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Junior Specialist- Bogar lab 2023

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Position overview

Salary range: A reasonable estimate for this position is $49,000 at step 1

Position description

The Bogar Lab in the Department of Plant Biology at the University of California, Davis is seeking a Junior Specialist to contribute to ecological, physiological, and molecular investigations of symbiosis between plant roots and soil fungi, starting September 1st, 2023. The candidate will work closely with the PI and other lab members to design and implement a variety of projects focused on mycorrhizal symbiosis. They will be involved in: 1) Propagating and caring for plant seedlings and fungal culture and spore collections; 2) aseptic synthesis of mycorrhizal associations between plants and fungi; 3) extracting DNA and RNA from tissues and soils, and preparing libraries for sequencing; and 4) conducting bioassays to investigate the effects of root exudates and component chemicals on the germination, growth, and gene expression of different fungal strains. The Junior Specialist will be expected to participate in field sampling efforts during the winter and spring, and should be comfortable working outdoors under variable conditions. The candidate will also contribute to lab maintenance and upkeep, including tracking inventories and ordering supplies as needed; maintaining freezers and responding in case of emergency freezer failure; washing and storing lab ware and plant propagation equipment for experiments; and helping to ensure compliance with laboratory safety requirements. The candidate will have the opportunity to develop and investigate an independent research question focused on the data they will produce, contributing their findings to publications with appropriate acknowledgement.

The candidate will have research experience in plant and fungal systems, with particular background in culturing fungi from field-collected plant tissues and investigating plant-fungal interactions from a metabolomic perspective. Experience with techniques such as sterile fungal and plant propagation, spore germination assays, Agrobacterium transformation of plants and/or filamentous fungi, fluorescence microscopy, DNA and/or RNA extraction and library preparation, and metabolite analysis with high performance liquid chromatography is desirable. The Bogar Lab values diversity and is committed to maintaining a culture of inclusion.

A. Research and lab maintenance (90%): The Junior Specialist will work closely with lab members to plan and conduct experiments on plant-fungal interactions. The candidate will follow and optimize laboratory protocols for nucleic acid extraction and sterile plant and fungal propagation. They will maintain large experiments in growth chamber and greenhouse contexts, and will be creatively involved in designing and implementing appropriate harvest protocols at the end of experiments to ensure rigorous molecular and physiological data collection. The candidate will discuss and interpret their research results with lab members and will co-author resulting publications as appropriate. In addition, the Junior specialist will help keep the lab running smoothly by managing inventory, maintaining specialized equipment such as freezers, keeping benches and workspaces clean, preparing buffers, media, and reagents for ongoing lab projects, and helping to create a culture of safety in the laboratory.

B. Professional Competence and Activity (5%) The candidate will attend seminars on topics related to fields of interest, participate and present in lab meetings and participate in scientific discussions with colleagues, and may engage in training programs to enhance knowledge and skills depending on the candidate’s long-term goals.

C. University and Public Service (5%) The Junior Specialist will participate in public outreach activities and will help with the mentoring of undergraduate research students.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

• Bachelor’s degree in Plant Sciences, Fungal Biology, General Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Ecology, or another related field
• Experience in molecular protocols, DNA or RNA focused
• Experience in organizing experiments and data collection
• Experience in plant and fungal research

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

• Experience with aseptic culturing techniques for plants and fungi
• Experience in analyzing metabolites using high performance liquid chromatography
• Experience in designing, maintaining, and harvesting large greenhouse experiments

Application Requirements

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

  • Cover Letter

  • 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
  • 3-5 letters of reference required
Apply link: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF05691

Help contact: lmblake@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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