Laboratory Assistant IIl - 141350

University of California San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 26,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

University of California San Diego seeks a Laboratory Assistant III to coordinate the preparation of classrooms, schedule tasks, and supervise student workers for undergraduate lab courses. The role involves preparing reagents, maintaining equipment, and ensuring safety as part of daily lab operations.

Responsibilities include training staff, handling complex solutions, inventory control, and waste disposal under supervision.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED with lab experience or two years college with lab work.
• Ability to handle animals following AAALAC standards.
• Experience with standard lab equipment and basic repairs.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate lab prep, cleaning, and room assignments for labs.
• Train student workers and schedule lab assistants and students.
• Prepare materials for courses; sterilize glassware and labs after class.
• Oversee restocking and manage inventory and records.

Skills

Animal handling

Lab procedures

Equipment operation

Record keeping

Safety regulations

Budget/inventory

Computer skills

Education

High school diploma or GED

Two years college with lab courses

Tools

FPLC

Autoclaves

Spectrophotometer

Centrifuges

pH meters

Job description

Payroll Title: LAB AST 3

Department: DIVISION OF BIOLOGICAL SCI.

Hiring Pay Scale: $28.84 - $31.35 / Hour

Worksite: Campus

Appointment Type: Career

Appointment Percent: 100%

Union: TX Contract

Total Openings: 1

Work Schedule: Days, 8 hrs/day, Mon-Fri

#141350 Laboratory Assistant III

Filing Deadline: Thu 10/1/2026

UCSD Layoff from Career Appointment: Apply by 9/22/26 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

Under the general supervision of the Instructional Labs Manager, incumbent is responsible for coordinating the physical preparation of laboratories including scheduling cleaning duties and room assignments for lower-level Lab Assistants, scheduling and preparation of time-sensitive tasks such as media and plate production for lab courses, and overseeing the daily restocking of classrooms for undergraduate laboratory courses with adequate amounts and types of supplies and equipment.

Duties include: training student workers in Lab Assistant duties, scheduling lab assistant and student worker schedules with direct supervision of Instructional Labs Manager, prepare materials for courses; clean and sterilize glassware and labs after class; prepare complex reagents and solutions; clean and maintain equipment; and work with fish, frogs, chicks, rats, or crayfish as needed.

In addition, other duties include: being backup support for lab course setup, inoculating cell cultures, and swabbing agar plates and slants. This will be performed under general supervision of the Instructional Labs Manager, who is an additional designated secondary support for all courses when needed. Assist with other projects as assigned.

Additional duties will include: proper disposal of animal carcasses, chemicals and biohazardous wastes; and assist with quarterly and yearly inventory, ordering system, equipment repairs, protocol record system, and recipe cards.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduation from high school or a GED and three years of laboratory experience OR two years of college including courses in biology, chemistry or biochemistry and two years of laboratory experience, OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Skill to care for animals in accordance with university regulations. Sensitivity to the needs of caged laboratory animals, skill and knowledge to apply principles of sanitizing and disinfecting animal cages, and basic skills in veterinary procedures in compliance with AAALAC standards.
• Demonstrated knowledge, skill and ability to operate standard lab equipment including scales, balances, spectrophotometer, centrifuges, pH meters, colony counters, dishwasher, autoclaves, various microscopes, etc., with the ability to troubleshoot problems and perform minor repairs.
• Ability to operate, clean, set up and maintain sophisticated lab equipment, such as FPLC, temperature cycler, ultra centrifuge, electrophoresis apparatus, scintillation counter, etc.
• Demonstrated knowledge and proficiency in working with and properly handling biohazardous chemicals, including carcinogens, radioisotopes, neurotoxins, and mutagens.
• Demonstrated knowledge of university hazardous waste (including animal carcasses) and biohazardous waste disposal regulations and associated safety techniques and requirements, and the willingness and ability to maintain and upgrade training and certificates as required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of laboratory safety precautions, including appropriate clothing and shoes, safe handling of chemicals, and use of protective gear such as gloves and goggles. Familiarity with Material Safety Data Sheets.
• Basic math skills (by hand or calculator) to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and percentage calculations. Must be able to calculate molarities, normalities and percentages.
• Demonstrated experience to accurately prepare complex solutions, plates, media, etc., using aseptic techniques.
• Demonstrated experience to scrub, wipe and clean laboratory benches, counters, sinks and equipment using various cleaning agents and equipment.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills, including skill to understand and carry out written and oral instructions and interact with clients and colleagues with diverse personalities and educational levels, using diplomacy, flexibility, and tact.
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team, with the ability to receive and follow instruction from multiple work directors.
• Experience with computers (MAC or Windows) and associated standard business software (e.g., email, web browser, word processing and spreadsheet), web applications, and all associated computer hardware, with the willingness and ability to update and increase skills as required.
• Skill and ability to maintain a variety of written and/or computer records.
• Demonstrated ability to transfer supplies and equipment between labs.
• Demonstrated ability to calculate expenditures on purchase orders, including tax and shipping/handling charges, and enter into budget index number logbook. Demonstrated skill to keep purchasing records manually and electronically.
• Demonstrated ability to take inventory of glassware, supplies and equipment.
• Demonstrated ability to perform complex and routine daily lab management tasks.
• Outstanding demonstrated administrative and organizational skills. Demonstrated ability to multitask, meet multiple deadlines, and deal with interruptions and changing priorities.
• Knowledge and skill to handle and care for animal subjects and dispose of carcasses in accordance with all governing regulations. Demonstrated ability to perform animal anesthesia and euthanasia.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Must be able to work in a very busy environment with changing priorities.
• Must be willing and able to work with and dispose of animal carcasses, chemicals and biohazardous wastes, including maintaining all required safety certifications.
• Must be willing and able to work with a variety of animals subjects including frogs and rats.
• Must be able to lift/move up to 50 lbs.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on Background Check results.

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: $60,218 - $71,639 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: $28.84 - $34.31

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.

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.

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:

• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• Abusive Conduct in the Workplace