Clinical Lab Scientist

The mission of the UCSF Department of Surgery is threefold: to develop the next generation of leaders in surgery; to provide outstanding quality clinical care that is cost effective, yet compassionate; and to make significant advances in scientific knowledge and clinical practice through basic and clinical research. Care of patients is what attracted our faculty and residents to surgery, and it continues to be our main focus. The Department is comprised of seven divisions including Adult Cardiothoracic Surgery, General Surgery, Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, Pediatric Surgery, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Transplant Surgery, and Vascular & Endovascular Surgery.

The UCSF-ITL is a high complexity clinical laboratory that performs tests and provides services that support solid organ (kidney, heart, lung, liver, pancreas, islet, etc.) and hematopoietic stem cell (blood, marrow, cord blood, etc.) transplant programs. The laboratory is CLIA certified and is licensed by the states of California and New York. The lab is also certified as a free-standing-histocompatibility laboratory by the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). The laboratory serves as a core laboratory for the NIH Immune Tolerance Network and provides support for several national clinical trials.

Perform laboratory functions that support solid organ and blood & marrow transplant programs. Functions include on-call responsibilities for the deceased donor transplant programs; perform infectious disease testing; data entry of patient and sample information into various systems, prepare cell subsets; isolate DNA; HLA type by various methods; crossmatch by flow cytometry method; test and identify HLA antibodies; chimerism monitoring and other HLA-related tests; assist in managing samples (store, retrieve, and aliquot samples); perform quality control and routine maintenance of various laboratory equipment; analyze and report laboratory data; order supplies, repairs, and other services; answer phones and perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Graduation from college with a major in an appropriate scientific field

• Knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of duties assigned to the position

• Relevant laboratory experience and/or a degree in life science or related course

• Must be able to perform on-call duties including reporting to the laboratory within an hour of notice or call

• Must be able to work variable shifts as required by laboratory operations including weekends, nights, and early mornings

• Accurate and be able to process multiple samples without switches

• Be able to work with personal computers

• Must be effective as a member of a team

• Proven record of being reliable and be able to multi-task

• Must be able to work independently with minimum supervision

• Proficient in communication and interpersonal skills to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing

• Tidy and orderly

Preferred Qualifications

• Advance degree (Masters or doctorate) in a relevant field (e.g., immunology, blood banking, and biochemistry)

• Experience with QC/QA/QS in a clinical laboratory setting

• Working knowledge of antigens and genetics of the HLA system and be able to interpret results correctly

Required Certification Licenses and/or Certifications

• Current California Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) Generalist or Clinical Histocompatibility Scientist license