Research Associate Job at UCSF Health, USA | Life Sciences | Earn $34.58 Per Hour | Apply Now
If you are an experienced cell biologist looking to apply advanced in vivo imaging to traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, this full-time position at UCSF Health is an exceptional opportunity. Located at the historic Parnassus Heights campus in San Francisco, California, this role is fully funded by a newly awarded Department of Defense (DoD) research grant. For rigorous bench scientists searching for a high-impact Research Associate Job, this position offers a rare chance to master intravital microscopy and translational neuroscience. It serves as an elite launchpad for a long-term UCSF Health career and stands out as a premier Molecular Biology Job within one of the world’s top-ranked biomedical research institutions.
- Job Position: Staff Research Associate I/II
- Location: San Francisco, CA, United States
- Job Identification ID: 1974
About The Organization
UCSF Health and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) stand at the leading edge of global healthcare delivery, biological discovery, and medical education. Consistently ranked among the top universities and hospitals nationwide, UCSF is renowned for its highly collaborative, trans-disciplinary research environment. The Parnassus Heights campus serves as the historic epicenter of UCSF’s scientific breakthroughs, providing researchers with immediate access to world-class core facilities, advanced imaging technology, and pioneering physician-scientists.
Research Associate Job – Key Responsibilities
As a Staff Research Associate (I or II), you will take hands-on responsibility for executing the sophisticated wet lab and in vivo imaging experiments outlined in the laboratory’s recently awarded Department of Defense (DoD) neurotrauma grant.
Your core experimental, imaging, and data duties will include:
- Grant Experiment Execution: Driving the day-to-day execution of core milestones defined by the DoD neurotrauma grant, ensuring highly reproducible and timely results.
- Intravital Microscopy Imaging: Utilizing advanced intravital microscopy to capture real-time, cellular-level physiological changes in live tissue models following neurotrauma.
- Molecular & Cell Workflows: Performing high-level wet lab protocols, including tissue processing, immunohistochemistry, protein assays, and nucleic acid isolation to advance this Research Associate Job.
- Data Synthesis & Reporting: Analyzing and interpreting complex high-dimensional imaging data, preparing technical reports, and building presentations to communicate findings to internal and external stakeholders.
- Protocol Optimization: Assisting in the collaborative development, troubleshooting, and optimization of novel surgical or imaging experimental protocols.
- Academic Publication Support: Maintaining precise, audit-ready laboratory records and contributing directly to the drafting of scientific manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals for this Molecular Biology Job.
Qualifications & Dual-Tiering Profiles Required For Research Associate Job
This position is structured to onboard either an ambitious graduate or a seasoned technician, adjusting the title and expectations based on documented professional mastery.
- Staff Research Associate I (SRA 1) Requirements:
- Educational Foundation: A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Neurobiology, Bioengineering, or a closely related quantitative life science field.
- Technical Skills: Robust wet lab experience with a solid theoretical and practical understanding of standard molecular and cell biology methods.
- Preferred Assets: Hands-on experience with intravital microscopy imaging, a baseline knowledge of neurotrauma pathology, or familiarity with basic bioengineering principles.
- Staff Research Associate II (SRA 2) Requirements:
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Advanced Criteria: In addition to the SRA 1 qualifications, candidates must possess a BA/BS in a related science paired with one or more years of recent, directly related post-graduate work experience demonstrating technical expertise and complete autonomy in the required techniques.
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- Universal Capabilities:
- High proficiency in statistical data analysis software and scientific report writing.
- Exceptional problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret complex, non-linear biological datasets.
- Strong team-player attributes to collaborate smoothly with a multidisciplinary squad of biologists, engineers, and imaging specialists to build a successful UCSF Health career.
Logistics, Schedule & Compensation
- Location: Parnassus Heights — San Francisco, California, United States (Fully On-Site).
- Job Schedule: Full-Time, 100% FTE (8-hour day shifts, 40 hours per week).
- Classification: Career Employee Class, Non-exempt FLSA Status.
- Bargaining Unit: RX (Technical Unit representation).
- Budgeted Base Salary: $34.58 per hour (SRA 1 baseline; final placement scales with experience tiering and internal equity metrics).
In short, the Staff Research Associate position at UCSF Health is a definitive route to transitioning your cell biology background into a highly specialized neuroimaging portfolio. Securing this role allows you to step away from repetitive diagnostic testing and contribute directly to defense-funded medical research that shapes future clinical protocols for traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, possess strong wet lab habits, and are eager to master live-tissue microscopy, apply today to secure this premier opportunity.
