Behavioral Laboratory Research Associate - Psych - 141632

UC San Diego/UC San Diego Health

San Diego (CA)

On-site

USD 41,000 - 43,000

Full time

4 days ago

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Job summary

UC San Diego’s Psychiatry Department seeks a Behavioral Laboratory Research Associate to conduct behavioral experiments with mice and rats, perform biochemical and molecular assays, and maintain precise records. The role includes assisting in rodent surgeries, breeding programs, and training students, within a pre-clinical research lab focused on psychiatric disorders.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree in psychology or neuroscience, rodent handling skills, and strong organizational

Qualifications

Theoretical knowledge in psychology/neuroscience or related field with degree or equivalent experience.
Experience handling rodents and performing standard lab assays (ELISAs, DNA/RNA extraction, immunohistochemistry).
Strong organizational skills and ability to maintain detailed records.
Experience with calculating dosages and dissolving chemicals.
Ability to communicate effectively with all lab levels.
Ability to work under supervision and handle confidential information.

Responsibilities

Conduct behavioral experiments with mice and rats and perform biochemical assays.
Maintain accurate testing records and handle animal euthanasia as instructed.
Assist with breeding of transgenic lines and tissue processing for assays.
Document procedures for weighing/dissolving drugs and administering them.
Assist in training undergraduate volunteers and visiting scholars.

Skills

Behavioral psychology knowledge

Animal handling (rats and mice)

Laboratory record-keeping

Dosage calculation

Communication across lab staff

Stability and confidentiality

Education

Bachelor's degree in Psychology/Neuroscience

Tools

LabChart

Med Associates

San Diego Instruments

Noldus

Job description

Payroll Title: SRA 1

Department: PSYCHIATRY/Pre-Clinical Research

Hiring Pay Scale: $30.12 - $31.42 / Hour

Worksite: La Jolla

Appointment Type: Career

Appointment Percent: 100%

Union: RX Contract

Total Openings: 1

Work Schedule: 8-Hour Shifts, Monday-Friday

#141632 Behavioral Laboratory Research Associate - Psych

Filing Deadline: Fri 11/13/2026

UC San Diego values and welcomes people from all backgrounds. If you are interested in being part of our team, possess the needed licensure and certifications, and feel that you have most of the qualifications and/or transferable skills for a job opening, we strongly encourage you to apply.

UCSD Layoff from Career Appointment: Apply by 11/04/2026 for consideration with preference for rehire. All layoff applicants should contact their Employment Advisor.

Reassignment Applicants: Eligible Reassignment clients should contact their Disability Counselor for assistance.

DESCRIPTION

The UC San Diego Department of Psychiatry ranks among the nation's leading academic psychiatry departments, recognized for its exceptional research enterprise, innovative clinical programs, and outstanding educational training. Our faculty and staff are driving meaningful advances in mental health science, delivering transformative patient care, and shaping the next generation of clinicians and researchers. We offer a collegial, high-achieving work environment where talented professionals are empowered to grow, collaborate, and contribute to work that matters.

This work will be performed in a pre-clinical research laboratory within the Department of Psychiatry, which focuses mainly on behavioral pharmacology in animals as related to Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, PTSD, and other psychiatric illnesses.

Under supervision, the incumbent will work as a Behavioral Laboratory Research Associate, conducting multiple types of behavioral experiments with mice and rats as well as biochemical and molecular assays on animal and human tissues within the Department of Psychiatry. The research associate will also maintain accurate records of testing and euthanize mice and rats as instructed. The research associate will be required to document and use procedures to weigh and dissolve drugs, weigh animals and administer drugs, assist the lab manager with breeding of transgenic mouse lines, perform record keeping of mouse breeding, process tissue for assays (e.g., blood, organs, or brain), perform standard laboratory assays such as ELISAs, DNA/RNA extraction and immunohistochemistry, collect and sort data using specialized software on lab computers, maintain neat and accurate records, as well as assist with training of undergraduate volunteers and visiting scholars. The research associate will conduct rodent surgeries as directed, including stereotaxic placement of cannula and implantation of cranial magnets. Finally, assisting in maintaining lab cleanliness will be required, as will assisting supervisor with tasks as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Theoretical knowledge of Psychology, Neuroscience, Biology or other related field as typically attained by a Bachelor’s degree and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Demonstrated experience handling rats and mice (restraining, ear-tagging, injections, etc.).
General laboratory and behavioral lab experience.
Experience with calculating dosages and dissolving a variety of chemicals.
Experience with DOS, Windows operating systems and Microsoft Office software.
Demonstrated detailed organizational and record-keeping skills.
Proven ability to assist and perform standard laboratory assays such as but not limited to ELISAs, DNA/RNA extraction, immunohistochemistry.
Excellent ability to communicate with all levels of laboratory personnel.
Demonstrated experience with filing, alphabetizing, organizing and maintaining research file tasks.
Must be able to maintain confidentiality.
Knowledge of stereotaxic surgery.
Ability to administer anesthesia to rodents pre-operatively and provide post-operative care to animals.
Working knowledge of the Animal Care Program's required husbandry practices.
Knowledge of mouse breeding colony procedures.
Experience with laboratory computers and specialized data collection software (LabChart, Med Associates, San Diego Instruments, Noldus).
Experience with specialized behavioral testing equipment (Med Associates, San Diego Instruments, Coulbourn, Noldus).
Knowledge of small animal perfusion.
Knowledge of general laboratory safety practices and requirements.
Experience with stereotaxic placement of cannula and implantation of cranial magnet surgeries.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

University coursework in organic/inorganic chemistry, biology, pharmacology, psychology/psychiatry, genetics, and laboratory techniques (pipetting, solution preparation, dosage calculation, etc.).
Experience with intravenous drug administration to rodents.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

Employment is subject to a criminal background check.
Must be willing to handle and euthanize rats and mice.
Must be willing to collect and handle animal tissue.
Must be willing to handle human specimens.
Must be willing to work overtime, nights, and/or weekends if necessary for experimental purposes.
Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs.

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: $62,891 - $75,022 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: $30.12 - $35.93

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.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

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.

UC San Diego Health maintains a marijuana and drug free environment. Employees may be subject to drug screening.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.

a. "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC’s policies addressing some forms of misconduct: