safely operating a scientific research facility.
• They will initiate and be proactive in anticipating future problems, identifying current challenges and developing and implementing creative and innovative solutions, with follow-up to ensure the continued success of such solutions.

Animal Surgery - 15%

• The candidate will be responsible for conducting experiments involving intraparenchymal injections of adeno associated viral preparations to conduct selection and validation experiments of candidate cell type specific AAV vectors.
• These are extremely precise procedures that require experienced and masterful technique.

Animal Maintenance - 15%

• This position will order all animals, determining what genetic strain, sex, and age are required for each experiment.
• They will be responsible for ensuring that animals are ready for experiments by monitoring their weight, health, and other vitals.

Animal Study Pre/Post-op Care - 20%

• This position will be responsible for all pre- and post-operation care for surgical procedures, including checking on all animal's weight, vitals, and health and determining if any additional care is required.

Communication and Analysis - 10%

• Timely, well-messaged, and routine communication is crucial to maximizing work efficiency and organizational cohesiveness, as well as developing an awareness and support of activities associated with the Schaffer Lab.
• This position will be able to inform all parties of the current animal experiments that are being conducted and what will need to be conducted in the future, and has the experience to provide guidance for other lab members.
• The candidate will be additionally responsible for maintaining general laboratory protocols, including a detailed experimental notebook of procedures and outcomes.
• The candidate will maintain regular communication with team members and key collaborators and report on experimental plans, timelines, and results.

Technical Research - 10%

• This position will also synthesize adeno associated viral preparations which will be used to conduct selection and validation experiments of candidate cell type specific AAV vectors within animal studies.

Grant Proposal Support - 5%

• Help compose scientific components of large-scale grant proposals submitted for the PIs proposals, adhering to University and funding agency guidelines.

Reporting Activities - 5%

• Help coordinate and author scientific portions of all progressive and end-of-project reporting activities for contracts and grants to fulfill agency requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Extensive experience with mouse models, including precise intracranial injections, pre- and post- op surgery experience, and animal handling.
• Demonstrated capability to oversee the complete lifecycle of animal research projects-spanning strain/specimen procurement, daily physiological monitoring, precise intracranial/intraparenchymal microinjections, and comprehensive pre-/post-operative care-while maintaining strict adherence to EH&S guidelines and regulatory compliance.
• Proficiency in synthesizing adeno-associated virus (AAV) preparations combined with high-precision surgical techniques to independently conduct, evaluate, and validate candidate cell-type-specific viral vectors in animal models.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with a large-scale lab, good communication skills and excellent study management and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills.

Education / Training

• Bachelor's degree in biology or bioengineering, or a related field and/or equivalent training or experience. (Required)
• PhD degree in biology or bioengineering or related field and/or equivalent training or experience. (Preferred)

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted annual salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $75,437.68 - $116,590.27, Step 1 - 23.

• This is an exempt, monthly-paid position.
• This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for UC benefits.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Other Information

• This is not a visa opportunity. This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.
• This position is governed by the terms and conditions in the agreement for the Research Support Professionals Unit (RX) between the University of California and the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE). The current bargaining agreement manual can be found at: http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/labor/bargaining-units/rx/index.html

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Misconduct

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy

UC Anti-Discrimination Policy

Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.