Lab Assistant - 135578

UCSD Health Sciences is a $1 billion dollar plus organization encompassing 17 academic departments (15 clinical, 2 basic sciences), 2 preacademic/hospital departments, 2 professional schools (School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences), 2 hospitals, and various other programs and units all dedicated towards fulfilling the Health Sciences missions. The UCSD Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (CMM) is one of two basic science units in the School of Medicine where world-class researchers study fundamental cellular processes and pathways using a variety of techniques from classical genetics and fluorescence microscopy to high throughput genomics, systems biology, and crystallography. Our 37 faculty and over 200 postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, and research staff work on the cutting edge of biology, cutting across fields from basic biochemistry and genetics to genomics, systems biology and stem cell biology. The faculty also play a major role in medical and graduate student training, providing educational and programmatic offerings that span several disciplines and provide diversity to meet the interests of a broad spectrum of students and scholars. The diverse mix of ages, backgrounds, and talents creates a robust work environment with challenging career opportunities and a commitment to continued growth potential. We constantly seek to recruit highly motivated, technologically advanced, and deeply interested individuals who are ready to become a part of our dynamic research and educational environment.

Under supervision, the incumbent will assist with several research operations in the lab as directed. Duties will include (1) cleaning and sterilizing standard and specialized glassware, Pasteur pipets, pipet tips, various plastic wares, and replica plating velvets; (2) maintaining the safety and cleanliness of lab space and maintaining lab equipment; (3) preparing liquid culture media and agar plates for growing bacteria and yeasts; (4) assisting with and performing yeast genetics experiments, e.g., replica plating yeast colonies, counting colonies, transforming and crossing yeast strains, generating mutations by CRISPR-mediated recombination, genotyping yeast strains including mating type and auxotrophic marker tests, determining mutation rates, making genomic minipreps, making purified PCR products, and constructing plasmids; (5) assisting with mammalian cell culture experiments, e.g., freezing/thawing/passaging cell lines, treating cells with drugs, and measuring cell viability. In addition, the incumbent will be responsible for receiving and unpacking lab supplies and other miscellaneous duties as assigned.

• Graduation from high school or a General Education Diploma and one year of laboratory experience or two years of college including courses in the natural, physical or social sciences; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.

• Ability to prepare media.

• Ability to maintain laboratory supplies, keeping written records, and data collection.

• Knowledge of sterile techniques as demonstrated by experience working with yeast and/or bacteria.

• Skill and ability to operate various lab equipment

• Demonstrated experience in general laboratory housekeeping procedures including maintaining inventory, ordering supplies.

• Computer skills in MS Word, Excel, and web-based programs.

• Demonstrated ability to follow directions and pay attention to details.

• Ability to read and follow step wise assignments.

• Strong communication skills to effectively communicate with a diverse group of people within a laboratory setting.

• Demonstrated experience and/or training in laboratory safety.

• Knowledge of experimentation with yeast, working with plasmid and chromosomal DNA, and performing PCR.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.