#129045 Cancer Research Assistant

DESCRIPTION

The Department of Medicine is responsible for fulfilling the teaching, research, and clinical missions of the University of California, San Diego and employs 486+ full-time salaried faculty members and 100+ academic appointees. Staff personnel include 600+ staff in 9 bargaining units, students, and volunteers. There are 250 clinical faculty practicing at multiple sites and hospitals.

Under supervision, the incumbent will assist with experiments, make observations, and record experimental data related to research projects. Use basic cellular biological techniques to maintain human cell lines in culture and contribute to the development and delivery of plasmid and viral-based gene transfer vectors to establish stably-transduced cell lines. Use sterile tissue culture techniques to process primary blood and bone marrow tissues and isolate immune cell subsets by magnetic bead enrichment or fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Perform basic molecular biological techniques to quantify gene expression including RNA isolation and quantitative PCR. Perform basic laboratory maintenance activities including ordering equipment and reagents, maintaining and cleaning equipment, and researching journal articles to find appropriate protocols and regulations for experiments. Assist with animal studies including assisting with breeding, injections, and maintaining and screening transgenic mouse colony. Adhere to laboratory environmental health and safety guidelines, including appropriate radioactive waste, chemical waste, and biological waste disposal. Other duties assigned as needed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Theoretical knowledge or Bachelor's degree in molecular biology and biochemistry or related discipline or equivalent education and experience.

• Experience with all aspects of tissue culture including freezing, thawing, counting cells and splitting cultures. Demonstrated experience performing live-cell analyses by FACS. Experience with performing immunofluorescence assays, on blood samples.

• Demonstrated skill in the operation and maintenance of various lab equipment such as confocal and quantitative fluorescent microscopes, centrifuges, and nanodrop.

• Experience with standard repetitive techniques that may be required in research protocols related to a specific lab. Demonstrated ability to read, interpret and apply protocols in conducting research. Demonstrated ability in following step wise experimental protocols. Skill to troubleshoot adaptations of experimental protocols.

• Demonstrated experience reading and using Material Safety Data Sheets. Demonstrated ability to follow established Safety and Biohazardous Material Guidelines.

• Demonstrated experience working in and maintaining a sterile environment.

• Experience in the design, construction, production, purification, and use of viral gene transfer vectors, including adenoviral, lentiviral or retroviral vectors.

• Demonstrated skill in accurate record keeping and ability to organize, analyze, and calculate data. Knowledge in basic math for scientific calculations and statistical analyses.

• Experience with the operation of a personal computer and software application, such as GraphPad Prism, MS Word and Excel. Knowledge to work with and learn new software for analysis.

• Manual dexterity and legible handwriting. Ability to assist with general lab maintenance, including cleaning and restocking supplies and managing a regular schedule in the lab.

• Strong communication skills (both verbal and written) needed to interact professionally and effectively in the work environment, as well as effectively and accurately document research procedures. Ability to read, comprehend and discuss research materials.

• Enthusiasm for learning new techniques and a genuine interest in scientific research. Willingness and ability to learn new skills, research methods, and scientific principles. Ability to train students on same.

• Good organizational and time management skills.

• Knowledge sufficient to coordinate studies with other departments and the lab. Skill to plan and organize work assignments in an efficient and productive manner.

• Demonstrated experience with RNA purification and analysis by quantitative PCR (Taqman assays, SYBR green) and/or preparation of samples for RNA-sequencing analyses.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Theoretical knowledge of normal and malignant hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell biology, and multiple myeloma biology, sufficient to aid in the design and interpretation of experiments on those topics.

• Demonstrated ability to assist in the writing of papers for publication, research proposals.

• Knowledge of UCSD Environmental Health and Safety requirements.

• Demonstrated experience working with human tissues and performing mononuclear cell isolation by Ficoll density centrifugation.

• Experience in caring for and handling small lab animals (mice, rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits) and in administering medications and anesthesia to perform phlebotomy and minor surgical procedures on animals. Willingness and ability to work with rodents and/or other lab animals and/or infected samples.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Must be willing and able to work in BioSafety Level II environment.

• Must be willing and able to work with small animals and biohazardous materials.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.

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!

Applications/Resumes are accepted for current job openings only. For full consideration on any job, applications must be received prior to the initial closing date. If a job has an extended deadline, applications/resumes will be considered during the extension period; however, a job may be filled before the extended date is reached.

To foster the best possible working and learning environment, UC San Diego strives to cultivate a rich and diverse environment, inclusive and supportive of all students, faculty, staff and visitors. For more information, please visit UC San Diego Principles of Community.

UC San Diego Health is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, gender identity or sexual orientation. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://www-hr.ucsd.edu/saa/nondiscr.html

UC San Diego is a smoke and tobacco free environment. Please visit smokefree.ucsd.edu for more information.

UC San Diego Health maintains a marijuana and drug free environment. Employees may be subject to drug screening.