Trainee Physics Lab Assistant Jobs in California

Payroll Title:
LAB AST 2 Department:
NEUROSCIENCES Hiring Pay Scale
$26.23 - $30.93 / Hour Worksite:
La Jolla Appointment Type:
Career Appointment Percent:
50% Union:
TX Contract Total Openings:
1 Work Schedule:
Days, 8-Hour Shifts, Monday-Friday
#140400 Biorepository Laboratory Asst. II, Neurosciences
Filing Deadline: Thu 9/3/2026
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UC San Diego values and welcomes people from all backgrounds. If you are interested in being part of our team, possess the needed licensure and certifications, and feel that you have most of the qualifications and/or transferable skills for a job opening, we strongly encourage you to apply.
UCSD Layoff from Career Appointment : Apply by 8/25/2026 for consideration with preference for rehire. All layoff applicants should contact their Employment Advisor.
Reassignment Applicants : Eligible Reassignment clients should contact their Disability Counselor for assistance.
DESCRIPTION
The Department of Neurosciences at UC San Diego is a nationally recognized academic department within the School of Medicine dedicated to advancing the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of neurological disorders through research, education, and clinical care. The department brings together multidisciplinary teams of clinicians, scientists, trainees, and staff who collaborate to translate scientific discoveries into improved patient outcomes and innovative therapies.
The Department supports a broad range of clinical and translational research programs addressing neurological and neurodegenerative conditions, including neuroimmunology and neuromuscular disorders; Alzheimer's disease; Parkinson's disease; stroke; epilepsy; and other disorders of the nervous system. Faculty and staff are committed to fostering an environment of scientific discovery, mentorship, and professional development while maintaining the highest standards of regulatory compliance, patient safety, and research integrity.
As part of its research infrastructure, the Department operates specialized research support services, including clinical research units and biorepository resources that facilitate the responsible collection, storage, and management of biospecimens to support ethically conducted research and collaborative scientific investigations.
Under supervision of the Vice Chair of Clinical Research and the Clinical Research Unit Program Director, the Biorepository Laboratory Assistant 2 supports the daily operations of the departmental biorepository by performing technical and operational tasks related to the handling and management of human biospecimens. Performs duties in accordance with established laboratory procedures, ensuring accuracy, attention to detail, and compliance with regulatory and institutional requirements related to the management of biospecimen.
Primary responsibilities include receiving, accessioning, processing, aliquoting, labeling, storing, retrieving, and distributing biospecimens in accordance with approved protocols and standard operating procedures. Maintains accurate and timely documentation of specimen receipt, processing activities, storage locations, and distribution records within the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and associated tracking systems to ensure specimen traceability, data integrity, and regulatory compliance.
Assists with monitoring storage equipment and environmental conditions, maintaining inventory of biospecimens and supplies, preparing specimens and materials for shipment, and supporting quality assurance and audit readiness activities. Additional duties include maintaining organized and compliant laboratory and storage areas and assisting the biorepository team with routine operational tasks necessary to support efficient and compliant biorepository operations. Other duties will be assigned as needed.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduation from high school or a General Education Diploma and two years of laboratory experience or two years of college including courses in the natural, physical or social sciences and one year of laboratory experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.
• Experience working with basic laboratory procedures and equipment: including preparation of buffers and stock solutions, centrifuges, autoclaves, and proper way to clean and maintain equipment.
• Ability to keep organized and accurate records and notebooks.
• Knowledge and experience in blood and/or tissue processing for biobanking.
• Knowledge of sterile technique.
• Knowledge of laboratory safety policies and procedures. Familiarity with biohazards and chemical hazards.
• Experience and skill in using computers (PC and Mac) and with programs such as Word, Excel, Photoshop, PowerPoint.
• Clear and effective written and oral communication skills necessary to interact with others in a research/academic environment for presentation of data and results to others.
• Knowledge of general laboratory maintenance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working with lab animals.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Must be willing and able to work with hazardous materials (biological and chemical).
• Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs.
• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.

Pay Transparency Act
Annual Full Pay Range: $57,504 - $69,175 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)
Hourly Equivalent: $27.54 - $33.13
Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).
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If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements. If applicable, life-support certifications (BLS, NRP, ACLS, etc.) must include hands-on practice and in-person skills assessment; online-only certification is not acceptable.
UC San Diego Health Sciences is comprised of our School of Medicine, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, and our Student Health and Well-Being Department. We have long been at the forefront of translational - or "bench-to-bedside" - research, transforming patient care through discovery and innovation leading to new drugs and technologies. Translational research is carried out every day in the hundreds of clinical trials of promising new therapies offered through UC San Diego Health, and in the drive of our researchers and clinician-scientists who are committed to having a significant impact on patient care. We invite you to join our team!
Applications/Resumes are accepted for current job openings only. For full consideration on any job, applications must be received prior to the initial closing date. If a job has an extended deadline, applications/resumes will be considered during the extension period; however, a job may be filled before the extended date is reached.
To foster the best possible working and learning environment, UC San Diego strives to cultivate a rich and diverse environment, inclusive and supportive of all students, faculty, staff and visitors. For more information, please visit UC San Diego Principles of Community .
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.
For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination
UC San Diego is a smoke and tobacco free environment. Please visit smokefree.ucsd.edu for more information.
UC San Diego Health maintains a marijuana and drug free environment. Employees may be subject to drug screening.
Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an 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; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.
a. "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, 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