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Assistant Specialist - Integrative Biology

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Position overview

Position title: Assistant Specialist: Lab Manager
Salary range: Salary is commensurate with experience
Percent time: 100%
Anticipated start: May 2021

Position description

Departmental Overview:
The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute at the University of California, Berkeley, was established to integrate neuroscience faculty across the University. The broad goal is to use the power of diverse research approaches to address central questions in neuroscience.
The faculty of the Institute includes over 65 researchers with state-of-the-art laboratories from the Departments of Molecular and Cell Biology, Psychology, Physics, engineering and Integrative Biology.
The Kaufer lab is part of the Integrative biology department and the Neuroscience institute, and is studying how does the brain deal with perturbations like stress, Traumatic brain injury and aging, and what are the mechanisms underlying trajectories of resilience vs. vulnerability.  To address this, we are taking a multi-systems approach incorporating molecular, biochemical,
electrophysiological, and behavioral analyses in rat and mouse models.

Responsibilities:
This Assistant Specialist position will serve as the Lab Manager for the Kaufer lab.

Research:
• Carry out independent scientific work addressing neural plasticity.
• Advise students, postdocs and SRA I and oversee procedures including animal behavior, cell culture, and microscopy.
• Contribute to the drafting of manuscripts and generation of figures.
• Supervise work duties and ensure tasks are performed appropriately; post hiring requests, interview, help select and train staff.
• Manage the lab's mouse colony, including isolation of genomic DNA and genotyping cells by PCR.
• The Lab Manager will assist lab members with their experiments in molecular biology and animal work.
• The Lab Manager will perform cryosectioning, immunohistochemistry, PCR, cell cultures and rodent surgeries and behavior.

Lab Management:
Generally - Oversees and ensures that daily lab operations run smoothly, including manage purchasing, ordering supplies and repairs, organize and manage lab reagents.
• Serves as Human Resources liaison.
• Serves as Safety Coordinator.
• Manages work orders with other campus facilities for standard maintenance and repair work.
• Oversees computer technical needs and the purchase of new computer equipment and software.
• Manages and curate the cell line collection.
• Manages lab finances.
• Plans lab events and team building activities.
• Plans itinerary and other logistical needs for lab visitors.

Purchasing:
• General Lab Purchases - enter purchases on website and submit approvals
• Ensure adequate levels of all supplies are available
• Special Purchases - Obtaining quotes and completing sole source justifications
Safety Preparation and updates of Standard Operating Procedures and Biological Use Authorizations
• Draft all protocols and authorization paperwork
• Interact with staff of ACUC and EHS for finalizing protocols
• Safety Training of new hires and when additional training of lab members is requested.
• Lab Safety Inspection once a year,
• Communicate with EH&S, ACUC, OLAC about hazardous issue, inspections, training, addition and removal of lab members, help PI with updating the RUA, BUA and AUP
• Update SOPs and ensure everyone doing the relevant experiments had read and signed.
• Report new and recurring hazards to lab members during lab meeting

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

• Master's degree (or international equivalent degree) or enrolled in a Master's degree program (or international equivalent degree) at the time of application.

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

• Mater's degree (or international equivalent degree). Five years of working experience in a research lab.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with mouse handling, molecular biology and behavior techniques, and knowledge of lab safety procedures.
• Broad understanding of equipment and technologies used in Neuroscience research.
• Experience with mouse behavior testing
• Previous experience managing multiple projects in a supervisory/managerial role for a minimum of two years in a corporate or academic setting.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Cover Letter

  • Statement of Research (Optional)

  • Statement on Contributions to Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Statement on your contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion, including information about your understanding of these topics, your record of activities to date, and your specific plans and goals for advancing equity and inclusion if hired at Berkeley (for additional information go to https://ofew.berkeley.edu/recruitment/contributions-diversity).

Reference requirements
  • 3-5 required (contact information only)
Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF02957

Help contact: danielak@berkeley.edu

About UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The excellence of the institution requires an environment in which the diverse community of faculty, students, and staff are welcome and included. Successful candidates will demonstrate knowledge and skill related to ensuring equity and inclusion in the activities of their academic position (e.g., teaching, research, and service, as applicable).

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Job location

Berkeley, CA