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 work as a Laboratory Assistant II assisting with conducting routine laboratory tests and experiments on rats and mice under the supervision of lab staff within the Department of Psychiatry. The incumbent will assist with preparing lab equipment and materials before experiments, disposing hazardous materials and waste properly, assist with basic data analyses and interpretation of experimental results, and collaborate with other lab members and participate in lab meetings and discussions. Keep journals and publication files up to date, assist in maintaining lab cleanliness, and assist with other project and miscellaneous tasks as required.

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

• Demonstrated experience handling rats and mice.

• Must be able to maintain confidentiality.

• Surgical knowledge of procedures for IV and IC in rats and mice.

• Demonstrated organizational and record-keeping skills.

• Demonstrated experience with filing, alphabetizing and clerical tasks.

• General laboratory experience.

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

• Proficiency in MS Office.

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

• Ability to resolve computer equipment malfunctions.

• Good communication skills.

• Proven 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 in assisting with caring for rat colonies through animal husbandry to support all laboratory research.

• Familiarity with behavioral models of drug self-administration, behavioral assays (EPM, open field, von frey).

• Ability to assist with reagent preparation, autoclaving, and ordering lab supplies.

• Proven ability to assist in the proper disposal of hazardous materials and waste.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.

• Must be willing to handle and euthanize rats and mice.

• Must be willing to work overtime, nights, and/or weekends if necessary for experimental purposes.