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BML SHELLFISH HEALTH/WHITE ABALONE JR SPECIALIST

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Position overview

Salary range: $3,900/Month; $46,800/Year

Position description

The position is 100% (full-time) and is located at UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory in Bodega Bay, CA. This position will have laboratory duties under the supervision of UC Davis Assistant Project Scientist Dr. Aquilino, director of the White Abalone Captive Breeding Program and California Department of Fish and Wildlife Shellfish Health Laboratory’s Dr. Burge. The white abalone is an ESA-listed endangered species which was overfished in the 20th century and is now on the brink of extinction. Outplanting of captively bred animals is the essential method of saving the species. The goal of this position is to contribute to the successful captive rearing and health maintenance of endangered white abalone as part of recovery efforts for the species.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESIGNATED AREAS OF EXPERTISE:

I. RESEARCH IN SPECIALIZED AREAS (80% EFFORT)

• Assist with the health maintenance of captive white abalone at Bodega Marine Laboratory and partner institutions, including performing health examinations, feces testing, qPCR, necropsy, and histology, especially related to the agent of withering syndrome (Xenohaliotis californiensis), shell-boring organisms, and other abalone pathogens and symbionts.

• Assist in maintaining ongoing laboratory experiments related to white abalone health.

• Assist with the general care of endangered white abalone held at Bodega Marine Laboratory, including feeding animals, cleaning animal holding areas and related seawater systems, changing filters, and maintaining pumps, temperature systems, UV units, LED lighting, and timeclocks.

• Assist with acquiring food for captive white abalone held at Bodega Marine Laboratory, including field collection of wild kelp and other seaweeds, maintenance of a dulse culture, and travel to Monterey and other areas in California to acquire harvested kelp.

• Assist with general laboratory operations: Ordering supplies, lab organization, maintaining equipment, maintaining state and federal permits, and maintaining a safe and well-organized laboratory environment. Preparing supplies for animal assessments and spawning events, acquiring and managing samples, working with fellow animal care staff and volunteers and develop schedules for animal care and life support systems maintenance. Assisting with laboratory safety information and training.

• Enter, organize, analyze, and interpret data. Opportunities for independence and leadership in research projects. Write and present on research for public and scientific audiences.

• Actively support ongoing research activities for students, postdoctoral scholars, and staff. This will include, but may not be limited to, review and editing of proposals, presentation of results at scientific conferences, and providing feedback on manuscripts in preparation related to their area of expertise.

II. PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (15% EFFORT)

• Participate in and contribute to the development of an inclusive and accessible working environment for our research program.

• Engage with the academic community at Bodega Marine Laboratory through participation in lab-wide meetings and research seminars. Participate in appropriate professional societies, including presentations at professional meetings.

III. UNIVERSITY & PUBLIC SERVICE (5% EFFORT)

• Participate in the mentorship of undergraduates, interns, and volunteers in the laboratory.

• Serve on local departmental or institute committees based upon the Jr. Specialist’s areas of interest.

• Participate in educational activities oriented to the public at the Bodega Marine Laboratory and on campus, as well as presentations to regulatory agency staff as requested.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Move and maneuver equipment weighing up to 20 pounds
• Climb ladders
• Bend, stoop, and work in tight, confined areas
• Work occasional evenings/nights/weekends/holidays, including overtime and/or on short notice to meet operational needs

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

• B.S. in Biology, Microbiology, Marine Biology, or a related discipline
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Preferred qualifications (other preferred, but not required, qualifications for the position)

• Careful laboratory skills and experience with qPCR
• Knowledge and experience aquatic animal disease, aquatic animal epidemiology, molecular biology, metagenomics, host-pathogen biology, and/or disease diagnosis
• Experience with animal care and/or marine aquaculture
• Experience with various software programs for data management, image analysis, and reporting (i.e., Excel, graphing procedures, statistical analysis, ImageJ, PowerPoint, R)

Application Requirements

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

  • Cover Letter

  • Statement of Research (Optional)

  • Statement of Teaching (Optional)

  • 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.

Reference requirements
  • 3 required (contact information only)
Apply link: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF04389

Help contact: lesawyer@ucdavis.edu

About UC Davis

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus (http://breathefree.ucdavis.edu/).

We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals’ with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. More information is available at: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is committed to inclusive excellence by advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do. UC Davis celebrates the multi-cultural diversity of its community by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment demonstrated through a variety of resources and programs available to academics, staff, and students. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are core values of UC Davis that are embedded within our Principles of Community and are tied with how to best serve our student population. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service can best be fully realized by members of our academic community who share our commitment to these values, which are included in our Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Vision, our strategic plan: “To Boldly Go,” our Principles of Community, the Office of Academic Affairs’ Mission Statement, and the UC Board of Regents Policy 4400: Policy on University of California Diversity Statement. UC Davis is making important progress towards our goal of achieving federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion offers a plethora of resources on their website, and the Office of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (HEDI) has outlined similar goals in their Anti-Racism and DEI Action Plan.” There are a plethora of links available on the About Us webpage where you can learn more about our Administration, Diversity and Inclusion, Rankings, Locations, Native American Land Acknowledgement, Sustainability, Visiting UC Davis, UC Davis Health, and Campus Safety.

The university is consistently ranked among the top institutions in the world for campus sustainability practices by the UI Green Metric World University Rankings. UC Davis is focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and repeatedly shown its commitment to preserving a healthy and sustainable environment for generations to come.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

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Job location

BODEGA BAY, CA