Animal/Laboratory Staff Research Associate I - 138063

The Department of Pediatrics is one of the largest departments within the School of Medicine with approximately 171 Faculty, 50 postdoctoral fellows (both MDs and PhDs) along with over 300 support staff (not including hospital staff). In addition, the Department has 57 clinical residents and fellows distributed across the Divisions. The missions of research, education and patient care are intertwined, and are integral to the goals of the department. The Department has undergone significant growth in recent years with a consolidated budget of approximately $106 million including sponsored projects expenditures of approximately $54 million and clinical revenue of over $ 52 million. This expansion of the Department's research and clinical portfolio is expected to continue in the next few years.

The Department's 16 divisions include Academic General Pediatrics, Child Development & Community Health; Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology; Cardiology; Dysmorphology; Emergency Medicine; Endocrinology; Gastroenterology; Genetics; Genome Information Sciences; Hospital Medicine; Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics; Infectious Diseases; Neonatology; Nephrology; and Respiratory Medicine.

In 2001, physicians and leadership of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), Rady Children's, and Children's Specialists of San Diego (CSSD) unified pediatric patient care, research, education and community service programs, creating a university-affiliated children's health system to serve the region. Over the past two decades, an extensive list of joint programs has developed, with many physicians and researchers playing a role at both institutions.

This affiliation has consolidated the clinical, teaching, research and public service programs of the UCSD School of Medicine's Department of Pediatrics with San Diego's only health care system dedicated to the health and well-being of children. In 2009, this partnership was furthered by the creation of Rady Children's Specialists of San Diego, a Medical Foundation, and is now recognized as having global leaders in research, technology, translational medicine, education and clinical excellence.

The Coufal lab studies neuroimmunology and the role of microglia, the inflammatory cell type of the brain, in neurodevelopment, aging, and both idiopathic and genetic neurologic disease using a variety of in vitro and in vivo models and stem cell derived microglia.

Under supervision, the Staff Research Associate will be part of a study project aimed at identifying a disease phenotype in our animal model. The incumbent will be involved in animal work including the maintenance of a colony of mice with molecular biology work for genotyping. Colony management duties also include establishing breeding timelines to accommodate research needs, keeping a detailed record in the database, apply murine surgical techniques followed by dissection and collection of tissue samples (brain and spinal cord). The Animal/Laboratory Staff Research Associate will learn and apply cryostat sectioning, immunohistochemistry followed by confocal imaging and image analysis as well as western blotting technique. Additionally, the incumbent has opportunities to learn and master a variety of techniques including induced pluripotent stem cell in vitro research if desired. The Staff Research Associate contributes to experimental design as able. Performs other duties as assigned.

• Theoretical knowledge in Biology or Molecular Biology or related field or equivalent knowledge and experience to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of the position.

• Ability to recognize, report and troubleshoot technical problems.

• General laboratory experience in a research setting, with knowledge of standard laboratory practices, safety procedures, and proper use of laboratory equipment.

• Hands-on experience with core molecular biology techniques and equipment, including preparation of reagents and solutions, accurate manual and multichannel pipetting, and execution of routine molecular biology workflows.

• Demonstrated scientific curiosity and motivation, with the ability to work independently using initiative as well as to carry out tasks carefully and accurately under close supervision.

• Proficiency in laboratory animal handling and procedures, including rodent handling, dissection, tissue collection, and sample processing, in compliance with approved animal care and use protocols.

• Experience with tissue culture techniques, including routine maintenance of mammalian cell cultures under sterile conditions.

• Strong attention to detail, with high standards for accuracy, documentation, and record-keeping; excellent organizational skills.

• Ability to follow step-by-step protocols, perform repetitive tasks reliably, and learn new procedures in a fast-paced laboratory environment.

• Effective time management, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively in team-based research setting and coordinate with multiple researchers.

• Ability to establish and maintain productive working relationships with the Principal Investigator, supervisors, postdoctoral scholars, and other members of the research group.

• Experience performing basic data analysis with guidance, and maintaining clear, accurate experimental and laboratory records.

• Strong interest in learning new techniques and implementing new protocols, with the ability to adapt quickly and follow detailed experimental procedures under supervision.

• Bachelor's degree in Biology, Molecular Biology, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and laboratory experience.

• Minimum one year of laboratory experience.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.

• Must be able to work in environment where biological and chemical hazards are present.

• Must be able to handle laboratory animals.

• Must be able to perform basic lab techniques including ICH-IF.

• Must be able to work with human cells including established induced pluripotent stem cells and human embryonic stem cells.