Staff Research Associate - 129234

UCSD Layoff from Career Appointment: Apply by 4/15/2024 for consideration with preference for rehire. All layoff applicants should contact their Employment Advisor.

Special Selection Applicants: Apply by 4/25/2024. Eligible Special Selection clients should contact their Disability Counselor for assistance.

The Department of Pediatrics is one of the largest departments within the School of Medicine with approximately 171 Faculty, 50 post-doctoral 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 the supervision of the Principal Investigator, and in conjunction with researchers in the Principal Investigator’s laboratory, the Staff Research Associate will assist with a variety of techniques including induced pluripotent stem cell research, differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells to a variety of cell fates including microglia, neurons, astrocytes, and cerebral organoids. The incumbent will learn and apply murine surgical techniques, western blotting, immunohistochemistry brains and organoids, and cryostat sectioning. The incumbent has opportunities to learn and master a variety of techniques. The Staff Research Associate contributes to experimental design as able.

• Theoretical knowledge of molecular biology or cellular biology or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Ability to take direction, be detail-oriented, follow step-wise protocols, and perform repetitive tasks in a fast-paced laboratory environment. Able to learn new procedures.

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, establishing and maintaining good workingrelationships with P.I., supervisor, postdoctoral scholars, and other members of the research group.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in standard English, in writing, electronically, and by spoken word with lab members and vendors.

• Willingness to work with murine models.

• Experience with stem cell biology, microglial and neuronal differentiations and complex cocultures.

• Knowledge of general molecular biology techniques, and use of common laboratory equipment.

• 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 work with human cells including established induced pluripotent stem cells and human embryonic stem cells.

• Must be willing to variable work schedule to accommodate research needs, including occasional overtime, nights, weekends.

• Must be willing to work with mice including surgical and terminal procedures.

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: $53,766 - $64,143 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: $25.75 - $30.72

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.

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.