University of California, San Diego Looking for 116679 – Muscle Physiology Research Associate Full Time

UCSD Layoff from Career Appointment: Apply by 05/31/2022 for consideration with preference for rehire.
All layoff applicants should contact their Employment Advisor.

Special Selection Applicants: Apply by 06/09/2022. Eligible
Special Selection clients should contact their Disability Counselor for assistance.

Depending on the experience of the
selected candidate, this position will be hired at the SRA 3 or SRA 4 level.

DESCRIPTION

The
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is a vibrant and growing Orthopaedic Surgery Department of 48 full-time faculty and 50 voluntary faculty,
4 physicians on MSP contracts, 32 trainees, and 34 staff that supports and participates in the academic, clinical, and research mission of
UC San Diego. The Department generates over $12M in clinical revenue, and $5M (NIH & other) in research grants and contracts, with total
annual expenditures exceeding $30M. The Department is a comprehensive orthopaedic group located in San Diego that offers a full spectrum of
musculoskeletal clinical care, specializing in foot and ankle, hand, joint reconstruction, physical medicine and rehabilitation, spine,
sports, and trauma. Research expertise includes advancements in muscle metabolism and physiology, neuromuscular bioengineering,
intervertebral disc, and musculoskeletal physiology and epidemiology.

Under general supervision, the Research Associate will be
responsible for undertaking research projects to study skeletal muscle disease and its role in joint diseases impacting human health. The
research associate will work with the principal investigator to make significant independent contributions to designing experiments,
performing experiments, analyzing data, presenting data in meetings, coordinating studies with collaborators, preparing data for
presentations, grant or manuscripts. The Research Associate is also responsible for laboratory management and overseeing maintenance of the
mouse, rat, and rabbit colonies. Conduct a wide variety of standard and non-standard specialized procedures with special emphasis in muscle
physiology/biology (histology, biochemistry, immunohistochemistry, protein assays, biochemistry and mechanics) and animal surgery
(anesthesia, surgical planning, handling, post-operative care).

Standard procedures will be conducted/taught independently and may
need to be independently modified to meet the needs of individual project. Inform lab members regarding training courses relevant to
biosafety, animal welfare and new techniques. Responsible for proper installation, operation and maintenance of laboratory and field
instruments and specialized equipment. Schedule lab meeting, organize and keep records of all reagents in freezers, refrigerators and liquid
nitrogen tank. Maintain laboratory environmental health and safety activities, including chemical waste and biological waste disposal.
Provides training, and guidance to lab technicians, or students performing standard procedures.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Theoretical knowledge of biology, microbiology, or related field typically acquired through formal education at the
  collegiate level and/or comparable experience.
• Knowledge of basic laboratory safety requirements.
• Experience and ability to
  perform standard and non-standard techniques related to human muscle architecture and animal muscle architecture.
• Proven skill in
  the operation and maintenance of various lab equipment such as confocal and quantitative fluorescent microscopes, centrifuges,
  spectrophotometers, and scintillation counter.
• Proven ability to provide significant independent contribution and ideas and
  implement innovative ideas/techniques research projects.
• Demonstrated skill in accurate record keeping and ability to organize,
  analyze, and calculate data. Knowledge in basic math for maintaining ledgers, income and expenditures reports.
• Knowledge of
  radiation safety and biosafety techniques and practices. Experience to work with chemical, radioisotope, and biological hazards and to
  recognize safety problems.
• Effective and diplomatic oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with
  the operation of a personal computer and software application, such as Access, MS Word and Excel. Knowledge to work with and learn new
  software for analysis
• Ability to read, comprehend and discuss research materials.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Skill to work with animals, as well as animal and human tissues; tissue trimming and histology analysis, and knowledge in
  necropsy. Knowledge to care for and handle small lab animals (mice, rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits) and to administer medications and
  anesthesia to perform major survival and terminal surgeries, phlebotomy and minor surgical procedures on animals, euthanize small laboratory
  animals. Familiarity with the writing of Animal Subjects protocols and with the surgical microscope and surgical
  procedures.
• Knowledge of UCSD/EH&S procedures for laboratory safety.
• Knowledge of EH&S regulations and methods for handling,
  cleanup and waste disposal.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Must be able to work in an animal-related research
  environment.
• Must be able to work safely with lab chemicals and biohazardous chemicals.
• Flexible work schedule required.
  Willingness and ability to work occasional evenings and/weekends as required by the needs to the research project(s).