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Location

Davis, CA | United States

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Job description

Junior Specialist/Del Castillo lab

Position Overview:
A reasonable estimate for this position is $51,300, at Step 1

POSITION DESCRIPTION for Junior Specialist in the Del Castillo Lab

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
Junior Specialists in the Del Castillo Lab are expected have an interest in sustainable agriculture, native habitats and forest restoration, disease diagnostics, plant health management, oomycete and fungal ecology, extension, or a related field. The incumbent must be a motivated, organized, independently driven individual who is able to work and collaborate with members of the lab in a professional manner. The Junior specialist must therefore have excellent organization skills, including abilities for short term, long-term time management and organized worked in the bench. As the major contributor to research studies, the incumbent expected to contribute to scholarly manuscripts, outreach publications and reports, and present work at local, statewide and national meetings. Work will be conducted in the lab, in campus greenhouses, and off campus, on greenhouse and nursery facilities of ornamental crops and vegetable transplants throughout California.
Research (85%)
The incumbent of this position will be actively and significantly involved in publishable research activities through the following roles and duties:

• Assist the PI and post-doctoral researcher on survey of plant pathogens associated to vegetable and ornamental crops. It includes plant collection in commercial nurseries, and sample processing.
  
• Implement molecular assays (qPCR, RPA) for diagnostics of plant pathogens.
  
• Assist the PI in development and establishment of greenhouse trials (experimental design, study set up), data collection, data analysis and interpretation, and contribution to resulting reports, outreach articles for trade journals, and scholarly manuscripts for peer reviewed journals.
  
• Independently develop and conduct laboratory and greenhouse trials to test hypotheses relating to fungal pathogen ecology and management (analysis of management strategies, pathogen-host- environment interactions) through design, study installation, data collection and analysis, and preparation of scholarly manuscripts and reports-either relevant sections, or entire manuscripts, based on the extent of the contribution.
  
• Project development will involve active engagement of literature in project development and interpretation beyond that expected in a purely technical capacity, including use of literature for hypothesis development, development of literature reviews, development and optimization of protocols and analytical methods, and development of introductory and discussion material in the preparation of manuscripts and reports. Some literature will be provided (books, articles), but it is expected that the incumbent will conduct literature searches to identify additional materials.
  
• Assist the PI in development of grant proposals based on preliminary data collected in previous studies conducted by the incumbent, including development of project objectives, experimental methods and project background information.
  
• Manage the laboratory culture collection by overseeing the long term storage process of fungal, oomycete and bacterial isolates.
  
• As a full-time lab member, this position includes responsibility for maintaining safety standards and meeting regulatory requirements, staff training and mentoring (undergraduate student technicians), and general laboratory supply ordering and maintenance.
  Professional Competence (10%):
  
• The incumbent will present research at both statewide outreach meetings, regional plant pathology meetings (e.g. Soil Borne Pathogens Conference, American Pathological Society, Pacific Division) and national meetings (e.g. American Pathological Society Annual Meeting). Presentations will be delivered in poster and oral presentation formats. The incumbent will have opportunities to develop presentation abilities in laboratory meetings and the UC Davis plant pathology department retreat and other local (on-campus) events.
  
• The incumbent will be encouraged to have membership with the American Phytopathological Society, Pacific Division and national.
  University and Public Service (5%):
  
• As part of UC service and service to the public, the incumbent will help serve critical disease diagnosis needs for crop producers as well as for research scientist at UC Davis, and within UC cooperative extension. These diagnosis services are conducted free of charge, representing a significant service to the ornamental producers and research community.
  
• As a component of university service, the incumbent will also be asked to serve on one or more department committees, such as the Department Safety Committee or the Facilities Committee.
  
• As a public service, the incumbent will also be encouraged to deliver oral presentations at public events, such as those held by The Phytophthoras in Native Habitats Work Group and the Vegetable Transplant Nursery Association meetings.
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  About University of California Davis

  UC Davis is the home of the Aggies — go-getters, change makers and problem solvers who make their mark at one of the top public universities in the United States. Since we first opened in 1908, we’ve been known for standout academics, sustainability and Aggie Pride as well as valuing the Northern California lifestyle. These themes are woven into our 100-plus-year history and our reputation for solving problems related to food, health, the environment and society.Our 5,300-acre campus is in the city of Davis, a vibrant college town of about 68,000 located in Yolo County. The state capital is 20 minutes away, and world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Lake Tahoe and the Napa Valley are within a two-hour drive.

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