Staff Research Associate, Cellular & Molecular Med - 140666

UC San Diego Health; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 121,000; Full time

Job summary

UCSD Health Sciences' Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine seeks a Senior Research Assistant to advance multidisciplinary projects at the wet-lab and machine intelligence frontier. You will perform experiments, process multimodal datasets, and help maintain vibrant laboratory operations across active programs.

You will lead and supervise students and postdocs, ensure strict lab safety, and manage diverse priorities in a collaborative environment at UCSD San Diego.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in a relevant field with theoretical and practical bioinformatics knowledge.
• Experience performing high-level experimental tasks.
• Ability to supervise supercomputer access and operation.
• Experience coordinating complex bioinformatics projects across multiple labs.
• Excellent oral and written communication to present research results and collaborate.
• Proficiency with single-cell and spatial multiomics workflows (e.g., 10x Genomics) including nuclei isolation and library prep.
• Strong organization, reliability, and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience with computational analysis pipelines (PyTorch/TensorFlow; scRNA/scATAC) for disease-state prediction.
• Knowledge of Cal-OSHA safety requirements and lab safety practices.
• Ability to use software to organize data.
• Ability to mentor students, postdocs, and SRAs.

Responsibilities

• Perform experiments and analyze multimodal datasets; maintain lab operations across active research programs.
• Provide leadership to students, postdocs, and junior SRAs; ensure lab safety and equipment maintenance.
• Contribute to translational and basic research at the interface of wet-lab science and machine intelligence.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Bioinformatics knowledge

Experimental tasks

Supervising HPC access

Coordinated complex projects

Communication skills

Single-cell/multiomics workflows

Work prioritization

Computational analysis pipelines

Lab safety knowledge

Data organization tools

Mentoring others

Education

MS or PhD in a relevant field

Tools

PyTorch/TensorFlow

High-performance computing

Job description

DESCRIPTION

UCSD Health Sciences is a $1 billion dollar plus organization encompassing 16 academic departments (14 clinical, 2 basic sciences), 2 pre-academic/hospital departments, 2 professional schools (School of Medicine and SkaggsSchool 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 41 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 multi-disciplinary lab within the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine explores the roles of RNA biology in regenerative medicine and immune system regulation in cancer and host-pathogen interactions.

Under general supervision, the SRA will be involved in multidisciplinary translational and basic research at the interface of wet-lab science and machine intelligence. The successful candidate will perform experiments, process and analyze multimodal datasets, and help maintain laboratory operations across active research programs.

Provide leadership to students, Postdocs, and lower-level SRAs. Ensure lab safety and maintenance of lab equipment. Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMIM QUALIFICATIONS

• Theoretical and practical knowledge of bioinformatics as typically attained with an advanced degree (MS or PhD), or an equivalent combination of education experience.
• Experience performing high level experimental tasks.
• Ability to supervise super computer access and operation.
• Experience in coordinated complex projects involving bioinformatics integrating multiple labs.
• Demonstrated superior oral and written communication skills to communicate research results and carry out collaborative projects involving multiple groups.
• Perform single-cell/single-nucleus and spatial multiomics workflows (10x Chromium/Visium, snRNA-seq, snATAC-seq, multiome) including nuclei isolation, library prep, and QC.
• Good work habits, including ability to comply with attendance policies, reliability in research and in interactions with peers, supervisors, and subordinates.
• Demonstrated ability to set priorities and to organize a varied workload to meet deadlines despite frequent interruptions.
• Strong knowledge in computational analysis pipelines (PyTorch/TensorFlow, single-cell integration, foundation-model workflows) for disease-state prediction. Analyses involving scRNA/scATA-seq, genomes, mutation/deletion, network modeling.
• Knowledge of Cal-OSHA safety requirements including MSDS's, hazard communication & Injury and Illness Prevention Program; laboratory safety precautions including appropriate clothing and shoes, use of protective items such as gloves and goggles as well as basic first aid procedures.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, tasks and priorities to achieve desired goals.
• Ability to use relevant computer software programs to organize data.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of UCSD EH&S safety requirements.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on Background Check results.
• Occasional evenings and weekends may be required.
• Must be willing to work with hazardous materials.

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).