R and D Specialist - PEDIATRICS

Job description

Payroll Title:

SRA 3 Department:

PEDIATRICS Hiring Pay Scale

$36.13 - $58.11 / Hour Worksite:

Campus Appointment Type:

Career Appointment Percent:

100% Union:

RX Contract Total Openings:

1 Work Schedule:

Days, 8-Hour Shifts, Monday-Friday

# R and D Specialist - PEDIATRICS

Filing Deadline: Wed 10/7/2026

Apply Now

UC San Diego values and welcomes people from all backgrounds. If you are interested in being part of our team, possess the needed licensure and certifications, and feel that you have most of the qualifications and/or transferable skills for a job opening, we strongly encourage you to apply.

UCSD Layoff from Career Appointment : Apply by 9/25/2026 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.

DESCRIPTION

Department of Pediatrics is one of the largest departments within the UCSD School of Medicine with comprehensive clinical programs, extensive basic science and clinical research, and diverse educational opportunities for students, residents and fellows. The internationally renowned faculty play a major role in medical and graduate student training, providing educationaland programmatic offerings that span several disciplines and provide diversity to meet the interests of a broad spectrum of students and scholars. More than one hundred trainees at the graduate student and postdoctoral level, as well as more than 300 professional, research and administrative staff who along with the department administrators interact closely with thefaculty. The diverse mix of ages, backgrounds, and talents creates a robust work environment with challenging career opportunities and a commitment to continued growth potential. We constantly seek to recruit highly motivated, technologically advanced and interested individuals to become a part of our dynamic cutting-edge research, clinical, and educational environment.

Under general supervision, this position involves applying expertise in molecular biology and genomics, experience with project coordination and collaboration with faculty and staff on complex projects including mentorship of lab assistants and staff research associates. The candidate must be comfortable with having primary responsibility for leading research anddevelopment efforts in the Knight Lab. The successful candidate with independently design and oversee lab staff to implement workflows for: extraction of nucleic acids; and qPCR or other nucleic acid detection and methods, including next-generation sequencing methods. The individual will collaborate with wet-bench and computational staff in analysis and interpretation ofdata generated through these processes, which will be used to: troubleshoot existing processes; develop and optimize new processes; identify trends and associations. The candidate will be expected to maintain familiarity with current relevant scientific literature. Advanced knowledge of subject and good working relationships with key thought leaders in the field will be a majorasset in this position. Administrative responsibilities to include: writing of Standard Operating Procedures; overseeing technical review of results, report generation, supply inventories, and equipment operations and maintenance.

Duties and Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to: independently developing novel strategies for specialized extraction methods to maintain DNA integrity; independently developing novel strategies for highly accurate and scalable whole genome sequencing; collaboration with informatics computational biologists to design sample and data management andanalysis workflows; mentorship of technical staff on new methods, troubleshooting, equipment maintenance and repair, inventory, etc.; participation in manuscript preparation and grant writing; presentation of results at local/national/international conferences. Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Advanced theoretical knowledge of molecular and cellular biology, biology, or closely related field, as typically attained by an advanced degree, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Demonstrated working knowledge and expertise in a variety of molecular assays.

Demonstrated experience in making original contributions to manuscript preparation and grant writing.

Demonstrated experience in making significant independent contributions to research designs of various ongoing research projects.

Acute attention to detail, resourceful, and capable of handling the changing needs of the research lab.

Demonstrated skill in problem solving, analytical and critical thinking, and effective planning and organization.

Excellent computer and data management skills.

Excellent experience using microscopy to perform experiments.

Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as a team player, and the ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.

Willingness and ability to work with biohazardous materials.

Demonstrated knowledge and experience with numerous types of laboratory equipment related to uses, maintenance, and repair.

Experience learning new laboratory procedures quickly.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Demonstrated experience and demonstrated ability working with complicated molecular cloning.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS Employment is subject to a criminal background check.

Occasional evenings and weekends may be required.

Must be willing to work with hazardous materials.

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: $75,449 - $121,324 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: $36.13 - $58.11

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).

Apply Now

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:

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

UC Anti-Discrimination Policy

Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Worksite address

san diego, CA, 92189, US

Who can apply

Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.