Senior Research Associate, Neurosciences - 140976

UC San Diego values and welcomes people from all backgrounds. If you are interested in being part of our team, possess the needed licensure and certifications, and feel that you have most of the qualifications and/or transferable skills for this role, we strongly encourage you to apply.

About the Role

The Department of Neurosciences is a leading clinical-academic department within the UCSD School of Medicine, comprised of more than 130 faculty members. The Department’s mission is to create synergies and define the ideas and programs that will transform the way our neurosciences community discovers, teaches, and cares for patients. We strive to conduct cutting-edge science and research and train the next generation of neurologists and researchers by fostering education at all levels and integrating the latest scientific and medical advances into the curriculum.

The Senior Research Associate manages and coordinates research efforts with collaborators both within and outside the laboratory. This role involves independently conceiving, planning, and conducting research projects based on reviews of scientific literature and recent advances in related fields, organizing and executing all techniques involved. You will contribute novel ideas of major methodological significance to research projects, design key experiments, and develop new techniques. Responsibilities include authoring or co-authoring scientific journal manuscripts and book chapters, contributing to grant writing, and directing and advising the work of technicians, students, and postdoctoral scholars to enable their successful participation in laboratory projects. You will also present findings at lab meetings and conferences and contribute to the regular functioning of the lab, including some administrative and maintenance tasks.

Responsibilities

• Independently conceive, plan, and conduct research projects based on scientific literature and recent advances.
• Contribute novel ideas of major methodological significance to research projects, design key experiments, and develop new techniques.
• Author or co-author scientific journal manuscripts and book chapters; contribute to grant writing.
• Direct and advise the work of technicians, students, and postdoctoral scholars, enabling their successful participation in laboratory projects.
• Present findings at lab meetings and conferences.
• Contribute to functions necessary for the regular operation of the lab, including administrative and maintenance tasks.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Advanced theoretical knowledge of virology, typically achieved by an advanced college degree and work experience.
• Advanced skill in experimental design and adaptation of methods to achieve results.
• Demonstrated experience integrating data from multiple sources to synthesize conclusions.
• Ability to read and abstract scientific articles and apply findings to experimental design.
• Experience providing technical work direction and training to students, post-docs, and technicians.
• Proven experience developing hypotheses, designing and conducting experiments, analyzing data, writing manuscripts, and publishing results in peer-reviewed journals, including interactions with reviewers and editors.
• Demonstrated experience working with collaborators at other universities on joint projects and working under milestone-driven projects, including report writing.
• Strong organizational skills, including laboratory record-keeping, budget analysis, and managing logistics.
• Demonstrated knowledge of lab safety rules.
• Proven experience contributing and implementing innovative ideas and techniques on complex, multidisciplinary research projects.
• Ability to read scientific papers and adapt knowledge and techniques from the literature to experimental systems.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including tact, diplomacy, and flexibility to work effectively with staff, researchers, and management in person, by phone, or via video conferencing.
• Proficiency in PC software applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Keynote, and Illustrator to produce reports, correspondence, graphs, and spreadsheets for data generation, tracking, and analysis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with UCSD regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Experience with UCSD lab safety protocols.
• Demonstrated experience in the official review of manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Special Conditions

• Must be willing to work with hazardous materials.
• Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs.
• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.

Pay

Annual pay range: $82,140.21 - $88,900.95 (prorated for 70% appointment). The full pay range is $82,140 - $132,198 annually (prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%). Hourly equivalent: $39.34 - $63.31. Factors determining compensation include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure, certifications, and other business and organizational needs.

Schedule

• Days, 8-hour shifts, Monday through Friday.
• Appointment type: Career, 70% time.