Staff Research Associate – 119845

UCSD Layoff from Career Appointment: Apply by 11/3/22 for consideration with preference for rehire. All layoff applicants should contact their Employment Advisor.

Special Selection Applicants: Apply by 11/14/22. Eligible Special Selection clients should contact their Disability Counselor for assistance.

Chemistry and Biochemistry is one of the largest and most complex departments on campus. The department’s organization is divided among three major research themes each with its own department leadership representation under the Department Chair: Biochemistry & Biophysics; Synthesis, Materials and Chemical Biology; and Physical, Analytical and Environmental Chemistry. The department is comprised of 75 ladder rank faculty, and additional 10 in various instructional titles and ~150 in academic research titles and postdoctoral scholars. The above academic community presents a plethora of diverse complex issues from Health Sciences Compensation Program agreements to adjuncts from national laboratories sharing negotiated employee patent agreements. The department is also comprised of 90 career staff; ~60 temporary or student staff, and 350 Master’s and Ph.D. students. Undergraduate students majoring in chemistry number greater than 1,700, and total undergraduate and graduate annual course enrollments exceed 23,000. The department currently has more than 120 awards from federal, state and private sources for approximately $20 million per annum in extramural funding and $46 million in total annual expenditures.

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry manages eight recharge facilities supporting national as well as UCSD-wide research endeavors in academe and industry: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Molecular Mass Spectrometry, Biomolecular and Proteomics Mass Spectroscopy, Inorganic Characterization Instrumentation, Protein Crystallography, Small Molecule X-Ray Crystallography, Fabrication Facility plus the on campus Chemistry Storehouse. In addition, we are home to two national research center grants. The department also manages three major NIH training grants, and one Department of Education training grant, which fund graduate and postdoctoral students across UCSD departments/disciplines as well as off campus research organizations.

The Devaraj Lab in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department at UC San Diego is an interdisciplinary research group interested in advancing chemical biology by extending the use of bioconjugation reactions into previously unexplored frontiers. Incumbent will assist the Principal Investigator in conducting research developing synthetic viral capsids.

Under general supervision, independently conduct research in chemical biology using a wide variety of non-standard procedures procedures such as liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, NMR, and general methods in peptide synthesis. Incumbent will be responsible for analyzing results and adapting protocols accordingly. Interact professionally with faculty, postdoctoral scholars, students, collaborators, visiting scholars, and research technicians in laboratory.

• Extensive experimental experience with peptide synthesis and analysis of proteins.

• Demonstrated ability to control chemical reactivity based on chirality.

• Extensive experimental experience with procedures such as liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and NMR.

• Ability to mentor graduate students in terms of technical training, conception of project directions, and oral and written communication.

• Independent research skills with experience in experimental planning, execution, and analysis, troubleshooting and optimizing experimental procedures, and preparing figures and presentations.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to communicate effectively one-on-one or in group settings, taking into account differences in social, cultural, professional, and educational backgrounds.

• Skill to organize time, set priorities, meet established deadlines, and recognize new problems with constantly changing priorities and frequent interruptions.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently or collaboratively on a research project and interact effectively with collaborating labs. Ability to maintain a high level of motivation to contribute to cutting-edge research, and seek and learn new theoretical and computational methods as required.

• Strong theoretical and practical knowledge of chemistry and biochemistry, including relevant laboratory techniques, acquired through a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biochemistry, or related field; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Demonstrated ability to record scientific data in a well-organized laboratory notebook. Ability to keep accurate records of experimental procedures and results, to discuss and interpret them, and to prepare relevant oral and written presentations

Job offer is contingent on successful engagement in the UC COVID-19 Vaccination program (fully vaccinated with documented proof or approved exception/deferral).

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