The Staff Research Associate will perform tissue collection, processing, and archiving of neurological tumor samples for the UCSF Brain Tumor Center. They are also responsible for maintaining laboratory equipment, managing databases, and performing histological and immunohistochemical staining according to clinical standards.
Requirements overview
Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree in Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy, or a related science. Proficiency in basic laboratory techniques, cell culture, and data management is required, with preference given to those with experience in CLIA laboratories and human biospecimen handling.
The Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care at UC San Francisco is a pioneering leader in providing outstanding, state of the art healthcare that is equitable and inclusive. In alignment with the wider UCSF mission to advance health worldwide, we are committed to optimizing perioperative outcomes, training the next generation of anesthesiology leaders, and translating discoveries to benefit the health and life of our patients and the wide range of communities we serve.
Consistently ranked in the top ten nationally in NIH-funded research, important discoveries by our department include the first use of CPAP in premature infants, key contributions to the pharmacology of muscle relaxants and inhaled anesthetics, first demonstration of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography, and many others [https://anesthesia.ucsf.edu/anesthesia-timeline-fullscreen]. We have robust research programs, spanning the range from ion channel structure and function, to clinical and translational research [https://anesthesia.ucsf.edu/welcome-ucsf-anesthesia-research].
Our trainees have become leaders across the country. We are particularly proud of our residency program [https://anesthesia.ucsf.edu/education-program-ucsf-department-anesthesia], which provides unequaled diversity of experience in a major university medical center (UCSF Helen Diller Medical Center at Parnassus Heights), the San Francisco Veterans Hospital, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, Mount Zion Hospital, the UCSF Orthopaedic Institute, and the UCSF Benioff Children's, Betty Irene Moore Women's and Bakar Cancer (NIH-designated Cancer Center) Hospitals in the Mission Bay neighborhood. We offer ACGME fellowships in Critical Care Medicine, Pain Medicine, Cardiac Anesthesia, Obstetric Anesthesia, Pediatric Anesthesia, Acute Pain and Regional Anesthesia, and many additional non-ACGME fellowships. Our faculty are dedicated to teaching, nurturing, and mentoring the next generation of leaders.
JOB SUMMARY
The Staff Research Associate (SRA) position will perform duties that are crucial
to providing services to the UCSF Neurosurgery Dept., the Helen Diller
Comprehensive Cancer Center and outside institutions. This employee will help
procure brain tumor specimens from surgeries, provide histology services for
both research and clinical purposes. The SRA will play an integral part in
maintaining and building upon our 46-year-old repository.
Perform tissue collection, processing and other specialized histological and
immunohistochemical tasks within a revenue-generating core facility in support
of the UCSF Brain Tumor Center. Specifically, these tasks include:
Collecting, processing and archiving neurological tumor tissues and blood
samples for use by Brain Tumor Center investigators and for NeuroOncology
clinical trials. These surgeries may occasionally run longer than scheduled and
will require staying past 5pm.
Data entry of patient and biospecimen information into Tissue Bank
databases and sample tracking system.
Operating and maintaining core equipment: automatic tissue processor,
Ventana automated immunostainers, liquid nitrogen storage systems, microtome and
cryostat.
Processing histology requests that entails the generation of paraffin or
frozen sections.
DNA isolation from various sources of tissue or blood.
Retrieve and verify consents.
Archive sample retrieval (both frozen and paraffin) for histology or
clinical requests
Maintaining human and animal cell cultures to ensure adequate inventory in
the Tissue Bank for distribution.
Performing immunohistochemical staining for major Core projects as well as
other individual investigators.
Maintaining antibody inventory, tracking and updating protocol changes,
organizing control slides in order to assure results and best utilize resources.
Performing and documenting clinical IHC work: test slides, controls,
instrument logs and pathologist review sheets as required by CLIA standards.
Quantifying MIB-1 labeling index to predict tumor cell proliferation and
invasiveness.
RESPONSIBILITIES
DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
%
of time
Essential Function (Yes/No)
Key Responsibilities
(To be completed by Supervisor)
35
Yes
Performing tissuecollection, processing withina revenue-generating Corefacility in
support of the UCSF Brain Tumor Center. Specifically, these tasks include:
* Collect brain tumorsamples from the OR—including image-guided biopsies and
biospecimens for clinical trials.
* Blood processing, transfer and archiving of samples.
* DNA isolation fromvarious sources of tissue or blood.
* Maintain human andanimal cell cultures to ensure adequate inventory in the
Tissue Bank for distribution.
* Documenting consent.
* Data entry of patient andbiospecimen information intoTissue Bank Databases,
and Special Studies website.
* Perform and document clinical IHC work:test slides, controls, instrument logs and
pathologist review sheets as required by CLIA standards.
* Quantifying MIB-1 labeling index to predicttumor cell proliferation and
invasiveness
30
Yes
Retrieve archived samplesper request (frozen, paraffin-embedded, tissue &cell culture),
perform required preparation for sample distribution (sectioning, staining,
pathology review) and managing samples (filing and ordering blocks).
Maintain antibody inventory, tracking and updating protocol changes, organizing control
slides in order to assure results and best utilize resources.
15
Yes
Perform other specialized histological and immunohistochemical. Thesetasks include:
* Operating the Ventanaautomated IHC instrument.
* Archiving stained testslides, corresponding controls
and maintaining appropriate
documentation for clinical IHC requests according to CLIA and HIPAA standards.
* Processing histology requests that entails the generation of paraffin or frozen
sections
* Performing immunohistochemical staining for major Coreprojects as well as other
individual investigators.
10
Yes
Pull patient information and molecular test results for image-guided studies and database
entry.
10
Yes
Operating and maintaining core equipment (cryostat, automatic tissue processor, Ventana
automated immunostrainer, liquid nitrogen storage systems, tissue embedder, and
microtome). Disposing hazardous waste.
100%
(To update total %, enter the amount of time in whole numbers (without the %
symbol - e.g., 15,20) then highlight the totalsum (e.g., 1%) at the bottom of
thecolumn and pressF9. The totalsum should add up to 100%.)
QUALIFICATIONS
Required Qualifications:
* SRA I: BA/BS in Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy, or related science; or an
equivalent combination of education and experience
* SRA II: BA/BS in Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy, or related science, including
one year of related work experience; or an equivalent combination of
education and experience
* Knowledge and experience of cell culture and basic laboratory techniques
* Experience managing large amounts of data for special projects
* Mathematical proficiency for preparing antibody dilutions
* Experience with basic lab procedures and instrumentation set-up
* Experience with basic sterile techniques for tissue culture cell line maintenance
* Demonstrated ability to follow instructions and multi-task
to meet project deadlines; possess strong attention to details to ensure high
quality data
* Proven proficiency with Microsoft Office Excel and Word
Preferred Qualifications:
* Competency with MS Access
* Experience operating with the Ventana Automated Immunostainer
* Experience working with human biospecimens
* Experience working in a CLIA laboratory and understanding the importance of
maintaining patient confidentiality
* Experience with tissue collection, preparation and other related logistics for clinical trials
UCSF•San Francisco, California, United States