Swiburne Lab Assistant (9602C), Molecular & Cell Biology - 53041 About Berkeley
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Departmental Overview
The Department of Molecular & Cell Biology (MCB) is home to undergraduate and graduate academic programs, as well as Faculty Research performed by faculty organized in five divisions: Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology Cell and Developmental Biology Genetics, Genomics and Development Immunology and Pathogenesis Neurobiology. The teaching and research activities of the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology (MCB) concern the molecular structures and processes of cellular life and their roles in the function, reproduction, and development of living organisms. This agenda covers a broad range of specialized disciplines, including biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology, structural biology, genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, cell biology, developmental biology, tumor biology, microbiology, immunology, pathogenesis and neurobiology. The types of living organisms from which the departmental faculty draws its working materials are as diverse as its disciplinary specializations, ranging from viruses and microbes through plants, roundworms, annelids, arthropods, and mollusks to fish, amphibia, and mammals. The faculty of the department is organized into five divisions: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Cell and Developmental Biology; Genetics, Genomics and Development; Neurobiology; and Immunology and Pathogenesis. The Departments of Molecular and Cell Biology (MCB) and Integrative Biology (IB) together are among the largest academic departments at UC Berkeley. By several measures (including number of faculty and students, budget, and assigned square feet), these departments are larger than many UCB colleges and schools. The two departments represent over 186 faculty FTE (including Adjuncts, Professors of the Graduate School, active emeriti and 15 HHMI professors); 150 postdocs and other research positions; 375 graduate students; 80 department staff members; and 8 recharge centers. Financial resources include approximately $51M in annual extramural funding (which accounts for over half of the total sponsored research awards in the College of Letters & Science) and over $46M other fund sources. The department has 1,800 declared undergraduate majors (the largest majors on the Berkeley campus) and a total annual enrollment in classes of ~20,000. Department personnel are currently housed in seven buildings located in three widely separated parts of the campus.
The position offered is for a lab assistant, responsible for ordering, safety, and maintenance of instruments (various microscopes), as well as strain collections, production, and databases. This will involve growing and maintaining bacterial and zebrafish cultures, and understanding basic molecular and imaging techniques. The hired person will additionally supervise and take part in preparation of reagents, and in training of newcomers to the lab.
Application Review Date
The First Review Date for this job is: May 22, 2023
Responsibilities
Maintain strain collections and databases, involving growing and maintaining bacterial and zebrafish cultures; generate new strains using standard zebrafish protocols and PCR screening. Maintain and help running experiments on various microscopes. Initiate mentoring of newcomers to the lab. Introduce them to basic protocols, available resources, and lab etiquette. Serve as lab representative responsible for all safety matters (chemical, biological, etc). Will also be in charge of maintenance of instruments (mainly microscopes). Responsible for taking inventory of and ordering supplies through approved vendors in the BearBuy system Manage and distribute routine lab chores (medium and plate preparation, etc.) between lab members. Document and update common lab protocols.
Required Qualifications
Technical assignments at this level typically require scientific knowledge and skills which might be expected from incumbents at the college "upper division" level or from incumbents who have acquired equivalent knowledge and skills through experience. Basic microbiology techniques and aseptic practices. Experience with biochemical and molecular biology techniques. Familiarity with basic computer software (knowledge of working with Excel/word/PowerPoint, etc).
Education/Training:
Graduation from high school or a General Education Diploma and three years of laboratory experience or two years of college including courses in the natural, physical, or social sciences and two years of laboratory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in zebrafish research (line maintenance, mating). Experience in zebrafish-specific protocols - microinjecting to fish to create transgenic strains, constructing injectable DNA constructs (by PCR, ligations, cell transformation, plasmid extraction, etc.). Some familiarity with computer programming.
Salary & Benefits
For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.
Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.
The budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $23.82 (step 1.0) - $24.83 (step 2.0).
This is a 100% full-time (40 hours per week), career position that is eligible for full UC benefits. This position is non-exempt and paid bi-weekly.