Research Laboratory Associate - 137230

The Department of Anesthesiology employs over 200 Academic and Staff personnel and has an annual operating budget of $83 million in annualized resources (School of Medicine and Clinical Practice Organization (CPO) between Practice Plan revenues, VA Medical Center funding, Hospital and Medical Group funding,, UC Foundation, Research sources and School of Medicine funds. There are over 85 Clinical faculty, 20 Ph.D. faculty, 8 Post-Doctoral Scholars, 42 Residents, 8 Senior Clinical Fellows, 33 Certified Nurse Anesthetists, 1 Physician Assistant and five collective bargaining units represented. The Department provides Clinical Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Services in Hillcrest, Thornton Hospital, Shiley Eye Center, Rady Children's Hospital, Jacobs Medical Center and the VA Medical Center. The Department operates a Pain Clinic at Perlman. The Department's research programs include bench and clinical research programs located at the VA Medical Center, Medical Teaching Facility, Clinical Teaching Facility, Hillcrest, Thornton, Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine facilities and the Altman CTRI.

The Department of Anesthesiology's Brain Mechanisms of Pain and Health Laboratory is seeking a lab assistant to help collect data for ongoing studies examining the effects and mechanisms supporting psychedelics and mindfulness meditation on health . Under supervision of Dr. Zeidan, the incumbent will assist with basic laboratory operations, organize, work with healthy and chronic pain patients assisting with psychophysical, brain imaging, and pharmacologic studies as directed. Assigned duties and responsibilities include routine laboratory maintenance, assisting with psychological and psychophysical methodologies. Lab assistant will assist with adhering to IRB protocols, collect human data, and assist with behavioral interventions ensuring accurate collection of data.

• Graduation from high school or a General Education Diploma and one year of laboratory experience or two years of college including courses in the in the natural, physical or social sciences and two years of laboratory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Experience with psychedelic research.

• Knowledge of safe human testing procedures (CITI training; experience with IRB).

• Ability to follow written and verbal directions.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; able to establish trust and rapport with participants and respond with sensitivity and awareness to participant needs.

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail; able to maintain accurate documentations and records.

• Demonstrates the ability to assist with participant recruitment, including prescreening and scheduling.

• Experience with data entry or database management in REDCap or similar systems.

• Knowledge of personal computer programs including word processing, basic computer coding, SPSS, Word, Excel, unix.

• Ability to adhere to established UCSD guidelines for safety and environmental issues.

• Must be able to work effectively with human volunteers and patients.

• Requires a thorough understanding of laboratory principles including knowledge of safe laboratory process and procedures. Familiarity with specimen processing, labeling, centrifugation, and sample storage according to biosafety and regulatory standards.

• Ability to follow protocols and maintain compliance with study-specific SOPs, GCP, and IRB guidelines.

• Experience collecting participant data and maintaining accurate documentation and records.

• Knowledge of psychology, neuroscience, human biology, and pre-medicine is desired.

• Experience performing psychedelic research.

• Certificated fMRI technician and/or experience working in an fMRI setting

• Experience collecting or handling biological samples (e.g., blood, saliva, or urine) in compliance with CLIA, HIPAA, and institutional policies.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.

• Occasional evenings and weekends may be required.

• Must be willing to work with hazardous materials.