DESCRIPTION

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, incumbent will work as a Staff Research Associate 1 as part of a Department of Psychiatry research laboratory focused on neural circuitry and neurochemistry underlying motivated behavior, decision making, and psychiatric disorders including depression, schizophrenia, and substance use, as well as neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's Disease. The researcher will work closely with live rodents as experimental subjects and assist in performing techniques that include brain surgeries, behavioral training and analyses, in vivo recordings, optogenetics and pharmacological manipulations, molecular biology, histology and microscopy image analysis, building behavioral testing and recording devices, and programming behavioral tasks and data analysis code. Performs other related functions as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Theoretical knowledge in neuroscience (or related), or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Solid organizational skills combined with proven ability to prepare and maintain clear and accurate laboratory records, files, and notebooks. Proven ability to read basic graphs and interpret and analyze data.

• Excellent interpersonal skills with strong, demonstrated ability to communicate orally and in writing. Possess skills of tact, poise, diplomacy, confidentiality and flexibility in a lab environment that interacts with a diverse group of research and technical personnel and other laboratories. Ability and willingness to work in a team framework in conjunction with principles of community with other lab personnel/staff, faculty and students.

• Sensitivity to the needs of caged laboratory animals in compliance with AAALAC guidelines.

• Solid computer skills using MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email system, and a variety of web-based programs. Demonstrated ability to create and maintain databases, perform standard computer tasks, learn new programs/applications with minimal direction. Demonstrated commitment to update/maintain technology skills with relevant computer software.

• Demonstrated experience with coding for data analysis (e.g., python, Matlab, R, or similar) and basic statistical knowledge.

• Experienced and comfortable handling mice.

• Proven ability to work collaboratively on a research project and learn new experimental methods as required.

• Knowledge of brain anatomy, neural circuit function, neurobiology, animal learning and behavior.

• Experience with mouse colony management (genetics and maintenance of mouse lines) including genotyping, husbandry methods, breeding, weaning, tail clipping of offspring, basic surgical procedures, behavioral measurements, injections/dosing, euthanasia, and maintenance of water system (cage and water bottles) and food restriction as needed.

• Experience making basic chemical solutions. Experience working safely with potentially hazardous viral gene-transfer vectors, bacteria (for cloning), lab chemicals, and dosing for pharmacological injections.

• Demonstrated experience with general lab maintenance including maintaining stocks of essential supplies and reagents, purchasing lab supplies, and ensuring lab is clean/organized and lab equipment is running efficiently.

• Working knowledge of basic lab operations, procedures and proper use and maintenance of lab equipment. Knowledge of basic lab safety requirements as well as EH&S regulations for handling, clean-up, storage, and disposal of biohazardous substances.

• Experience using and conceptual understanding of fluorescent biosensor imaging, electrophysiological, or electrochemical recordings in vivo or in brain slices. Experience with and conceptual understanding of behavioral pharmacology and optogenetics.

• Experience performing routine histochemical staining and immunohistochemistry and troubleshooting new protocols. Experience preparing and analyzing tissue samples for histology (e.g. perfusion, tissue dissection, sectioning, immunofluorescence, microscopy).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A Bachelor’s degree plus two years of laboratory experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Experience and interest in designing and independently building small electronic devices (e.g., Arduino or similar), 3D printing, programming behavioral tasks, and interfacing with multimodal recordings (e.g., real-time video tracking, operant behavior, closed-loop optogenetics, in vivo imaging or electrophysiology). Experience with deep-learning video analysis a plus (e.g. DeepLabCut, SLEAP, or similar).

• Experience performing molecular biology techniques including PCR, DNA preparation/extraction, PCR genotyping, immunoblotting analysis of protein, bacterial transformation, plasmid isolation, restriction digest, ligation, and Western Blot.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.

• Must be willing and able to work in an animal research work environment.

• Must be punctual with the ability to maintain regular hours, with the flexibility and willingness to work brief periods on weekends as needed (e.g., for post-operative monitoring, weighing and feeding animals on restriction for ongoing experiments).