Staff Research Associate / Lab Manager - 141494

UC San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 68,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

UC San Diego in San Diego, CA seeks a Staff Research Associate to support a Neonatology research program. The role involves maintaining human iPSCs, differentiating organoids, and performing molecular biology, imaging, and data analysis.

You will supervise undergraduates, manage lab operations, and ensure EH&S compliance. The incumbent collaborates with a supervisor to design experiments and adapts protocols as needed, contributing to high-quality research and training a new generation of

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a life science or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience in mammalian cell culture and aseptic technique.
• Experience with iPSC culture.
• Experience with RNA/DNA extraction and qRT-PCR.
• Experience with flow cytometry and/or FACS.
• Experience with immunofluorescence/immunohistochemistry and advanced microscopy.
• Experience conducting statistical analysis on data.
• Ability to follow and modify experimental protocols.
• Experience using common lab equipment and maintaining safety standards.
• Experience ordering and maintaining lab inventory and vendor communication.
• Ability to work with precious human samples with aseptic technique.

Responsibilities

• Perform bench experiments supporting a Neonatology research program.
• Maintain and differentiate iPSCs into organoids and reprogram PBMCs into iPSCs.
• Conduct viral infection assays and HMO screens under BSL-2.
• Perform molecular biology, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and confocal imaging.
• Analyze experimental data and collaborate on project design.
• Serve as lab manager: ordering, inventory, safety, and EH&S compliance.
• Supervise undergraduates and help design student projects.
• Keep detailed lab notebooks and literature updates.

Skills

Mammalian cell culture

iPSC culture

Flow cytometry

Immunofluorescence

Molecular biology

qRT-PCR

Data analysis

Lab safety

Inventory management

DNA/RNA extraction

Cell culture aseptic technique

Education

Bachelor’s degree in life sciences

Tools

Biosafety cabinets

CO2 incubators

Centrifuges

Microscopes

PCR thermocyclers

Balances

pH meters

Autoclaves

Job description

UCSD Layoff from Career Appointment

Apply by 10/02/2026 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 Department of Pediatrics is one of the largest departments within the School of Medicine with approximately 171 Faculty, 50 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. 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 UC 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, now recognized as having global leaders in research, technology, translational medicine, education and clinical excellence.

Under supervision, the Staff Research Associate performs laboratory bench experiments supporting a research program in the Division of Neonatology studying lung and gut development, surfactant biology, host-pathogen interactions, human milk science, and cellular senescence. Working from established protocols, the incumbent maintains and differentiates human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into whole-lung, airway, alveolar, and intestinal organoids, reprograms peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) into iPSC lines, and maintains air-liquid interface and 3D organoid cultures. Conducts viral infection assays (e.g., RSV-GFP) and human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) screens under BSL-2 conditions, and performs cellular senescence assays, following established methods. Performs molecular biology, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and confocal microscopy, and completes data and statistical analysis of experimental results. Partners with the supervisor to design experiments and to plan projects carried out by undergraduate students. Serves as lab manager, overseeing daily laboratory operations, reagent and supply ordering, human stem cell inventory, equipment maintenance, and laboratory safety, and acting as the primary contact for EH&S laboratory safety protocols (BUA, CHUA) and safety documentation. Experiments are performed largely independently and as part of a team. Reviews the current literature to stay current on new techniques. Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Theoretical knowledge of a life science as typically acquired by a Bachelor's Degree in a related field such as molecular biology, cell or stem cell biology, developmental biology, bioengineering, immunology, or biochemistry, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Demonstrated experience in mammalian cell culture and aseptic/sterile technique, including media preparation, passaging, and cryopreservation.

• Demonstrated experience with human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) culture under feeder-free conditions.

• Experience with molecular biology techniques including RNA/DNA extraction and qRT-PCR, and preparation of samples for next-generation sequencing.

• Demonstrated experience performing flow cytometry and/or fluorescence-activated cell sorting.

• Demonstrated experience with immunofluorescence/immunohistochemistry and light, fluorescence, and confocal microscopy.

• Experience conducting statistical analysis on research data.

• Ability to follow experimental protocols and to modify protocols as appropriate to experimental techniques, with supervisor input.

• Strong demonstrated experience using common laboratory equipment such as biosafety cabinets, CO2 incubators, centrifuges, microscopes, PCR thermocyclers, balances, pH meters, and autoclaves.

• Demonstrated experience in proper handling of chemical and biohazardous materials and adherence to established safety and biohazard guidelines.

• Demonstrated experience ordering and maintaining laboratory equipment and supplies, including inventory tracking and vendor communication.

• Demonstrated ability to calculate volumes and dilutions and to use aseptic technique for handling precious human samples such as primary cells.

• Experience observing and overseeing undergraduate students and assisting the supervisor in designing projects for them.

• Detail-oriented, with skill in record keeping and maintaining organized laboratory notebooks.

• Proficiency with computer applications such as Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint, including literature searching and basic graphing.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills needed to interact professionally, document research procedures, and read, comprehend, and discuss research materials.

• Willingness to learn new techniques and tasks and to share knowledge in a respectful, team-oriented manner.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with directed differentiation and/or 3D organoid culture (lung, intestinal, or other epithelial organoids),including Matrigel/ECM handling and air-liquid interface culture.

• Experience reprogramming somatic cells (e.g., PBMCs) into iPSCs using established Sendai virus or episomal methods.

• Experience working under BSL-2 conditions with human-derived materials and/or respiratory viruses (e.g., RSV).

• Experience with image- and data-analysis software such as ImageJ/Fiji, Imaris, and GraphPad Prism.

• Familiarity assisting with Human Subjects protocols.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.

• Occasional evenings and weekends may be required.

• Must be willing to work with human specimens including blood.

• Must be willing to work with biological and chemical hazards, including human-derived cells and BSL-2 respiratory viruses (e.g., RSV).

• Must be willing and able to maintain time-sensitive cell and organoid cultures.

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: $68,466 - $110,142 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: $32.79 - $52.75

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).