Lab Assistant 4 (9601C), Institute for Quantitative Biosciences - 84865 About Berkeley
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Departmental Overview
QB3 is an institute that supports work at the intersection of the physics, biology, and engineering.
Position Summary
The purpose of this position is to assistant in training students on how to perform various biological protocols and also to assist in managing the Sohn research laboratory, including maintaining inventory of supplies, ensuring that students adhere to training, and serving as a lab representative for EHS inspections and for companies who need to service their equipment in the lab. Further, the position includes helping with to prepare slides and documents for lab presentations or grants.
Application Review Date
The First Review Date for this job is: 03/24/2026.
Responsibilities
Oversee and train all researchers on biological protocols and instrumentation used in the research laboratory.
Examples include creating media for specific tissue culture, teaching and assisting tissue culture, and teaching and assisting qPCR and Western blots.
In addition to training, responsibilities will include helping to debug issues with protocols or instrumentation problems.
Maintain inventory of materials and supplies in the laboratory.
This involves keeping track of most commonly used materials/supplies on a weekly basis, including reagents, pipets, pipet tips, filters, media, etc. and ordering when such materials/supplies are low.
Requires consultation with lab-group members, who may also request special materials/supplies.
Expected to assist in preparing slides and figures that shown specific data for presentations to funding agencies, grants, or papers.
Represent the lab for all EHS-biosafety and general safety matters, including preparing medical waste disposal and chemical waste disposal.
Will ensure that all students are up to date with safety training and ensure that new members take the required safety training.
Additionally, expected to do walk throughs with new lab members or EHS inspection teams.
Expected to debug and/or calibrate instruments/equipment in the laboratory.
If instrument/equipment are not able to be calibrated or debugged, responsible for contacting and arranging the company technician for that instrument/equipment for assessment.
Required Qualifications
Experience with biological protocols such as pcr, tissue culture, immunostaining.
Demonstrated experience supporting molecular and cell biology laboratory operations, including training researchers on laboratory techniques (e.g., tissue culture, qPCR, Western blotting), troubleshooting experimental protocols or instrumentation, and maintaining laboratory equipment.
Experience managing laboratory operations and compliance activities, including maintaining laboratory inventory and supplies, coordinating equipment maintenance or vendor service, and supporting laboratory safety and biosafety practices in accordance with institutional or regulatory requirements.
Knowledge of Excel, Acrobat, Biorender, and PowerPoint.
Associate degree or higher and/or equivalent experience/training.
Preferred Qualifications
Knowledge in lithography (photo and soft lithography), microfluidics.
Salary & Benefits
For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.
Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.
The budgeted hourly rate that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $32.83 (Step 1.5).
This is a non-exempt, biweekly-paid position.