Jobs

Bogar Lab Junior Specialist Recruitment 2022
 

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 genomic investigations of symbiosis between plant roots and soil fungi. The Junior Specialist will work closely with the PI and other lab members to design and implement a variety of projects focused on ectomycorrhizal symbiosis. They will be involved in: 1) Propagating and caring for plant seedlings and fungal culture and spore collections; 2) synthesizing mycorrhizal associations between plants and fungi; 3) dissecting symbiotic plants and fungi and taking physiological measurements, and 4) extracting DNA and RNA from the resulting tissues and soils and preparing libraries for sequencing. They 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. If interested, the Junior Specialist may also be involved in collecting plant and fungal propagules on occasional field trips. The Junior Specialist 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 Junior Specialist is expected to have some research experience in plant or microbial systems with a molecular emphasis, but will be trained in the required skills specific to their projects. Experience with techniques such as sterile fungal and plant propagation (especially experience with conifer and/or Populus seedlings), plant and/or fungal ecophysiology (e.g. photosynthesis and stomatal conductance monitoring; shoot water potential measurements), DNA and/or RNA extraction and library preparation, and interpretation of gene expression or microbiome data is desirable, but not required. The Bogar Lab values diversity and is committed to maintaining a culture of inclusion. We encourage applications from all interested candidates, especially those whose backgrounds are underrepresented in the scientific community.

A. Research and lab maintenance (90%): The Junior Specialist will work closely with lab members to help plan and conduct experiments on plant-fungal interactions. They will follow and optimize laboratory protocols for nucleic acid extraction and sterile plant and fungal propagation, 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 Junior Specialist will discuss and interpret their research results with lab members and will co-author resulting publications as appropriate. In addition, they 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 Junior Specialist 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 coordinate the activities of undergraduate research students.

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Plant Sciences, 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, fungal, or microbial research

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience with sterile culturing techniques
• Experience in plant growth and maintenance
• Data analysis and visualization skills in R and/or Python
• Experience with library preparation for Illumina sequencing
• Experience maintaining large experiments over extended periods.

To apply: Qualified applicants should submit a cover letter, CV, contact information for 3 references and a Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, via this URL: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/apply/JPF05226. The deadline for full consideration is October 23, 2022. Questions: Please direct questions to Dr. Laura Bogar - lmbogar@ucdavis.edu.

• The University of California, Davis commits to inclusion excellence by advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do. 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.
• 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 http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify.
• UC Davis is a smoke & tobacco-free campus (http://breathefree.ucdavis.edu/). If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact the recruiting department.