Current UC San Diego Health employees who apply by 03/14/2022 will have priority consideration for this position. Recruiters will refer qualified internal candidates after the first 7 days of the job posting. All qualified external applicants and additional internal applicants who apply after the priority date may have further consideration pending the results of the initial review.

UCSD Layoff from Career Appointment: Apply by 3/09/2023 for consideration with preference for rehire. All layoff applicants should contact their Employment Advisor.

Special Selection Applicants: Apply by 3/21/2023. Eligible Special Selection clients should contact their Disability Counselor for assistance.

The Department of Pediatrics is one of the largest departments within the School of Medicine with approximately 250 Faculty, 127 postdoctoral fellows (both MDs and PhDs) along with over 320 support staff (not including hospital staff). In addition, the Department has 68 clinical residents distributed across the Divisions. The missions of research, education and patient care are intertwined, and are integral to the goals of the department.

The Department manages a university-affiliated children's health system with the physicians and leadership of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), Rady Children's Hospital, and Rady Children's Specialists of San Diego, a Medical Practice Foundation, unifying pediatric patient care, research, education and community service programs.

Under the supervision of the Principal Investigator, the Metagenomics Team Lead collaborates with senior management and outside research groups to ensure that Return to Learn (RTL) SARS-CoV-2 genetic screening and Next-Generation sequencing performance targets are met.

The incumbent is responsible for the overall management of the RTL sewage sample processing team including efficient project operation, logistics, organization, inventory, and waste management. Delegates tasks to other SRAs in wastewater group as needed. Orders reagents and consumables through Oracle Cloud Financials, liaising with vendors and financial administrators to secure cost-effective purchases. Communicates with vendor representatives and field service engineers to obtain regular equipment maintenance and repair, including repair of Next-Generation Sequencers. Manages inventory of collected environmental samples, tracks sample location, and prepares sample metadata files for upload to Laboratory Information System (LIMS) databases. Tags and schedules all laboratory waste for pick-up using UCSD’s EH&S Online Waste Tag Program (OTP).

The Metagenomics Team Lead leads integration and development of new technologies into lab, planning new project workflows, creating efficiency tools, and allocating staff to projects accordingly. Trains other Staff Research Associates, undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows on laboratory standard operating procedures (SOPs) and safety measures for RT-qPCR, shotgun metagenomics, shotgun metatranscriptomics, rRNA amplicon sequencing, and other high-throughput molecular and microbiological techniques. Stays up to date on relevant research and performs literature search to help guide development of high-throughput projects. Operates, optimizes, and troubleshoots new machinery and protocols such as automated liquid handlers, thermocyclers, extraction robots, electrophoresis equipment, and other high-throughput automated sample processors. Writes SOPs and creates data reporting tools using word processing software, Excel, Python, JavaScript, VBA, Bash, and existing bioinformatics tools. Reports and analyzes data in Excel, Jupyter Notebooks, Google Sheets, and EXCITE-Seq LIMS database.

The incumbent must have strong communication skills and be available to work nights and weekends as needed per the demands of the project.

• Theoretical and practical knowledge of cellular, molecular and genetic biology, with demonstrated ability to perform independent scientific inquiry as typically attained by a Bachelors degree, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Organizational skills to order and maintain lab equipment and supplies.

• Experience with biology techniques such as PCR, gel electrophoresis, sequence analysis, RT-qPCR, DNA/RNA isolation, and sequencing.

• Micropipetting and dilutions experience.

• Knowledge and experience in liquid handling automation and ability to develop validated protocols.

• Ability to implement and troubleshoot protocols developed for high-throughput sequencing pipeline. Experience writing/editing protocols and manuscripts.

• Demonstrated experience with database management of clones/samples, including data entry, manipulation and creation of data reports.

• Experience and/or willingness to work in a BSL2+ laboratory processing SARS-CoV-2 positive wastewater and fecal samples.

• Experience working with computer applications, such as word processing, spreadsheets, etc. Prior programming knowledge preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to follow university Environmental Health and Safety requirements. Experienced in working and maintaining a sterile environment.

• Enthusiasm for learning and a genuine interest in scientific research. Willingness and ability to learn new skills, research methods, and scientific principles.

• Computer skills using a Macintosh.

• Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training preferred.

• Prior project management experience.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.

• Incumbent must be available to work 8AM - 8PM, Monday-Sunday as needed.

• Willing to work in a laboratory that collects, processes, stores, and assays biohazardous body fluids including SARS-CoV-2 contaminated wastewater.

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: $56,564 - $90,995 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: $27.09 - $43.58

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

Job offer is contingent on successful engagement in the UC COVID-19 Vaccination program (fully vaccinated with documented proof or approved exception/deferral).

If applicable, life-support certifications (BLS, NRP, ACLS, etc.) must include hands-on practice and in-person skills assessment; online-only certification is not acceptable.

UC San Diego Health Sciences is comprised of our School of Medicine, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, and our Student Health and Well-Being Department. We have long been at the forefront of translational - or "bench-to-bedside" - research, transforming patient care through discovery and innovation leading to new drugs and technologies. Translational research is carried out every day in the hundreds of clinical trials of promising new therapies offered through UC San Diego Health, and in the drive of our researchers and clinician-scientists who are committed to having a significant impact on patient care. We invite you to join our team!

Applications/Resumes are accepted for current job openings only. For full consideration on any job, applications must be received prior to the initial closing date. If a job has an extended deadline, applications/resumes will be considered during the extension period; however, a job may be filled before the extended date is reached.

To foster the best possible working and learning environment, UC San Diego strives to cultivate a rich and diverse environment, inclusive and supportive of all students, faculty, staff and visitors. For more information, please visit UC San Diego Principles of Community .

UC San Diego Health is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, gender identity or sexual orientation. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://www-hr.ucsd.edu/saa/nondiscr.html

UC San Diego is a smoke and tobacco free environment. Please visit smokefree.ucsd.edu for more information.

UC San Diego Health maintains a marijuana and drug free environment. Employees may be subject to drug screening.