Laboratory Assistant I - 137201

UCSD Department of Psychiatry is one of the most innovative and productive academic departments in the country, offering challenging career opportunities in the diverse areas of advanced educational programs, cutting-edge research, and state-of-the art clinical services. The department is committed to offering a dynamic learning environment and growing opportunities to its talented and dedicated employees.

Under supervision, the incumbent will be working as a Laboratory Assistant in the Department of Psychiatry. The incumbent will assist with experiments involving heroin self-administration in rats, keep journals and publication files up to date, assist in maintaining lab cleanliness, and assist the supervisor with other tasks as required. Assist with processing tissue for image analysis to support investigation of changes in neuronal connectivity (e.g., transcardial perfusions, sectioning, IHC, mounting slides), producing consistent detailed results analyzing tissue via imaging software (NIS Elements - Nikon) and testing rat studies using behavioral assays including elevated plus maze and von Frey filaments, as well as tissue collection via cardiac perfusion. Assist with caring for the rat colony through animal husbandry to support all laboratory research. Assist with other project and miscellaneous duties as required.

• Graduation from high school or a General Education Diploma and one year of laboratory experience or two years of college including courses in the natural, physical or social sciences; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.

• General laboratory experience.

• Experience handling rats.

• Demonstrated organizational and record-keeping skills. Experience with filing, alphabetizing and clerical tasks.

• Ability to run updates and install a variety of different software platforms with minimal supervision (Systat, Sigmaplot, SPSS, End Note, BMDP, Adobe, Mozilla, etc.).

• Must be able to maintain confidentiality.

• Proficiency in MS Office.

• Ability to work under own initiative as well as to work meticulously under close direction.

• Ability to resolve computer equipment malfunctions.

• Good communication skills.

• Ability to maintain lab equipment by performing the following tasks: set-up, operation, test, calibrate, and clean used equipment, including walk-in incubator, environment chambers, colony counters, microscopes, micro centrifuges, hi-speed centrifugation, ultra-centrifugation, gyratory water baths, scintillation counters, autoclaves, spectrophotometer, and audio-visual equipment.

• Experience to assist with caring for rat colonies through animal husbandry to support all laboratory research.

• Familiarity with behavioral models of drug self-administration.

• Experience with alcohol dependence models in rodents.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.

• Must be willing to euthanize mice and rats.

• Must be willing to work overtime, nights, and weekends if necessary.