Human Lab Rat Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty, and staff. As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic, and social value. We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles , Principles of Community , and Strategic Plan .
At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups (staff organizations). Our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. Find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley.
Departmental Overview
The Kaufer lab is part of the Integrative Biology department and the Neuroscience Institute, and is studying how the brain responds to perturbations such as stress, traumatic brain injury, and aging, and the mechanisms underlying trajectories of resilience vs. vulnerability.
To address this, we are taking a multi-systems approach incorporating molecular, biochemical, electrophysiological, and behavioral analyses in rat and mouse models. This person hired into this position will support the lab's administrative and research activities. For more information, please visit: https://www.kauferlab.com/
Position Summary
The Lab Manager works under the supervision of the PI to sustain administrative and research activities in the lab. This position supports ongoing experiments, performs record keeping, manages safety operations, coordinates communications with university units, and handles the onboarding of new lab members to contribute to the research projects being conducted in the lab.
Application Review Date
The First Review Date for this job is: July 23, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.
Responsibilities
Lab Operations and Management

• Oversees and ensures that daily lab operations run smoothly, including manage purchasing, ordering supplies and repairs, organize and manage lab reagents.
• Works with PI as needed to help with scheduling, fiscal and personnel management.
• Serve as Human Resources liaison, working with HR.
• Serve as Safety Coordinator.
• Manage work orders with other campus facilities for standard maintenance and repair work.
• Oversee computer technical needs and the purchase of new computer equipment and software, working with CSS-IS&T.
• Manage and curate the cell line collection.
• Plan itinerary and other logistical needs for lab visitors.
• Enter purchases on website and submit approvals.
• Ensure adequate levels of all supplies are available.
• For special purchases, Obtain quotes and completing sole source justifications.

Safety and Compliance

• Prepare and update of Standard Operating Procedures and Biological Use Authorizations.
• Draft protocols and authorization paperwork.
• Safety Training of new hires and when additional training of lab members is requested.
• Lab Safety Inspection once a year.
• Communicate with EH&S, ACUC, OLAC about hazardous issue, inspections, training, addition and removal of lab members, help PI with updating the RUA, BUA and AUP.
• Update SOPs and ensure everyone doing the relevant experiments had read and signed.
• Report new and recurring hazards to lab members during lab meeting.

Research and Technical Support

• Carry out independent scientific work addressing neural plasticity.
• Contribute to the drafting of manuscripts and generation of figures.
• Manage the lab's mouse colony, including isolation of genomic DNA and genotyping cells by PCR.
• Assist lab members with their experiments in molecular biology and animal work.
• Perform cryosectioning, immunohistochemistry, PCR, cell cultures and rodent surgeries and behavior and make these available to the lab members.

Personnel Management

• Supervise work duties and ensure tasks are performed appropriately.
• Post hiring requests, interview, help select, and train staff.

Required Qualifications

• Experience with mouse handling, molecular biology, and behavior techniques, and knowledge of lab safety procedures.
• leadership skills and being able to work independently.
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal and communication skills that create and maintain excellent working relationships in a team environment.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• The capability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Broad understanding of equipment and technologies used in Neuroscience research.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience managing multiple projects in a corporate or academic setting.
• Experience with mouse behavior testing.
• Strong understanding of mouse genetics.

Education / Training

• Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience, Psychology, biological sciences, or related field, and/or at least 2 years of extensive experience working in a biology research lab, and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Previous lab experience.

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 range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $28.83 - $32.78, Step 1 - 5.

• This is a non-exempt, bi-weekly paid position.
• This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for UC benefits.

How to Apply
To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.
Other Information

• This position is governed by the terms and conditions in the agreement for the Technical Unit (TX) between the University of California and the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE). The current bargaining agreement manual can be found at: http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/labor/bargaining-units/tx/index.html
• This is not a visa opportunity. This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.

Misconduct
As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional 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; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.
Misconduct means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, 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
Equal Employment Opportunity
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.