The Knight lab consists of a team of ~50 highly skilled researchers, students, and technicians, with an annual operating budget of ~$3 million derived from a mixture of federal and non-federal sources including Knight's NIH Pioneer Award and the campus Return to Learn COVID-19 program. Most of the lab's work focuses on technologies for reading out microbial communities, including laboratory procedures for next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics software development. This includes applications in the human microbiome and child development, conservation, environmental monitoring and management, and biofuels. The Knight lab is widely regarded as a leader in the microbiome field, publishing regularly in top journals including Science, Nature, Cell, and PNAS, and publishing dozens of journal articles per year overall. The Department of Pediatrics is one of the largest departments within the School of Medicine with ~200 faculty, an annual budget of >$100 million, and unified pediatric patient care, research, education and community service programs, including a university-affiliated children's health system to serve the region. The Department is recognized as having global leaders in research, technology, translational medicine, education, and clinical excellence.

Under the supervision of the Laboratory Manager, the Staff Research Associate 1 (SRA 1) assists with extracting, purifying, and analyzing DNA and RNA for Next-Gen Sequencing, and with new technology development in support of the research program, including documenting the feasibility of new technologies and testing of new technologies. The SRA 1 also assists in maintaining new equipment and technologies including Next Gen sequencing equipment.

Microbiome science is one of the most exciting areas of research today, with discoveries daily pushing the boundaries of what we know about human health and the environment. The incumbent will assist with pushing this research forward focusing on DNA and RNA sequencing from complex microbial communities (metagenomics and metatranscripomics). The incumbent will assist with high-impact projects that seek to understand how the microbiome contributes to human traits ranging from response to diet to mental health, the roles of microbes in environments ranging from oceans to soils, and the connections between.

• Theoretical knowledge of basic human genetics and molecular biology.

• Experience with biology techniques such as PCR, gel electrophoresis, sequence analysis, RT-PCR, DNA/RNA isolation.

• Demonstrated ability to follow university Environmental Health and Safety requirements. Experienced in working and maintaining a sterile environment.

• Micropipetting and dilutions experience.

• Demonstrated knowledge of liquid handling automation and ability to use validated protocols.

• Demonstrated knowledge of next-generation sequencing for high throughput pipeline. Ability to perform validated protocols.

• Ability to implement and troubleshoot protocols developed for high throughput sequencing pipeline.

• Experience writing/editing protocols and manuscripts.

• Computers skills using a Macintosh.

• Demonstrated experience with database management of clones/samples, including data entry, manipulation, and creation of data reports.

*Employment is subject to a criminal background check.

• Incumbent must be available to work 9AM - 7PM, Monday-Friday and on occasional weekends.

• Willing to work in a laboratory that collects, processes, stores, and assays biohazardous body fluids.

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!

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