UCSD Department of Psychiatry is one of the most innovative and productive academic departments in the country, offering challenging career opportunities in the diverse areas of advanced educational programs, cutting-edge research, and state-of-the-art clinical services. The department is committed to offering a dynamic learning environment and growing opportunities to its talented and dedicated employees.

Our laboratories conduct NIH-funded human and animal research on brain functioning in neurocognitive disorders such as bipolar disorder, HIV, substance use conditions, anxiety, as well as other psychiatric illnesses. Research is primarily conducted in an outpatient setting and with rodents.

The incumbent will work as a Laboratory Assistant II under the supervision of the Principal Investigators and Co-investigators and alongside other lab personnel to assist with two laboratories in running neuropsychological and psychophysiological studies within the Department of Psychiatry. In the rodent laboratory, assisting with viral, and behavioral experiments with mice within a lab that focuses on mouse models of anxiety and depression related behaviors, and the mechanism of action of antidepressants within the Department of Psychiatry. Will also maintain accurate records of testing as instructed, and help with documenting and using procedures to weigh and dissolve drugs, weigh animals, and assist with collecting and sorting data. Maintain neat and accurate records. Assist with paperwork, and keep journals and publications up to date. In the human laboratory, the incumbent's major responsibility is to assist with recruitment and screening of participants. The incumbent will also assist with coordinating participation of human participants in NIH-funded research projects on psychiatric disorders, HIV, and substance dependence. Assist with setup of psychophysiological paradigms and basic neuropsychological tests. Will assist with administering diagnostic interviews and symptom rating scales to human participants. Data entry into the research database. May perform clerical tasks such as making copies, helping to reconcile human participants payments, and ordering supplies. Maintain lab cleanliness as a required task, as well as assisting supervisor with tasks as required.

• Graduation from high school or a General Education Diploma and two years of laboratory experience or two years of college including courses in psychiatry, psychology and related fields and one year of laboratory experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with individuals with psychiatric conditions such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression and substance dependence and medical illnesses such as HIV.

• Demonstrated experience with recruitment of participants in a human psychology or sociology laboratory setting.

• Demonstrated ability and experience in using tact, diplomacy, and discretion when communicating with research participants. Ability to communicate effectively with members of the research team and all levels of laboratory personnel.

• Experience in Microsoft Word and data entry using Microsoft Excel, Access, SPSS, or similar data entry software.

• Experience with clinical laboratory maintenance.

• Ability to organize and prioritize work and maintain neatness in the work setting. Demonstrated detailed organizational and record-keeping skills.

• Demonstrated experience assisting with administering an eyeblink paradigm and an ambulatory monitoring paradigm.

• Experience with running computerized data collection software such as video and electrode recordings using written protocols.

• Ability to assist SRA with communicating with recruitment programs such as BuildClinical, clinicaltrials.gov, and other sources of participant accrual.

• Experience with laboratory computers and specialized data collection software (Med Associates, Affymetrics) and specialized behavioral testing equipment (Med Associates, Affymetrics open field).

• Must be able to maintain confidentiality.

• Ability to develop good rapport with human subjects, maintain sensitivity to subject's fatigue or discomfort.

• Proven ability to order and receive supplies from scientific suppliers (Sigma, Fisher etc.)

• Ability to use cryostat.

• Ability to assist with infusing viruses into mouse brain.

• Ability to perform PCR on tail samples taken from mice.

• Experience performing behavioral studies with rodents. Experience handling mice (restraining, eartagging, injections, etc.).

• University coursework in organic/inorganic chemistry and laboratory techniques (pipetting, solution preparation, dosage calculation, etc.).

• Demonstrated experience in administering symptom-rating scales for psychosis, mania, depression, and substance abuse such as the PANSS, YMRS, HAM-D, and substance use questionnaires.

• Demonstrated experience in administering paper-and-pencil and computerized problem-solving/neuropsychological tests such as the Iowa Gambling Task, Continuous Performance Task, UCSD Performance-Based Skills Assessment, and others.

• Knowledge of calculating dosages and dissolving a variety of chemicals, including drug weighing and dilution.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.

• Must be able to handle biological samples (blood and urine specimens).

• Must have reliable transportation to travel to local public venue.

• Must be willing to handle and euthanize mice.

• Must be flexible to work variable hours, overtime, nights, and/or weekends if necessary for experimental purposes.