Laboratory Research Associate - 141572

University of California San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 4,977,000 - 8,005,000; Full time

Job summary

UC San Diego in San Diego, CA is seeking a Laboratory Research Associate to perform and lead experiments focused on hematopoietic stem and erythroid progenitor cell biology. The role involves isolating and ex vivo culturing mouse and human HSCs, and conducting in vivo transplantation.

You will produce viral vectors, perform CRISPR knockouts/activations, and analyze intracellular proteins and RNA-seq data with flow cytometry.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Molecular/Cellular Biology or related field.
• Experience generating retroviral and lentiviral vectors.
• Experience with molecular cloning.
• Experience with CRISPR activation and CRISPR gene knockout.
• Experience with purification of red blood cell extracellular vesicles.
• Experience with flow cytometry and intracellular staining.

Responsibilities

• Independently perform and lead experiments on hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.
• Isolate and culture mouse and human hematopoietic cells ex vivo.
• Perform in vivo transplantation of mouse and human hematopoietic cells.
• Produce retroviral and lentiviral vectors and conduct CRISPR gene editing.
• Assess proteins and RNA-sequencing by flow cytometry.
• Document procedures and maintain accurate records.

Skills

Molecular cloning

CRISPR knockout

Flow cytometry

Hematopoietic cell culture

In vivo transplantation

Data analysis (Excel/Prism)

BD FACS

Vector production (retroviral/lentiv)

Animal handling

Education

Advanced degree in Molecular/Cellular Biology

Tools

BD FACSymphony

Excel

Prism

Job description

#141572 Laboratory Research Associate

Filing Deadline: Thu 10/15/2026

• Payroll Title: SRA 3
• Department: PEDIATRICS
• Hiring Pay Scale: $36.13 - $58.11 / Hour
• Worksite: Moores Cancer Center
• Appointment Type: Career
• Appointment Percent: 100%
• Union: RX Contract
• Total Openings: 1
• Work Schedule: Days, 8-Hour Shifts, Monday-Friday

UC San Diego values and welcomes people from all backgrounds.

DESCRIPTION

The Department of Pediatrics is one of the largest departments within the School of Medicine with approximately 171 Faculty, 60 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 18 divisions include Academic General Pediatrics, Child Development & Community Health; Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology; Cardiology; Dermatology; Dysmorphology; Emergency Medicine; Endocrinology; Gastroenterology; Genetics; Genome Information Sciences; Hospital Medicine; Infectious Diseases; Neonatology; Nephrology; Pharmacology & Drug Discovery; Rehabilitation Medicine; 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.

Under general supervision, the incumbent will independently perform and lead experiments related to hematopoietic stem cell and erythroid progenitor cell biology. The incumbent will isolate and perform ex vivo culture of both mouse and human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, and will also perform in vivo transplantation of isolated mouse and human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. The incumbent will produce retroviral and lentiviral vector and conduct CRISPR gene knockout followed by assessment with flow cytometry of both intracellular and cell surface proteins and RNA-sequencing. Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Theoretical knowledge of Molecular/Cellular Biology or a related field, as typically attained with an advanced degree, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with generation of retroviral vectors and lentiviral vectors.
• Experience with molecular cloning.
• Experience with CRISPR activation and CRISPR gene knockout.
• Experience with purification of red blood cell extracellular vesicles.
• Experience with advanced maintenance of cytoflex flow cytometer with plate loader.
• Experience with independent operation of BD Facs Symphony cell sorter.
• Experience with methanol cell permeation and intracellular flow cytometry and phospho flow cytometry.
• Experience isolating mouse and human burst forming unit erythroid cells and colony forming unit erythroid cells.
• Experience with tail vein and retroorbital injection of hematopoietic stem cells and hematopoietic progenitor cells.
• Experience with creation and maintenance of stable 3T3 cell lines overexpressing c-Kit and CXCL12.
• Experience with creation and maintenance of stable 3T3 cell lines overexpressing CRISPR-A.
• Experience with creation and maintenance of stable 3T3 cell lines with CRISPR activation of Sca1.
• Experience with flow cytometric analysis of primary erythroid differentiation culture.
• Demonstrated ability to follow verbal and/or written instructions, including follow-up on previously begun procedures. Demonstrated accurate record data and enter into appropriate medium.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring and overseeing undergraduates and postdoctoral fellows.
• Experience with computer software such as Excel and Prism to analyze data, store results and compute raw data.
• Strong communication skills (both verbal and written) needed to interact professionally and effectively in the work environment, as well as to effectively and accurately document research procedures. Demonstrated ability to read, comprehend and discuss research materials.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated experience managing UCSD Universal Scaled Storage cloud data storage.
• Demonstrated experience establishing and maintaining cluster computing on the UCSD research computing cluster.
• Demonstrated experience to adhere to established UCSD guidelines and policies.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.
• Occasional evenings and weekends may be required.

Pay Transparency Act

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: $75,449 - $121,324 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: $36.13 - $58.11

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.

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.

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