Staff Research Associate 1

SRA 1 (009613)

UCPath Position ID: MI-DPT230100-JC009613-PD17194

Position Description History/Status

Approved Date:

3/4/2025 10:49:47 AM

Date Last Edited:

3/4/2025 10:49:43 AM

Last Action Effective Date:

Organization Details

Business Unit (Location):

LACMP

Organization Code:

1600O

Organization:

BASIC BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

Division Code:

1610D

Division:

BASIC BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES DIV

Department:

230100 - MICROBIOLOGY, IMMUNO & MOLECULAR GENETIC

Position Details

UCPath Position Number:

MI-DPT230100-JC009613-PD17194

Position Description ID

171941

UC Payroll Title:

SRA 1 (009613)

Personnel Program

Professional and Support Staff (PSS)

Salary Grade:

STEPS

Job Code FLSA:

Non-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:

40043149

Reports to Payroll Title:

Professor

UCPath Department Head Position Number:

40881053

Department Head Payroll Title:

CAO

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

POSITION SUMMARY

Under supervision of the PI and senior lab members, this technical position is for research involving projects including developing new immunotherapy against cancer, studying progression of epithelial cancer, and understanding dysregulated cell metabolism in cancer. Responsibilities include culture and maintenance of human cell lines, human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PMBCs), electroporation, transfection, and transduction. Basic molecular biology techniques that include PCR, DNA cloning, plasmid design and amplification. In collaboration with other lab members, design and execute in vitro and in vivo experiments. Must be able to collaborate with people in the lab as well as collaborators in other labs at UCLA and around the country. Short presentations at meetings including our lab group will be required. Supervise undergraduate lab helpers. Good record keeping is essential.

This position will be supervised by PI as well as senior members of the lab through formal and informal meetings. Attendance at multiple meetings per week is required. Work is assigned and reviewed by the PI based on current collaborative project needs. Incumbent completes on-going tasks following established laboratory procedures.

UCLA Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics (MIMG)

Basic Molecular and Cell Biology Research

A1. Maintaining and culturing human cell lines including both adherent and suspension cells.

A2. Performing basic molecular biology techniques, including cloning, plasmid design/amplification/construction, DNA/RNA enrichment and purification, protein collection, and western blot.

A3. Maintaining and culturing of common immune cells including human PBMCs.

A4. Basic cell engineering, including DNA transfection, lentiviral preparation, and lentiviral transduction.

A5. Design and execute in vitro and in vivo experiments.

50%

General Lab Duties

B1. Preparation of commo molecular biology and tissue culture reagents.

B2. Perform routine assays including maxiprep, ELISA, PCR.

B3. Preparation of commonly used buffers.

30%

Supervision of Undergraduate Researchers

C1. Supervision of undergraduate researchers including routine meetings with undergraduates, and teaching basic molecular biology skills such as DNA preparation and gel electrophoresis.

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

in Microbiology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry or related field; or equivalent education/training.

Required

One year

of relevant lab experience.

Preferred

Skill in sterile techniques used in tissue cultures and bacterial cultures.

Required

Comfort in BSL2 and BSL2+ facility and working with BSL2/BSL2+ agents and working with mice if necessary.

Required

Skill in purification of genomic DNA and RNA, generation of cDNA.

Required

Skill in priming and maintaining human immune cells.

Required

Preparation of various stock solutions for tissue culture and molecular biology techniques in the lab.

Required

Ability to organize ordering information, lab protocols, lab stock inventories of plasmids, cells, and bacterial stocks.

Required

Ability to oversee and assess work done by part time undergraduate student assistants.

Required

Communication skills (written, oral) to maintain lab protocols, notebooks, and to prepare and make short research presentations in lab meetings.

Required

Skill in prioritizing assignments to complete work in a timely manner with deadlines, fluctuating workloads, or last-minute changes.

Required

Skill in use of standard computer software (e.g. Microsoft office and google apps).

Required

Skill in conducting basic animal experiments.

Preferred

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

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

LOCATION AND PHYSICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, MENTAL (PEM) REQUIREMENTS

Environment and Work Location Information

Environment Type:

Non-Clinical Setting

Location Setting:

Campus

Location:

UCLA Campus

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.