DESCRIPTION

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry strives to be a top-ranked and recognized leader in the chemical and biochemical sciences through transformative research and impactful educational programs. We are committed to excellence in teaching and mentoring excellence and supporting students and postdoctoral researchers in safe and inclusive environments as they prepare to become leaders in science and society. We value collegiality, equity and diversity with the Department, and promote a culture of collaboration and transparency.

We aim to enhance our impact in local and global communities through partnerships with other educators, industry, government and professional societies. Chemistry and Biochemistry is one of the largest and most complex departments on campus.

The department’s organization is divided among three major academic sections each with its own leadership representation under the Department Chair: Physical, Analytical & Environmental (PAE); Biochemistry & Biophysics (BB); and finally Synthesis, Materials and Chemical Biology (SMCB). The department is comprised of 75 ladder rank faculty, and additional 10 in various instructional titles and ~150 in academic research titles and postdoctoral scholars. The department is comprised of 90 career staff; ~60 temporary or student staff, and 480 Master’s and Ph.D. students. Undergraduate students majoring in chemistry number greater than 1,700, and total undergraduate and graduate annual course enrollments exceed 23,000.

The department manages three major NIH training grants, and one Department of Education training grant, which fund graduate and postdoctoral students across UCSD departments/disciplines as well as off campus research organizations. The department currently has more than 120 awards from federal, state and private sources for approximately $20 million per annum in extramural funding and $46 million in total annual expenditures.

This is a non-research related position working with a team of laboratory staff to prepare materials for the Undergraduate Teaching Laboratories in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. Under general supervision of the Instructional Labs Supervisor and working closely with Faculty Instructor, provides sole technical support for designated undergraduate lab classes.

The research associate works independently to ensure the department teaching laboratory courses run in a safe and smooth manner. Responsible for keeping teaching laboratories stocked with all of the chemicals and other necessary supplies required so students can perform their scheduled experiments on time. Responsible for training faculty and teaching assistants on analytical instruments and experimental set-ups. Responsible for the operation and management of the teaching labs, including but not limited to: consulting on the purchases of new instrumentation; training student workers, developing new experiments and curriculum, running various equipment; supervising the chemistry stockroom, requesting repairs, ensuring the labs are in safe working condition, and promoting an attitude of practicing chemistry safely.

• Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends, depending on the quarter's schedule of classes. Work schedule may change from quarter to quarter, and occasional overtime may be required.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Proven work experience in an academic institution or scientific environment.

• Experience in demonstrating experimental setups and procedures to groups of people with various laboratory and science backgrounds.

• Skills to adapt research laboratory procedures to a teaching lab level. Adjust procedures to student teaching lab situations, identify possible troublesome steps and propose solutions to instructor, work out solutions to problems and streamline procedures.

• Ability to run complex laboratory instrumentation such as programmable gas chromatographs, NMR, FT-IR, UV-visible, and GC-Mass Spectroscopy Instruments. Must be able to troubleshoot and perform minor repairs and maintenance.

• Knowledge and skills to do library research and extrapolate techniques related to various chemistry curriculums; skill to enhance course instruction.

• FPLC/HPLC knowledge

• Ability to teach students and teaching assistants how to operate complex instrumentation.

• Knowledge of laboratory safety rules and regulations, MSDSs, and laboratory safety precautions, including: safe handling, storage and disposal of chemicals, radioisotopes, biologicals, the use of lab safety equipment; familiarity with the campus safety procedures. Willingness and ability to keep safety training current and consistent with research involvement.

• Proven ability to perform standard lab calculations necessary to prepare solutions of specific concentrations (molarity, percentage etc.).

• Demonstrated skill to measure and weigh chemicals and solutions with a high degree of accuracy.

• Knowledge of proper handling and usage of chemicals. Knowledge of stoichiometry and ability to formulate chemical preparations. Ability to read chemical symbols and formulas. Knowledge of mathematics through calculus. Working knowledge of organic, inorganic and physical chemistry.

• Strong communication skills and excellent interpersonal skills to communicate effectively one-on-one or in group settings, taking into account differences in social, cultural, professional, and educational backgrounds. Ability to interact effectively with faculty, staff, graduate, and undergraduate students. Must manage people with patience, diplomacy, and tact. Ability to work closely and to coordinate effectively with other departmental and campus staff.

• Demonstrated experience with a wide range of computer software including databases, spreadsheets, word processing, World Wide Web, and email programs to correspond, create reports and manipulate data. Willingness and ability to update and increase computer skills and knowledge as needed.

• Skills to supervise and train student workers and other lab staff as necessary.

• Ability to work independently, exercising initative and good judgment. Must organize/prioritize work to accomplish duties to meet weekly deadlines without supervision.

• Demonstrated experience to proactively meet multiple deadlines, adjusting priorities and organizing workload.

• Skill to read and understand equipment manuals to troubleshoot malfunctions in various lab instruments. Ability to perform simple repairs, such as replacing fuses, bulbs, adjusting moving parts, soldering connectors, etc.

• Ability to evaluate emergency situations including: chemical spills; required evacuations; potential fire or explosion hazards; toxic, corrosive, or reactive hazards; and when to administer first aid.

• Demonstrated understanding of the importance of ensuring an equitable, inclusive, and diverse working environment, with the ability to work as a part of a diverse and collaborative team. Demonstrated competency and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

• Willingness and demonstrated ability to embrace and consistently uphold the principles of community for a collaborative work environment.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Background Check required.