The Department of Medicine (DOM) is the largest department within the UCSD School of Medicine and is responsible for fulfilling the teaching, research and clinical missions of the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. The department employs approximately 500 salaried faculty, 168 academic appointees, 331 residents, fellows and postdocs and 480 staff personnel.

The cardiovascular research laboratory in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego, seeks a Staff Research Associate 3 (SRA3) who is highly motivated, creative, and devoted to the project goals. One position in cardiovascular physiology is immediately available. Our research focuses on endothelial dysfunction in the heart and lung during cardiovascular diseases. The incumbent will design and implement research protocols and conduct experiments for ongoing research projects in the laboratory. Duties and Responsibilities are 1) perform physiological experiments in mice, including evaluation of cardiac function using Millar system (e.g., RVSP, LVSP, dP/dt, EF), measurement of pulmonary and coronary flow using an ultrasound system, and isometric tension measurements in mouse distal pulmonary and coronary arteries using a wire myograph, 2) conducting molecular biological experiments (e.g., Western Blot, immunoprecipitation, PCR, qPCR, gene cloning), 3) electrophysiological experiments to measure Ca2+ and ROS concentration in cytoplasm and mitochondria and assess GAP junction intercellular communication, 4) immunofluorescence experiment, and 5) isolation of vascular endothelial/smooth muscle cells from mouse lungs and hearts.

The incumbent will perform data acquisition and analysis, grant and manuscript preparation, and presentation of findings at weekly lab meetings. Additional responsibilities include maintaining transgenic mice colonies (i.e., breeding and genotyping), managing lab research records (e.g., methodological approaches, experimental records, and protocols), and maintaining a clean lab and the function of lab equipment. Aseptic techniques for tissue culture and animal handling are mandatory skills in our laboratory.

• Theoretical and working knowledge in advanced molecular biology and cell physiology.

• Minimum three (3) years of paid work in the field of cardiovascular physiology.

• Proven skills in physiological experiments in mice, including measurements of cardiac functions using the Millar system (e.g., RVSP, LVSP, dP/dt, EF), assessment of pulmonary and coronary flow using an ultrasound system, or isometric tension measurements in mouse distal pulmonary and coronary arteries using a wire myograph.

• Strong ability and experience to isolate heart and lung vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells and prepare primary cultured cells for molecular biological and cell physiological experiments.

• Experiences in conducting electrophysiological and immunofluorescence experiments using a fluorescence microscope.

• Demonstrated ability and experience in Western Blot, immunoprecipitation, site-directed mutagenesis, PCR, qPCR, and single-cell RT-PCR.

• Ability to maintain transgenic mice colony, including breeding and genotyping.

• Proven ability to contribute to experimental design, analysis, interpretation of the results, and troubleshooting.

• Experience assisting with scientific writing, including research articles, review articles, and necessary grant protocols.

• Strong ability to read scientific literature, understand appropriate study design, follow study procedures and protocol, and maintain participant confidentiality.

• Demonstrated skills in working with animals, human tissues, and aseptic techniques for cell culture.

• Proficient knowledge of the following specialized programs; EndNote and MS Word/Excel/PowerPoint.

• Enthusiasm for learning and a genuine interest in scientific research. Willingness and ability to learn new skills, research methods, and scientific principles.

• Effective and diplomatic oral and written communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to work with various personnel from different laboratories and instruct in optimal procedures for assays.

• Skills to manage the lab research records, including methodological approaches, experimental records, IACUC, IBC, and IRB protocols, order and chemical inventories, and animal colony records, and maintain a clean lab and the function of lab equipment.

• Must be able to work with laboratory animals (mice).
• Must be available to work some weekends & evenings to complete experiments.
• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.