Recruit

JUNIOR SPECIALIST POSITION DESCRIPTION

NATURE AND PURPOSE
The position of Junior Specialist provides technical or specialized expertise in the planning and execution of research projects in a food chemistry laboratory. The Junior Specialist stays apprised of the research area and maintains technical competence in the designated area(s) of specialization. The role of this position is to provide specialized expertise in food chemistry research in the UC Food Quality laboratory of the Principal Investigator Dr. Selina Wang. The Junior Specialist is actively and significantly engaged in research including various projects that are related to food quality and analytical chemistry method development.

The Junior Specialist is responsible for setting up and executing experiments and conducting quality control and data management procedures. The Junior Specialist will have the opportunity to have creative input into the design of and selection of experiments to meet the study objectives. They will also assist with routine day-to-day lab duties including lab safety duties, supplies acquisition, and will lead undergraduate assistants. The Junior Specialist also supports the UC Davis Olive Center Faculty Director Dr. Selina Wang and Specialist/lab manager on research-related activities, product quality evaluation, sample preparation, and technical preparation for educational courses and outreach programs.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
RESEARH IN SPECIALIZED AREAS (90% effort)
a. The Junior Specialist will use their academic and professional expertise to make scientific contributions to a research study and will contribute to published research. Under the general direction of the Principal Investigator and lab manager, the Junior Specialist will collaborate with other research personnel such as undergraduate student assistants and collaborators.
b. The Junior Specialist will prepare samples using standard techniques and analyze them following established methods. Sometimes, it may be necessary to develop and/or optimize methods. Samples may include food products, olive oil, olives, and other samples related to UC Food Quality Lab and UC Davis Olive Center research and applied quality evaluation.
c. The Junior Specialist will be actively engaged in sample collection and analysis and will work with collaborators in the laboratory as well as from other departments at UC Davis. The Junior Specialist will also assist with sample organization, product quality evaluation, and technical support for Olive Center products, educational courses, and research-based outreach activities.
d. The Junior Specialist will draft tables and figures for presentations, reports, and scientific publications as well as drafting and revising manuscripts as needed. The Junior Specialist will also assist with organizing data and technical materials for UC Food Quality Lab and Olive Center reports, course materials, and program deliverables.
e. The Junior Specialist will assist with laboratory maintenance tasks, including safety management, maintaining the chemical inventory, managing lab waste, and other lab maintenance tasks.

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (10% effort)
a. The Junior Specialist will participate in appropriate professional/technical societies or groups and other educational and research organizations to learn more about the newest advances in the chemistry related to food quality, authenticity and safety.
b. The Junior Specialist will organize data for grant reports and publications prior to submission and offer technical and creative contributions to manuscript preparation.
c. The Junior Specialist will conduct literature searches for articles relevant to the research topic, engage in discussions of data with the Principal Investigator/Olive Center Faculty Director and Specialist/lab manager, and contribute to presentation of research findings and manuscript preparation.

UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE (0% effort)
a. The Junior Specialist is not expected to participate in university or public service

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

• “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

To implement this process, UC Davis requires all applicants for any open search to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled, "Authorization to Release Information" into UC RECRUIT as part of their application. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration.

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity 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 status under state for federal law.

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.

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all employees and students. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service are embodied by members of our academic community who share our commitment to these values. A variety of resources and programs are available to academics, staff, and students that reflect the core values reflected in 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.

UC Davis is also a national leader in inclusive practice. There are numerous links available on the About Us webpage where you can learn more about our administration, campus rankings, locations, campus safety, sustainability, visiting UC Davis and UC Davis Health.

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.

The University of California and UC Davis are committed to offering a wide variety of benefits for employees. The University of California Employee benefits and UC Davis New Employee benefits webpages have additional information.

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.