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Assistant Specialist in Fungal Ecology

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Position overview

Position title: Assistant Specialist
Anticipated start: 12/01/2021

Position description

The Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology at the University of California invites applicants for a full-time Assistant Specialist in fungal ecology to conduct applied research for the Glassman Lab. The purpose of this position is to manage the wet lab aspects of the Glassman lab.

The final candidate will be responsible for 1) keeping the lab safe and enforcing any extra safety precautions necessary during covid-19 pandemic 2) keeping the lab neat and organized 3) purchasing supplies and maintaining chemical and lab safety standards for the lab 4) conducting field work and/or greenhouse work 5) setting up ecological experiments with fungal and bacterial cultures 6) performing DNA extractions 7) setting up 16S, 18S and ITS Illumina MiSeq libraries 8) performing qPCRs of 16S and 18S 9) performing techniques associated with identifying arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal spores and root colonization 10) growing bacterial and fungal cultures and making stocks 11) training undergraduate and graduate students 12) performing laboratory microcosms 13) making conceptual figures or science communication artwork in Adobe Illustrator 14) performing bioinformatics and analyzing data in R 15) contributing to manuscript writing.

Required qualifications at time of application for this position include:

1) Masters Degree in Genetics, Genomics, Bioinformatics or a related field.
2) Expertise in laboratory safety
3) Expertise in ordering and purchasing within the UC system
4) Expertise with molecular protocols including DNA extractions, PCRs, qPCR, Sanger Sequencing, Illumina MiSeq sequencing and preparation of amplicon libraries for 16S and ITS.
5) Willingness to do field work and greenhouse work
6) Expertise in training undergraduate and graduate students in molecular and sterile techniques
7) Expertise at culturing bacteria and fungi
8) Expertise in bioinformatics for Illumina MiSeq
9) Expertise at performing basic microbial ecology statistics in R
10) Positive and collaborative attitude
11) Willingness to give honest feedback
12) Expertise in greenhouse and field work as well as laboratory safety, purchasing, and training.

Preferred qualifications for this position include:

1) Minimum 2 years of experience working in a lab
2) Excellent oral and written communication
3) Expertise in Adobe Illustrator
4) Excellent troubleshooting abilities
5) Contribution to manuscript writing

Advancement through the Specialist ranks at the University of California is through a series of structured, merit-based evaluations, occurring every 2-3 years, each of which includes substantial peer input.

To apply: submit CV, Statement of Past and/or Planned Future Contributions to Advancing Diversity and Inclusive Excellence, and the contact information for three references to https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/apply/JPF01465. Review of applications will commence on November 22, 2021, and proceed until position is filled. For full consideration, applicants should submit their complete applications prior to the above date.

For more information about this position, please contact Dr. Sydney Glassman, Chair of the Search Committee, Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, at sydney.glassman@ucr.edu. For questions on application procedures and requirements, please contact Ms. Kendall Dunmore, Academic Personnel, at kendall.dunmore@ucr.edu.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

1) Masters Degree in Genetics, Genomics, Bioinformatics or a related field.
2) Expertise in laboratory safety
3) Expertise in ordering and purchasing within the UC system
4) Expertise with molecular protocols including DNA extractions, PCRs, qPCR, Sanger Sequencing, Illumina MiSeq sequencing and preparation of amplicon libraries for 16S and ITS.
5) Willingness to do field work and greenhouse work
6) Expertise in training undergraduate and graduate students in molecular and sterile techniques
7) Expertise at culturing bacteria and fungi
8) Expertise in bioinformatics for Illumina MiSeq
9) Expertise at performing basic microbial ecology statistics in R
10) Positive and collaborative attitude
11) Willingness to give honest feedback
12) Expertise in greenhouse and field work as well as laboratory safety, purchasing, and training.

Preferred qualifications

1) Minimum 2 years of experience working in a lab
2) Excellent oral and written communication
3) Expertise in Adobe Illustrator
4) Excellent troubleshooting abilities
5) Contribution to manuscript writing

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Statement of Past and/or Planned Future Contributions to Advancing Diversity and Inclusive Excellence - In a “Statement of Past and/or Planned Future Contributions to Advancing Diversity and Inclusive Excellence”, we ask applicants to describe their past and/or potential future contributions to promoting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment, which is a key requirement of the role of every faculty member and administrator at UCR. There are numerous ways to contribute, and a commitment to this part of our mission can be reflected through research, teaching, supervision, mentoring, community engagement, service, and any of the other varied activities that are a part of an academic career.

Reference requirements
  • 3 required (contact information only)

Please provide the contact information for a minimum of three references. You may request that your referees provide their letters (via AP Recruit) at the time of application (recommended). Upon review of applications, if the Search Committee wishes to review your reference letters and they are not already uploaded, they will reach out to your references via AP Recruit.

Apply link: https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/JPF01465

Help contact: kendall.dunmore@ucr.edu

About UC Riverside

The University of California, Riverside is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. UCR is a member institution of the American Association of Universities (AAU) as well as the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities (HSRU). Its mission is explicitly linked to providing routes to educational success for underrepresented and first-generation college students. A commitment to this mission is a preferred qualification.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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.

Job location

Riverside, CA