Staff Research Associate II - 135180

Current UC San Diego Cellular and Molecular Medicine employees who apply by 4/25/2025 will have priority consideration for this position. Recruiters will refer qualified internal candidates after the first 7 days of the job posting. All qualified external applicants and additional internal applicants who apply after the priority date may have further consideration pending the results of the initial review.

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.

The Center for Network Medicine [www.cnetmed.ucsd.edu] is striving towards a goal of understanding the fundamental principles that allow eukaryotic cells to do their business, i.e., iteratively sense, decide, act and learn/adapt. We hypothesize that they do so through an ad hoc molecular interaction network whose architectural principles and computational rules are similar to those used in the layered communication systems in the engineering world. These rules enable noise reduction, error minimization, shielding and encapsulation of breakdowns, control of delays and state explosion, etc. Success in decoding these fundamental rules should not only enable us to complete and 'clean up' the existing incomplete and messy biological networks, but also use these network for simulating and predicting cell behavior. This will usher a new era in network-based diagnostic tools and network-resetting therapeutics for major diseases. On the flip side, knowing how a cell autonomously carries out its business will provide insights into designing new kinds of self-organizing networks (SON) and provide a novel paradigm (beyond artificial neural networks) for developing Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Under supervision, the Incumbent will mostly work within the UC San Diego HUMANOID CoRE (humanoid.ucsd.edu), an organoid-based research core that strives to build disease models for testing therapeutics.

The Staff Research Associate performs standard laboratory procedures with adult human stem cells and primary cells, human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), including embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), as well as other experimental procedures. Incumbent will also perform a number of standard repetitive laboratory procedures with stem cells, primary cell lines and immortalized cell lines, as needed, with the intent to build disease models that will aid in drug discovery for grand challenges in human diseases that are still without cure.

The incumbent uses basic molecular biology and microscopy techniques to independently conduct a number of experimental procedures. The research associate will use microscopes, high content imaging, plate-readers, flow cytometers, cell fractionarors, isolators, microfluidic chambers, and available robotics to assay effects of small molecules on stem cells and organoids grown from stem cells will be necessary. Performs standard experimental protocols in tissue culture to meet the needs of the research projects, providing ideas and rationale to help improve tests that are unsatisfactory. The incumbent will also perform general lab duties including ordering supplies and equipment repair.

With minimal supervision the incumbent will edit and maintain database of human tissue and organoids in the HUMANOID biorepository, maintain up-to-date clinic IRBs (Concent forms and IRB protocols), and serve as runner if needed to secure patient-derived tissues from clinics and bring them to the HUMANOID for organoid isolation. Will keep up with production of conditioned base media for lab and customer use. The incumbent will also perform and keep record of QC of all new cell lines and media batches. For these tasks, the incumbent will need to use Word, Excel and PowerPoint software and computers. Performs other duties as assigned. Must be willing to drive/access public transportation as needed.

• Theoretical knowledge of molecular and cellular biology or closely related field as typically acquired at a collegiate level or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Working knowledge of DNA techniques.

• Must have adult and pluripotent stem cell culture experience.

• Lab experience, knowledge and understanding of sterile techniques and mammalian cell culture practices. Knowledge and experience with numerous types of laboratory equipment related to uses, maintenance, and repair. Ability to learn new laboratory procedures quickly.

• Ability to prepare solutions.

• Strong organization skills. Attention to detail; self motivated. Ability to learn quickly and adopt lessons from one learning episode to similar situations. Ability to perform a variety of tasks in an extremely fast-paced environment. Use of good judgement relating to constantly changing priorities. Ability to work as part of a large, diverse group.

• Knowledge of various computer software, hardware, standard office equipment and lab equipment.

• Acute attention to detail, resourceful, capable of handling the changing needs of the research lab.

• Experience performing repetitive and specialized laboratory experimental procedures. Experience following experimental protocols.

• Ability to care for small lab animals, as well as working with animal and human tissue.

• Ability to use mathematical skills to analyze and develop statistical data.

• Strong communication skills (both verbal and written) needed to interact professionally and effectively in the work environment at all levels including faculty, senior researchers, graduate students, undergraduates and those from various backgrounds with tact and diplomacy.

• Experience using microscopy to perform experiments.

• Knowledge of UCSD Environmental Health and Safety requirements. Knowledge of radiation safety and biosafety techniques and practices. Experience to work with chemical, radioisotope, and biological hazards and to recognize safety problems.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.

• Occasional evenings and weekends may be required.

• Work in environment where biological (including infectious agents and blood borne pathogens) and chemical hazards are present.

• Work with small animals.

• Work with human samples and stem-cell based tools/techniques.