Skip to main content

Junior Specialist / Rosenheim Lab

We are no longer accepting applications for this recruitment. Browse open recruitments

Position description

Overview:
We seek to hire a Junior Specialist, Step 1, to conduct research in agricultural insect ecology, focused on pest management in California citrus. The Junior Specialist will assist the PI, a postdoctoral researcher, and a graduate student researcher in a collaborative research in conducting field experimentation. Primary duties will involve designing field experiments; purchasing and preparing field supplies; executing field experiments; entering data into spreadsheets and archiving paper data forms; and making presentations at farmer meetings and local and state meetings of pest management professionals.

All field work will be conducted at the Lindcove Research and Extension Center, Tulare County, California. All laboratory work will be conducted at the UC Davis campus, Department of Entomology and Nematology.

The appointment will initially be made for one year, Nov. 1, 2019 – Oct. 31, 2020, with reappointment possible for a second year based on performance.

Research (80%): The incumbent of this position will be actively and significantly involved in publishable research activities through the following roles and duties:

  • Assist the PI in building a multi-year citrus pest management database by interpreting farmer and consultant records and entering data manually or using automated scripts into a dedicated database, Citrusformatics. The incumbent will develop expertise in using Citrusformatics. The incumbent will also collaborate with software developers to automate some aspects of data import to the database.
  • Assist the PI in designing and executing field experiments to address hypotheses that emerge from analyses of the citrus pest management database. This work will be collaborative in the design phase but largely independent in the data collection phase. Field work will be conducted at the Lindcove Research and Extension Center, Tulare County, California.
  • Assist the PI in manuscript preparation, including but not limited to: reading scholarly literature, writing methods and results sections, and revising manuscripts based on work conducted in the laboratory and field.

Professional competence (15%):

  • The incumbent will present research at both statewide outreach meetings, regional entomology meetings, and national entomology or ecology meetings. Presentations will be delivered in poster and oral presentation formats.
  • The incumbent will be encouraged to participate in weekly lab meetings, weekly meetings of the joint insect ecology laboratory meetings held within the Department of Entomology and Nematology, and to attend weekly seminars in the Department of Entomology and Nematology.
  • The incumbent will be encouraged to have membership with the Entomological Society of America and the Ecological Society of America.

University and Public Service (5%):

  • As a component of university service, the incumbent will also be asked to serve on one or more department committees, such as the Department Safety Committee or the Facilities Committee.
  • As a public service, the incumbent will also be encouraged to deliver oral presentations at public events, such as those held as part of formal outreach activities hosted by the Bohart Museum of Entomology or the Department of Entomology and Nematology.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • This position requires a minimum of a Bachelor of Science or equivalent degree (Biology, Entomology, Ecology, or similar field).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • The ideal candidate will have strong interpersonal, communication, and decision-making skills; as well as the ability to work well independently and as part of a team.
  • Other preferred, but not required, qualifications are experience working with insects, field ecology, and data management.

NOTE: The junior specialist rank is an entry level position; accordingly, it is inappropriate to hire applicants with advanced degrees in this field, or those with bachelor’s degrees and three years’ relevant work experience. (See APM-UCD 330)

SALARY RANGE: Step I - $39,500 annually

TERM OF APPOINTMENT: Full-Time (100%) Nov. 1, 2019 – Oct. 31, 2020, with reappointment possible for a second year based on performance.

JOB LOCATION: UC DANR Lindcove Research and Extension Center, Tulare County, CA (field work); Department of Entomology and Nematology, Davis, CA (lab work).

TO APPLY: To apply, please go to the following link:
Please provide (1) a cover letter that captures your related interests, experiences, and career goals, (2) a current CV, (3) contact information for three references that may be consulted.

The University of California, Davis, is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer with a strong institutional commitment to the development of a climate that supports equality of opportunity and respect for differences. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct.

UC Davis is a smoke- and tobacco free-campus effective January 1, 2014. Smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e-cigarettes) will be strictly prohibited on any property owned or leased by UC Davis -- indoors and outdoors including parking lots and residential spaces.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Cover Letter - A cover letter that captures your related interests, experiences, and career goals.

  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion documented in the application file will be used to evaluate applicants. Visit https://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/faculty-equity-and-inclusion for guidelines about writing a statement and why one is requested.
    (Optional)

Reference requirements
  • 3-5 required (contact information only)
2023 Forbes Award: Best Employers for Diversity 2023 Forbes Award: Best Employers for Women

Job location

Tulare County and Davis, CA