R and D Specialist - PEDIATRICS - 141313

Department of Pediatrics is one of the largest departments within the UCSD School of Medicine with comprehensive clinical programs, extensive basic science and clinical research, and diverse educational opportunities for students, residents and fellows. The internationally renowned faculty play a major role in medical and graduate student training, providing educationaland programmatic offerings that span several disciplines and provide diversity to meet the interests of a broad spectrum of students and scholars. More than one hundred trainees at the graduate student and postdoctoral level, as well as more than 300 professional, research and administrative staff who along with the department administrators interact closely with thefaculty. The diverse mix of ages, backgrounds, and talents creates a robust work environment with challenging career opportunities and a commitment to continued growth potential. We constantly seek to recruit highly motivated, technologically advanced and interested individuals to become a part of our dynamic cutting-edge research, clinical, and educational environment.

Under general supervision, this position involves applying expertise in molecular biology and genomics, experience with project coordination and collaboration with faculty and staff on complex projects including mentorship of lab assistants and staff research associates. The candidate must be comfortable with having primary responsibility for leading research anddevelopment efforts in the Knight Lab. The successful candidate with independently design and oversee lab staff to implement workflows for: extraction of nucleic acids; and qPCR or other nucleic acid detection and methods, including next-generation sequencing methods. The individual will collaborate with wet-bench and computational staff in analysis and interpretation ofdata generated through these processes, which will be used to: troubleshoot existing processes; develop and optimize new processes; identify trends and associations. The candidate will be expected to maintain familiarity with current relevant scientific literature. Advanced knowledge of subject and good working relationships with key thought leaders in the field will be a majorasset in this position. Administrative responsibilities to include: writing of Standard Operating Procedures; overseeing technical review of results, report generation, supply inventories, and equipment operations and maintenance.

Duties and Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to: independently developing novel strategies for specialized extraction methods to maintain DNA integrity; independently developing novel strategies for highly accurate and scalable whole genome sequencing; collaboration with informatics computational biologists to design sample and data management andanalysis workflows; mentorship of technical staff on new methods, troubleshooting, equipment maintenance and repair, inventory, etc.; participation in manuscript preparation and grant writing; presentation of results at local/national/international conferences. Performs other duties as assigned.

• Advanced theoretical knowledge of molecular and cellular biology, biology, or closely related field, as typically attained by an advanced degree, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Demonstrated working knowledge and expertise in a variety of molecular assays.

• Demonstrated experience in making original contributions to manuscript preparation and grant writing.

• Demonstrated experience in making significant independent contributions to research designs of various ongoing research projects.

• Acute attention to detail, resourceful, and capable of handling the changing needs of the research lab.

• Demonstrated skill in problem solving, analytical and critical thinking, and effective planning and organization.

• Excellent computer and data management skills.

• Excellent experience using microscopy to perform experiments.

• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as a team player, and the ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.

• Willingness and ability to work with biohazardous materials.

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with numerous types of laboratory equipment related to uses, maintenance, and repair.

• Experience learning new laboratory procedures quickly.

• Demonstrated experience and demonstrated ability working with complicated molecular cloning.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.

• Occasional evenings and weekends may be required.

• Must be willing to work with hazardous materials.