UCSD Layoff from Career Appointment: Apply by 07/27/2026 for consideration with preference for rehire. All layoff applicants should contact their Employment Advisor.
Reassignment Applicants: Eligible Reassignment clients should contact their Disability Counselor for assistance.
UCSD Department of Psychiatry is one of the most innovative and productive academic departments in the country, offering challenging career opportunities in the diverse areas of advanced educational programs, cutting-edge research, and state-of-the-art clinical services. The department is committed to offering a dynamic learning environment and growing opportunities to its talented and dedicated employees.
Under supervision, the incumbent will work as a Laboratory Assistant II assisting with conducting routine laboratory tests and experiments on rats and mice under the supervision of lab staff within the Department of Psychiatry. The incumbent will assist with preparing lab equipment and materials before experiments, disposing hazardous materials and waste properly, assist with basic data analyses and interpretation of experimental results, and collaborate with other lab members and participate in lab meetings and discussions. Keep journals and publication files up to date, assist in maintaining lab cleanliness, and assist with other project and miscellaneous tasks as required.
Graduation from high school or a General Education Diploma and two years of laboratory experience or two years of college including courses in the natural, physical or social sciences and one year of laboratory experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.
Demonstrated experience handling mice.
Must be able to maintain confidentiality.
Surgical knowledge of procedures for IV and IC in rats and mice.
Demonstrated organizational and record-keeping skills.
Demonstrated experience with filing, alphabetizing and clerical tasks.
General laboratory experience.
Ability to run updates and install a variety of different software platforms with minimal supervision (Systat, Sigmaplot, SPSS, End Note, BMDP, Adobe, Mozilla, etc.).
Proficiency in MS Office.
Proven ability to work under own initiative as well as to work meticulously under close direction.
Ability to resolve computer equipment malfunctions.
Good communication skills.
Proven ability to maintain lab equipment by performing the following tasks: set-up, operation, test, calibrate, and clean used equipment, including walk-in incubator, environment chambers, colony counters, microscopes, micro centrifuges, hi-speed centrifugation, ultra-centrifugation, gyratory water baths, scintillation counters, autoclaves, spectrophotometer, and audio-visual equipment.
Experience in assisting with caring for rat colonies through animal husbandry to support all laboratory research.
Familiarity with behavioral models of drug self-administration, behavioral assays (EPM, open field, von frey).
Ability to assist with reagent preparation, autoclaving, ordering lab supplies.
Proven ability to assist in the proper disposal of hazardous materials and waste.
Employment is subject to a criminal background check.
Must be willing to handle rats and mice.
Must be willing to euthanize rats and mice.
Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs.
Pay Transparency Act
Annual Full Pay Range: $57,504 - $69,175 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)
Hourly Equivalent: $27.54 - $33.13
Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).
If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.
If applicable, life-support certifications (BLS, NRP, ACLS, etc.) must include hands-on practice and in-person skills assessment; online-only certification is not acceptable.
UC San Diego Health Sciences is comprised of our School of Medicine, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, and our Student Health and Well-Being Department. We have long been at the forefront of translational — or "bench-to-bedside" — research, transforming patient care through discovery and innovation leading to new drugs and technologies. Translational research is carried out every day in the hundreds of clinical trials of promising new therapies offered through UC San Diego Health, and in the drive of our researchers and clinician-scientists who are committed to having a significant impact on patient care. We invite you to join our team!
Applications/Resumes are accepted for current job openings only. For full consideration on any job, applications must be received prior to the initial closing date. If a job has an extended deadline, applications/resumes will be considered during the extension period; however, a job may be filled before the extended date is reached.
To foster the best possible working and learning environment, UC San Diego strives to cultivate a rich and diverse environment, inclusive and supportive of all students, faculty, staff and visitors. For more information, please visit UC San Diego Principles of Community.
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.
For the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination
UC San Diego is a smoke and tobacco free environment. Please visit smokefree.ucsd.edu for more information.
UC San Diego Health maintains a marijuana and drug free environment. Employees may be subject to drug screening.
Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.
a. "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC’s policies addressing some forms of misconduct:
- UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
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UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
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Abusive Conduct in the Workplace
