Staff Research Associate 2

SRA 2 (009612)

UCPath Position ID: TBD_700

Position Description History/Status

Approved Date:

5/20/2024 6:17:23 PM

Date Last Edited:

5/20/2024 6:17:19 PM

Last Action Effective Date:

Organization Details

Business Unit (Location):

LACMP

Organization Code:

1300O

Organization:

LETTERS AND SCIENCE                    

Division Code:

1330D

Division:

L&S LIFE SCIENCES                      

Department:

084500 - INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY & PHYSIOLOGY

Position Details

UCPath Position Number:

TBD_700

Position Description ID

173069

UC Payroll Title:

SRA 2 (009612)

Personnel Program

Professional and Support Staff (PSS)

Salary Grade:

STEPS

Job Code FLSA:

Exempt

Union Code (Collective Bargaining Unit):

RX: Research Support Professionals

Employee Relations Code:

E: All Others - Not Confidential

Employee Class (Appt Type):

2 - Staff: Career

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)

1

SUPERVISION

UCPath Reports to Position Number:

40051269

Reports to Payroll Title:

PROF-AY

UCPath Department Head Position Number:

40045582

Department Head Payroll Title:

Department Chair

GENERAL SUPERVISION - Indicates that the incumbent develops procedures for performance of variety of duties; or performs complex duties within established policy guidelines.

POSITION SUMMARY

The incumbent works under the direct supervision of the Principal Investigator. The incumbent will manage and maintain the laboratory including lab supplies, repairs, animal husbandry, protocols, safety, and certifications for personnel. Incumbent will be in charge of surgeries and preparations of surgical tools and instrumentation, and training others on surgical techniques.

Incumbent will collect publication quality data in the form of electrophysiological recordings and both sleep and behavioral analyses, pharmacological responses and histological images with experimental animals and protocols. Incumbent will also assist the PI and other lab personnel with characterizing estrous cycle staging via swabbing, plating, and image analysis.

Incumbent will process sleep recordings for state scoring, working closely with members of the lab to develop and complete projects. She/he should have some previous experience with sleep recording and scoring methodologies, approaches, and technologies, including EEG/EMG signal recordings and processing protocols. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to work with some supervision on data from mice and rats that require attention to electrode placements and background knowledge on the current literature.

S/he will also be responsible for upkeep and organization of lab computer files, and keep accurate and current records of all lab work in a laboratory notebook. S/he will also work on projects for which sleep scoring is essential: studies of substance use disorder, post-traumatic stress, estrous cycle influences in memory consolidation during sleep, and sleep for insight. Previous experience working with sleep and learning in team is desirable.

Research in the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology (IBP) is dedicated to explaining the function of complex biological systems, in cells, organs, and individuals. The recent rapid advances in molecular and cell biology and genetics, including the sequencing of numerous genomes, has provided an unprecedented opportunity to use this new information to understand how the genes interact to produce emergent phenotypes in complex systems.

Research

Responsibilities

A1. Prepare basic chemical stocks and solutions for the lab. (E) A2. Perform swabbing and analyze histological samples. (E) A3. Prepare instruments for surgical implantation. (E) A4. Supervise undergraduates who perform general lab support tasks. (E) A5. Perform surgeries and perfusions. (E) A6. Connect, habituate and record behavioral and electrophysiological data from animals. (E) A7. Perform drug injections, stress enhanced fear learning, fear conditioning, extinction, and extinction recall studies. (E) A8. Manage data transfer and backup. (E) A9. Maintain organization of programs and data files, and distribute the scoring program to interested parties (E)

80%

Laboratory Management

B1. Order lab supplies. (E) B2. Organize and maintain an inventory of all supplies and chemicals in the lab. (E) B3. Serve as chemical safety officer; handle chemical disposal. (E) B4. Serve as training officer for animal handling (E) B5. Maintain lab computers (E) B6. Oversee daily lab sleep scoring (E) B7. Assist students and technicians in sleep scoring tasks (E)

20%

•

Performs other duties as assigned.

•

Complies with all policies and standards.

•

Complies with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Principles of Community.

•

This position description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's Degree

biological science and basic familiarity with neuroscience or equivalent experience/training

Required

Demonstrated experience in programming in MATLAB and other languages.

Required

Demonstrated experience in managing several tasks, keeping all on track and organized.

Required

Experience with following and enforcing guidelines relating to laboratory safety

Required

Ability to use standard computer programming tools and databases.

Required

Ability to maintain a laboratory record containing clear well-organized summaries of experiments and results.

Required

Ability to maintain cooperative working relationships

Required

Skill in communicating problems and information in a timely and critical manner.

Required

Ability to maintain and use in-house databases

Required

Ability to conduct independent work on mice and rat brains

Required

Ability to teach others in lab, particularly for sleep scoring and analyses

Required

Knowledge of University guidelines relating to biological safety.

Required

Excellent organizational skills and ability to keep accurate records of animal inventory, chemical and plasmid stocks, and laboratory supplies.

Required

Ability to work independently, supervise others, and follow through with tasks.

Required

Ability to use standard computer programming tools and databases.

Required

Ability to maintain a laboratory record containing clear well-organizedsummaries of experiments and results

Required

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.

Live Scan Background Check: A Live Scan background check must be completed prior to the start of employment.

Age Requirement: Candidate(s) must be 18 years or older to be eligible to be hired.

CANRA: The position is designated as a mandatory reporter under CANRA. The employee must sign the "Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse".

Clery Act: The position is a designated CSA (Campus Security Authority) under Clery Act requirements.

LOCATION AND PHYSICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, MENTAL (PEM) REQUIREMENTS

Environment and Work Location Information

Environment Type:

Non-Clinical Setting

Location Setting:

Campus

Location:

Standing/Walking

X

Sitting

X

Bending/Stooping

X

X

Squatting/Kneeling

X

Climbing

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 0-25 lbs

X

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 26-50 lbs

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull over 50 lbs

X

Physical requirements other

X

Chemicals, dust, gases, or fumes

X

X

Loud noise levels

X

Marked changes in humidity or temperature

X

Microwave/Radiation

X

X

Operating motor vehicles and/or equipment

X

Exposures other

X

Sustained attention and concentration

X

X

Complex problem solving/reasoning

X

X

Ability to organize & prioritize

X

X

Communication skills

X

X

Numerical skills

X

X

Mental demands other

X

X

Classification 1: Position in which required tasks routinely involve a potential for mucous membrane or skin contact with blood, body fluids or tissues, potential spills, and splashes. Use of appropriate measures is required for every employee in this position.