Staff Research Associate I - 141573

UC San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is growing in the diverse areas of professional educational programs, cutting-edge research, and pharmacy services. Research areas specific to this position posting include the spectrum of drug development, drug discovery, pharmacology in disease models, toxicology, drug delivery, and pharmacy practices including pharmacoeconomics, pharmacogenomics, and health systems. The school is committed to offering a dynamic learning environment and growing opportunities to its talented and dedicated employees.

Under supervision, the Staff Research Associate I assist senior researchers with preparing samples for cell sorting and selection of nanobody binders selected on the cell surface of mammalian or other cell types. We have developed protocols in the laboratory for sorting bacteria as well as yeast and mammalian cells and analyzing binding affinities/specificities of surface-expressed antibodies using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and cell analyzer.

• Theoretical knowledge of chemistry or related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Ability to perform basic analytical chemistry lab experiments such as preparation of solutions and reagents according to research project needs.

• Skill in working in a fast-paced research laboratory with deadlines for research results for grant proposals, manuscripts, and presentations at scientific meetings.

• Communication skills to communicate in person, by phone, and in writing to diverse groups of persons who are laboratory staff, students, administrative staff, and academic faculty.

• Ability to maintain inventories of laboratory reagents, solvents, glassware, and related items.

• Ability to use computer software for large equipment, internet, word processing, scientific graphics, literature searches, and drawing chemical structures.

• Ability to learn new analytical chemical techniques and adapt them to ongoing research projects.

• Ability to provide oral presentation and explanation of research methods and results.

• Ability to keep detailed and understandable records of experimental procedures, results, and evaluation of research results.

• Ability to organize experiments with controls to make progress on several related projects.

• Ability to make improvements on existing procedures that require trouble-shooting.

• Proven hands-on experience with recombinant protein expression, microbial culture, large-scale fermentation, cell lysis, protein purification, biochemical characterization, protein crystallization, crystal optimization, X-ray diffraction data collection, and crystallographic analysis.

• Must have a prior knowledge in cell sorting and analysis as well as protein purification for antibody production and testing.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.

• Willing to work some nights and weekends, depending on research need.

• Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs.