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Appointee(s) to the Junior Specialist will be involved in research related to the conservation and ecology of California’s reptiles and amphibians. Opportunities will generally involve research with threatened or endangered species, including species like the Mojave Desert Tortoise.

The position requires the candidate to conduct field or lab studies with reptiles or amphibians. This may include laboratory-based experimental research/husbandry and/or field-based observational research using radio-telemetry and requiring familiarity with GPS technology and location data. The applicant will preferably have experience with CA native reptiles and amphibians and/or experience with radio-telemetry and sensitive-status species. This position will be involved in research aimed at improving our understanding of the ecology of native herpetofauna with direct application to the conservation of these species.

Under the supervision of Dr. Brian Todd, the appointee(s) will perform the following duties:

General responsibilities include the care of sensitive reptile species, construction/maintenance of experimental and husbandry systems, and performance of high-quality research in a field or laboratory setting. Applicants will likely be required to work outdoors in various weather conditions, including remote field areas where temperatures can reach extremes (e.g., Mojave Desert); working evenings or weekends to fulfill experimental or test animal maintenance requirements, as well as working during normal working hours in temperature-controlled office and lab facilities. Must be able to lift equipment up to 30 lbs.; must be able to withstand the weather and temperature-related working conditions as previously described, with careful attention to personal safety and avoiding weather-related illness. Responsibilities may also include maintaining telemetry equipment in the field/lab, assisting during transmitter deployment, data collection, and assisting in data entry and quality control of datasets. A successful applicant will be required to communicate with funding agencies, help write technical and permitting reports, and contribute in the preparation of journal articles. Depending on field duties and schedule, they will attend laboratory meetings, review journal articles, engage in discussions on research and the interpretation of research results, and may have the possibility of presenting research findings at technical meetings and professional societies.

The ideal candidate will have strong problem-solving, interpersonal, and communication skills, as well as the ability to work both independently and as part of a team. They will also have demonstrated the attention to detail required to successfully collect, organize, and store data, as well as to communicate critical project needs, changes, or challenges to senior staff and faculty in a collaborative setting.

Research (90%):

The incumbent will help design and execute studies in consultation with the PI and other project scientists. They will provide feedback on aspects of the studies. They will help with collecting and summarizing data, may assist in data analyses, and will provide information to be used for annual and related reports. They will assist the project by writing annual permitting reports and by participating in lab discussions. They will contribute to, edit, and provide feedback on any publications resulting from the work. They will be involved in animal use protocol reporting and compliance, as well as writing protocols.

Professional Competence (5%)
The incumbent may be able to participate in regional meetings. The incumbent will be expected to interact with and engage stakeholders and other agencies involved in wildlife management.

University and Public Service (5%)
The incumbent may assist in training or mentoring of other junior scientists or project personnel or participate in university or other groups to improve equity and inclusion in the sciences.

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.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy.

For the University of California's Affirmative Action Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20

For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination

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.

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