Research Lab Assistant Jobs in Berkeley, CA (NOW HIRING)

Job Summary::  

The Lab Assistant is a career 100% position. The majority of the effort, will be providing glass washing and autoclaving services for wet lab researchers at the UCSF Mt. Zion Cancer Research Bld and Helen Diller Bld.  About 10% of the time this position will provide to other shared support services such as booking conference rooms, distributing mail, stocking break rooms, preparing purchase requisitions, and submitting work order requests online.  Limited other duties as assigned.   

Department Description:

The UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (HDFCCC), or Cancer Center, combines basic science, clinical research, epidemiology/cancer control and patient care frstgaffom throughout the University of California, San Francisco system.

Required Qulifcations: 

• High School Diploma or equivalent, including one year of laboratory experience; or two years of college including courses in natural, physical or social sciences; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position

• Experience with Microsoft Word and basic Excel                  

• Demonstrated experience delivering excellent customer service

• Ability to speak read and write English.  Respond to emails with correct grammar 

• Ability to operate industrial glass wash and autoclave machines; including calculating correct temperatures/times

• Ability to exercise good judgment and professionalism in interacting appropriately with customers across all levels

• Systematic, organized, able to plan work in advance

• Approachable, accessible, friendly, helpful personality

• Demonstrated good attendance

• Ability to work with minimal supervision and manage multiple projects successfully to timely completion

Preferred Qualifications: 

• College graduate with work experience                   

• Previous experience in a research lab setting helpful

% 

of time

Essential Function (Yes/No)

Key Responsibilities

(To be completed by Supervisor)

80

Primary Glass wash equipment operator for research labs at 2340 Sutter St. and Helen Diller at 1450 3rd St.

Cycle through the research labs once or twice daily collecting all the dirty glassware and other implements for washing.   Prepare glassware, (remove paper labels or tape, by soaking overnight or scrubbing off prior to machine washing); pre-rinse or wash glassware by hand if necessary.  Load machines, wash and sterilize.  Return appropriate glassware to the correct lab storage areas.  Collect the prepared media, glassware, instruments or other items for autoclaving.  Prepare, and sterilize, return to appropriate lab/researcher.   

Monitor glass washing/autoclaving consumable supplies and place request for re-stock as needed. 

Notify supervisor of any problems with equipment, and place service call to vendor as directed.   Discuss equipment problems with vendor so proper repairs can be completed. 

Maintain glass wash rooms in a clean and tidy manner.  Clean screens daily and washer spindles weekly to ensure strong water flow. 

Refill tip boxes prior to sterilization.  Refill pipettes prior to autoclaving. (Selected labs) 

Prepare Millipore water for special process, label, date and autoclave. (Selected labs)

Keep current with Environmental Health & Safety training requirements. 

Train substitute to cover glass washing and autoclaving during absences. 

20

Stock break rooms and mail rooms with soap, towels, tape and other shared supplies.  Notify supervisor in adequate time to reorder.   May learn to prepare purchase orders.

Use Outlook to respond to email requests and book reservations for shared conference rooms. Ensure rooms are tidy and stocked with markers, erasers.  Post hard copies of conference room calendars. 

Sort incoming mail and distribute mail to individual boxes.  May look up names in campus directory to get new box for forward mail.

May maintain contact lists for mailboxes, cold rooms, or other shared resources.

May contact Print Management about problems with shared copiers, and assist users in removing paper jams.

May assist with recycling pickups schedules for the Styrofoam boxes collected in room S211.

May use campus service group websites to open work request tickets for a variety of services: surplus pick up, facility repairs, telecom support, etc. Work with customer to ensure job description is entered correctly, billed to correct fund source.   Follow-up with customer to ensure request was completed. 

May assist (under supervision) with tasks associated with special one-time/occasional projects such as capital asset audit, employee moves, lab cleanout, etc.

May learn to prepare purchase orders in Bear Buy and ensure receipt of ordered items.   May work with finance staff and vendors to resolve inaccuracies with billing and ensure PO's are properly closed when items have been received. 

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100%