The Diepenbrock lab is hiring a Junior Specialist to carry out field research trials—and lab-based analysis of samples from these trials— in grain legumes (common bean and cowpea) and sorghum. These trials will be taking place in Davis and Parlier, California, with limited additional domestic and international travel (approximately two weeks per year). Key activities include participating in the field design process, preparing seed for planting, coordinating planting and harvest, in-season agronomic management (e.g., coordinating timing of weeding, notifying collaborating teams of relevant logistics), data collection and analysis in the field and lab, and attendance of regular project meetings of the full project team and pre-breeding/genomics subteam. Examples of traits to be collected in the field include flowering time and plant height. Traits to be collected in the lab are primarily grain nutritional quality and other compositional traits. This work is part of the GEMINI project: Genotype x Environment x Management (GxExM) Innovation in Intelligence for climate adaptation. GEMINI. This project is focused on developing artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled, 3-D biophysical modeling frameworks that are integrated with genomics, to accelerate modern plant breeding pipelines for sorghum, common bean, and cowpea.

NATURE AND PURPOSE

The position of Specialist has a narrow focus in a specialized area and provides technical or specialized expertise (e.g., with instrumentation and research equipment or with social science research methods) in the planning and execution of a research project. The Specialist stays apprised of emerging issues and problems and maintains technical competence in the designated area(s) of specialization. Within this defined area and when appropriate, the Specialist is expected to provide leadership, facilitate teamwork and develop collaborative relationships with colleagues and to supply input into the planning of research and educational programs. Normally, Specialists do not have Principal Investigator (PI) status but may obtain permission by exception and/or collaborate with a PI in preparing research proposals for extramural funding. The Specialist is evaluated for merit and promotion using three basic criteria outlined below.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESIGNATED AREAS OF EXPERTISE

The candidate will carry out field research trials and lab-based analyses of samples from these trials in grain legumes (common bean and cowpea) and sorghum. These trials will be taking place in Davis and Parlier, California, with limited additional domestic and optional international travel (approximately two weeks per year). Examples of traits to be collected in the field include flowering time and plant height. Traits to be collected in the lab are primarily grain nutritional quality and other compositional traits. This work is part of the GEMINI project: Genotype x Environment x Management (GxExM) Innovation in Intelligence for climate adaptation (GEMINI). This project is focused on developing artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled, 3-D biophysical modeling frameworks that are integrated with genomics, to accelerate modern plant breeding pipelines for sorghum, common bean, and cowpea. The Junior Specialist will work directly with the PI and breeding program personnel.

I. RESEARCH IN SPECIALIZED AREAS (90%):

A. Key activities include participating in the field design process, preparing seed for planting, coordinating planting and harvest, in-season agronomic management (e.g., coordinating timing of weeding, notifying collaborating teams of relevant logistics), data collection and analysis in the field and lab, and participation and presentation of their results and research progress in regular project meetings of the UC Davis project team and pre-breeding/genomics sub-team, and in annual meetings of the full (across-institution) project team.

1. The candidate will have opportunities for co-authorship in publications, namely by contributing to materials and methods sections, carrying out subsets of the data analysis, and critically reviewing and providing constructive feedback on manuscripts prior to submission to peer-reviewed journals.
2. The candidate will be expected to read peer-reviewed publications (e.g., publications situated at the intersection of the target crops, trait sets, and/or methods of focus) both on their own and in a journal club context.

II. PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (5%):

A. The candidate will also have an opportunity to attend domestic conferences (with a disciplinary theme relevant to this project; e.g., crop science, agronomy, plant biology, plant phenotyping, plant genomics) yearly to present their research in the form of a poster or talk.

III. UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE (5%):

A. Candidate will have an opportunity to co-mentor undergraduate student researchers (particularly in field- and lab-based data collection efforts).
B. Additional opportunities to present the candidate’s research in a manner appropriate for the target audiences, e.g., in field day events such as the UC dry bean and small grains field days and other campus scientific communication and outreach events such as Picnic Day, will be encouraged.

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.