Laboratory Assistant II

LAB AST 2 (009603)

UCPath Position ID: MI-DPT087500-JC009603-PD168141

Position Description History/Status

For Reference ONLY - PeopleAdmin JA Number:

1122401

Approved Date:

5/23/2024 9:10:58 PM

Date Last Edited:

5/23/2024 9:10:54 PM

Last Action Effective Date:

3/8/2024

Organization Details

Business Unit (Location):

LACMP

Organization Code:

1300O

Organization:

LETTERS AND SCIENCE                    

Division Code:

1330D

Division:

L&S LIFE SCIENCES                      

Department:

087500 - PSYCHOLOGY

Position Details

UCPath Position Number:

MI-DPT087500-JC009603-PD168141

Position Description ID

168141

UC Payroll Title:

LAB AST 2 (009603)

Personnel Program

Professional and Support Staff (PSS)

Salary Grade:

STEPS

Job Code FLSA:

Non-Exempt

Union Code (Collective Bargaining Unit):

TX: Technical

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:

40059602

Reports to Payroll Title:

PROF-AY

UCPath Department Head Position Number:

40041384

Department Head Payroll Title:

ADMIN MGR 2

SUPERVISION - Indicates that the incumbent performs a variety of routine duties within established policies and procedures or by referral to the supervisor’s guidelines.

N/A

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the direction and supervision of the Principal Investigator and senior lab personnel, the Lab Assistant will assist with routine laboratory maintenance, performance of established and clearly outlined lab tasks, animal care, and behavioral testing. The lab assistant will also assist with the reporting and regulatory compliance of lab operations following previously outlined templates and under the direction of the PI. Thus the lab assistant will be expected to contribute assistance to several different established, routine lab tasks that have clearly delineated procedures.

The UCLA Department of Psychology is an exceptional department known for its excellence in research, teaching, and service. With a distinguished faculty comprising more than 60 ladder rank members, it is one of the nation's top psychology departments. Its undergraduate program is the largest within the Division of Life Sciences and the UCLA College, with more than 4,700 undergraduate students enrolled across three majors: Psychology, Psychobiology, and Cognitive Science. The department also offers a comprehensive Ph.D. program with eight areas of study to approximately 200 enrolled graduate students.

Performance of Laboratory Procedures

A1. Work alongside senior lab members to assist them with experiments involving behavioral testing experiments of rodents. This involves routine tasks that include putting animals in and out of behavioral testing chambers and notating data from the computer screen in a lab notebook and on Excel. (E) A2. Under the direction and immediate supervision of senior lab members, manufacture of routine devices for experiments by following a provided protocol (E) A3. With immediate supervision, assist senior lab members with prescribed behavioral neuroscience tasks following a provided detailed protocol. (E) A4. Assist senior lab members with routine histological processing of tissue post-experimental based on specific, detailed, pre-established protocols. (E)

50%

Animal Care

B1 Assist senior lab members with animal care, including feeding and weighing rodents and recording information, and with routine post-operative care following stereotaxic surgery (E) B2 Maintain animal colony using prescribed protocols. (E)

20%

Laboratory Maintenance

C1. Assist in the organization and upkeep of laboratory supplies, workspace, and equipment in line with standards dictated by PI, and clearly delineated written protocols and templates (E) C2. Maintain established laboratory and biosafety safety and inspection records and protocols following templates provided by senior lab members C3. Regular examination of laboratory equipment and shared resources and reporting of any issues outline in template to PI (E) C4. Carry out routine lab caretaking tasks such as preparing solutions, washing glassware and maintaining lab cleanliness (E)

20%

Regulatory Compliance

D1. Assist PI with research lab compliance with all Animal Research Committee (ARC) as well as associated regulatory requirements following established templates and protocols (E)

10%

•

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

Psychology, Neuroscience, or related field, or equivalent experience/training.

Required

6-18 months

Experience handling and caring for rodents in a behavioral  Neuroscience lab, including basic familiarity to novice understanding of  rodent behavioral neuroscience.

Required

Basic knowledge of Microsoft applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and additional training will be provided.

Required

Basic to novice level understanding of histological procedures.

Required

Strong organizational skills.

Required

General awareness of, or willingness to learn animal, lab, and biosafety regulatory procedures.

Preferred

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.

LOCATION AND PHYSICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, MENTAL (PEM) REQUIREMENTS

Environment and Work Location Information

Environment Type:

Non-Clinical Setting

Location Setting:

Campus

Location:

UCLA Campus (Pritzker Hall)

Standing/Walking

X

X

Sitting

X

X

Bending/Stooping

X

X

Squatting/Kneeling

X

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

Operating motor vehicles and/or equipment

X

Exposures other

X

Sustained attention and concentration

X

X

Complex problem solving/reasoning

X

Ability to organize & prioritize

X

X

Communication skills

X

X

Numerical skills

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.