Staff Research Associate - Surgical Oncology Research

Surgery

Full Time

78138BR

Job Summary

The Staff Research Associate (SRA) position will be involved in research with Dr. Robert Warren, the principal investigator of the Surgical Oncology Research Lab. The SRA will conduct research related to growth of organoids as models to study targeted therapeutics against cancers of the gastrointestinal system in humans, and will be expected to pick up specimens of gastrointestinal tumors directly from surgeries. Under the direction of Dr. Warren, the SRA will take the specimen to the laboratory and dissociate the tumor into cells using enzymes. The cells will be placed into low adherence tissue culture plates in which they will aggregate to form clusters that are called organoids. The organoids will next be transferred into multiwell culture plates and there will be exposed to drugs. The drugs will be dispensed into the multiwell plates using a robotic drug dispenser, which the SRA will learn to use. The ability of any drug to affect the viability of the organoid will be assayed microscopically and by using a kit that assays the ATP content of the organoids: viable organoids can produce ATP whereas dead organoids cannot.

The SRA will be taught to use the microscope and the software associated with it to determine the size and viability of the organoids and likewise the use of the ATP assay kit. In addition, the SRA will be taught classical, sterile tissue culture techniques in order to permit the growth and culture of tumor cells that are maintained in long-term culture.
These cultured cells will also be tested for their responsiveness to drugs when grown in the absence or presence of other cell types such as fibroblasts and immune cells.

This position will also be responsible for ordering reagents/supplies, maintaining laboratory records, maintaining lab safety, handling equipment repair orders and maintenance.

Note: This position requires a physical/health screening.

The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy.

To see the salary range for this position (we recommend that you make a note of the job code and use that to look up): TCS Non-Academic Titles Search (https://tcs.ucop.edu/non-academic-titles)

Please note: An offer will take into consideration the experience of the final candidate AND the current salary level of individuals working at UCSF in a similar role.

For roles covered by a bargaining unit agreement, there will be specific rules about where a new hire would be placed on the range.

To learn more about the benefits of working at UCSF, including total compensation, please visit: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

Department Description

The mission of the UCSF Department of Surgery is threefold: to develop the next generation of leaders in surgery; to provide outstanding quality clinical care that is cost effective, yet compassionate; and to make significant advances in scientific knowledge and clinical practice through basic and clinical research. Care of patients is what attracted our faculty and residents to surgery, and it continues to be our main focus.
The Department is comprised of eleven divisions that include Adult Cardiothoracic Surgery, General Surgery, Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, Pediatric Surgery, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Transplant Surgery, and Vascular & Endovascular Surgery. Our surgeons provide care at locations throughout greater San Francisco including: UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus (Moffitt-Long Hospital), UCSF Medical Center at Mt. Zion, UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in Oakland, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, San Francisco VA Medical Center, and Alameda County Medical Center in Oakland. Our residents also rotate through UCSF Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente, and California Pacific Medical Center.

Required Qualifications

• BA/BS in a related science and knowledge of, or experience with, the basic techniques or methods required by the position; and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• BA or BS in Biology, Molecular Biology or Biochemistry.
• Prior laboratory experience in a group studying molecular and cellular biology. Experience in cell signaling preferred.
• Familiarity with Western blotting, cell culture, nucleic acid extraction from cells and tissues and an objective indication of competence, such as publications. The new SRA will be trained to become expert in all of these methods by Dr. Warren.
• Interactive and collegial
• Capacity to learn new procedures quickly

About UCSF

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. It is the only campus in the 10-campus UC system dedicated exclusively to the health sciences. We bring together the world's leading experts in nearly every area of health. We are home to five Nobel laureates who have advanced the understanding of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, aging and stem cells.

Pride Values

UCSF is a diverse community made of people with many skills and talents. We seek candidates whose work experience or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence - also known as our PRIDE values.

In addition to our PRIDE values, UCSF is committed to equity - both in how we deliver care as well as our workforce. We are committed to building a broadly diverse community, nurturing a culture that is welcoming and supportive, and engaging diverse ideas for the provision of culturally competent education, discovery, and patient care. Additional information about UCSF is available at

Join us to find a rewarding career contributing to improving healthcare worldwide.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California San Francisco 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, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

Organization

Campus

Job Code and Payroll Title

009613 SRA 1

Job Category

Research and Scientific

Bargaining Unit

University Professional Technical Employees - Research Support Professionals Unit (UPTE-RX)

Employee Class

Career

Percentage

100%

Location

Mount Zion (SF)

Shift

Days

Shift Length

8 Hours

Additional Shift Details

Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm