Staff Research Associate - 129895

UCSD Layoff from Career Appointment: Apply by 5/24/24 for consideration with preference for rehire. All layoff applicants should contact their Employment Advisor.

Special Selection Applicants: Apply by 6/4/24. Eligible Special Selection clients should contact their Disability Counselor for assistance.

UC San Diego, located in La Jolla, in the San Diego Metropolitan area, enrolls over 35,000 students and is one of the University of California’s 10 campuses. UC San Diego has earned recognition as one of the world’s premier research universities and one of the top-10 public universities in the nation.

UC San Diego is a student-centered, research-focused, service-oriented public institution, recognized as one of the top 15 research universities worldwide. The University fosters a culture of collaboration that sparks innovative discoveries that advance society and drive economic impact. The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is one of the largest and most complex departments on campus. Our Department combines research on the most consequential and revelatory scientific areas with education aimed at building our future leaders and scientists.

The department is comprised of 65 ladder rank faculty, and additional 12-15 in various instructional and ~150 in academic research titles and postdoctoral scholars. The above academic community presents a plethora of diverse complex issues from Health Sciences Compensation Program agreements to adjuncts from national laboratories sharing negotiated employee patent agreements. The department is also comprised of 70 career staff; ~60 temporary or student staff, and 254 Master’s and Ph.D. students. Undergraduate students majoring in chemistry number greater than 1000, and total undergraduate and graduate annual course enrollments exceed 24,500. The department currently has more than 180 awards from federal, state and private sources for approximately $23 million per annum in extramural funding and $49 million in total annual expenditures.

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry manages eleven recharge facilities supporting national as well as UCSD-wide research endeavors in academe and industry: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Molecular Mass Spectrometry, Biomolecular and Proteomics Mass Spectroscopy, Cryoelectron Microscopy, Biophysics Instrumentation, Inorganic Characterization Instrumentation, Protein Crystallography, Small Molecule X-Ray Crystallography, Environmental and Complex Analysis Laboratory, Fabrication Facility plus the on campus Chemistry Storehouse. In addition, we are home to two national research center grants. The department also manages three major NIH training grants, and one Department of Education training grant, which fund graduate and postdoctoral students across UCSD departments/disciplines as well as off campus research organizations.

Incumbent will assist with educational operations within the UC San Diego Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC). Incumbent will work with Director and Leadership Team of the MRSEC in supervising trainees involved in research on inorganic materials, polymers, and nanomaterials. Duties will also include organizing and supervising outreach events as well as preparing and distributing hands-on science and engineering educational kits to K-12 user communities. Incumbent should be able to effectively communicate educational aspects of nanotechnology via demonstrations and presentations. Incumbent should be competent on the theory and application of laboratory instrumetnation including Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, dynamic light scattering apparatus, fluorescence and UV-visible plate readers, Raman microscope, reflectivity spectrometers, thermogravimetric analysis, gas sorption analyzer, contact angle goniometer, and optical microscopes. Perform synthetic reactions within a chemical fume hood, electrochemical experiments, including preparation of silicon-based nanomaterials (quantum dots, photonic crystals, Fabry-Perot layers). Record and describe results in a form suitable for publication in scientific journals or presentation in grant applications, and interact professionally with faculty, postdoctoral scholars, students, collaborators, visiting scholars, and research technicians in a medium-sized laboratory.

• Must be willing to work with hazardous chemicals and materials.

• Theoretical understanding of synthesis, purification, and characterization of inorganic compounds (in particular, nanomaterials) acquired through a Bachelors and/or Masters degree in chemistry, materials science, or a related field, or a combination of education and relevant lab experience.

• Demonstrated experience in performing synthetic reactions within a chemical fume hood, safe handling of hydrofluoric acid and other chemical hazards.

• Demonstrated ability in the design, synthesis, purification and characterization of silicon-based nanomaterials.

• Experience in the use of the MRSEC instruments for compound characterization, listed at https://mrsec.ucsd.edu/materials-characterization-facility .

• Demonstrated experience in inorganic materials chemistry.

• Demonstrated experience in executing specific research protocols and record and analyze results, and contribute results to publications.

• Effective written and verbal communication skills. Strong interpersonal skills to develop and maintain effective working relationships with students, faculty, staff, users, and vendors. Ability to communicate effectively one-on-one or in group settings, taking into account differences in social, cultural, professional, and educational backgrounds.

• Experience working with research programs aimed at High School and College level students. Proven ability to be a patient instructor for users at all experience levels.

• Skill to organize time, set priorities, meet established deadlines, and recognize new problems with constantly changing priorities and frequent interruptions.

• Skill, knowledge, and ability with Windows OS and a variety of standard business software including system and networking software, Microsoft Office suite (word, excel, power point), email, and a variety of web-based programs, browsers, and the campus Link family of applications. Willingness and ability to update and increase skills as needed.

• Ability to develop organization of the research work environment of schedules, reagents, and data. Skill to use independent judgment and to make decisions and solve complex problems.

• Skill in accurate record keeping and ability to reconcile accounting.

• Knowledge of necessary lab safety procedures and requirements, as well as chemical disposal guidelines. Knowledge of lab environmental, health, and safety regulations and familiarity with campus safety procedures. Knowledge/understanding and at least some experience with Safety Data Sheets, hazard communication and Injury and Illness Prevention Program. Familiarity with a Chemical Hygiene Plan addressing safety precautions including appropriate clothing and shoes, safe handling of chemicals, use of protective items. Willingness and ability to keep safety training current and consistent with research involvement.

• Demonstrated experience in maintaining instrumentation and interacting with equipment vendors and service personnel.

• Background Check required.

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: $58,505 - $94,113 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: $28.02 - $45.07

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

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.

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 is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status.

For the University of California’s Affirmative Action Policy please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20
For the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination

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