What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant, Associate or Full Research Scientist position at UC San Diego Academic Jobs?
Position overview
Position title: Research Scientist
Salary range: A reasonable salary range estimate for this position is $126,200-$207,600. The UC academic salary scales are posted on the UCOP website. These scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and/or step at appointment. See the following table for the salary scale for this position Table 13B: Represented Professional Research Series - FY or Table 14B: Represented Professional Research Series - B/E/E.
Application Window
Open date: May 12, 2026
Next review date: Sunday, Jun 21, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Thursday, Dec 31, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position description
The Qualcomm Institute (QI) at the University of California, San Diego, invites applications to an open search for a Research Scientist (non-tenured, Assistant, Associate or Full level) in various Computational and/or Engineering disciplines.
At UC San Diego, Research Scientists are non-tenured, extramurally funded, academic researchers who develop and lead independent research and creative programs similar to Ladder Rank Professors. Research Scientists are expected to serve as Principal Investigators on extramural grants, generate high caliber publications and research products, engage in university and public service, continuously demonstrate independent and creative research activity of high quality and significance, and garner scholarly reputation. Appointments and duration vary depending on the length of the research project and availability of funding. Details for this series are available online at the UCOP website.
This academic series is represented by the United Auto Workers of America (UAW), information regarding the collective bargaining agreement is available at the UCOP website.
Unit: https://qi.ucsd.edu/
Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
PhD in a computational, engineering, or closely related discipline is required for this position.
Application Requirements
Document Requirements
Help contact: d1dutson@ucsd.edu
About UC San Diego
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.
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.
The University of California prohibits smoking and tobacco use at all of its university-controlled properties.
The UC San Diego Annual Security & Fire Safety Report is available online at: https://www.police.ucsd.edu/docs/annualclery.pdf. This report provides crime and fire statistics, as well as institutional policy statements & procedures. Contact the UC San Diego Police Department at (858) 534-4361 if you want to obtain paper copies of this report.
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.
Click for more information on Assembly Bill-810
Click for more information on Senate Bill-791
San Diego, CA
Position title: Research Scientist
Salary range: A reasonable salary range estimate for this position is $126,200-$207,600. The UC academic salary scales are posted on the UCOP website. These scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and/or step at appointment. See the following table for the salary scale for this position Table 13B: Represented Professional Research Series - FY or Table 14B: Represented Professional Research Series - B/E/E.
Application Window
Open date: May 12, 2026
Next review date: Sunday, Jun 21, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Thursday, Dec 31, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position description
The Qualcomm Institute (QI) at the University of California, San Diego, invites applications to an open search for a Research Scientist (non-tenured, Assistant, Associate or Full level) in various Computational and/or Engineering disciplines.
At UC San Diego, Research Scientists are non-tenured, extramurally funded, academic researchers who develop and lead independent research and creative programs similar to Ladder Rank Professors. Research Scientists are expected to serve as Principal Investigators on extramural grants, generate high caliber publications and research products, engage in university and public service, continuously demonstrate independent and creative research activity of high quality and significance, and garner scholarly reputation. Appointments and duration vary depending on the length of the research project and availability of funding. Details for this series are available online at the UCOP website.
This academic series is represented by the United Auto Workers of America (UAW), information regarding the collective bargaining agreement is available at the UCOP website.
Unit: https://qi.ucsd.edu/
Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
PhD in a computational, engineering, or closely related discipline is required for this position.
Application Requirements
Document Requirements
- Cover Letter (Optional)
- Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
- Statement of Research
- Statement of Teaching (Optional)
- MISC (Optional)
- 3-5 letters of reference required
Help contact: d1dutson@ucsd.edu
About UC San Diego
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.
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.
The University of California prohibits smoking and tobacco use at all of its university-controlled properties.
The UC San Diego Annual Security & Fire Safety Report is available online at: https://www.police.ucsd.edu/docs/annualclery.pdf. This report provides crime and fire statistics, as well as institutional policy statements & procedures. Contact the UC San Diego Police Department at (858) 534-4361 if you want to obtain paper copies of this report.
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.
Click for more information on Assembly Bill-810
Click for more information on Senate Bill-791
- “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
- UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy: [https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000385/SVSH]
- UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties: [https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination]
San Diego, CA
Salary : $126,200 - $207,600