APPLICATION WINDOW

Open date: November 17th, 2021

Next review date: Monday, Dec 6, 2021 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Friday, Dec 17, 2021 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

JUNIOR SPECIALIST POSITION DESCRIPTION

NATURE AND PURPOSE
The position of Junior Specialist provides technical or specialized expertise in the planning and execution of a research project in a Biosafety Level II 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 to transfer the yeast collection of a retired professor at another university to the Phaff Yeast Culture Collection in the Department of Food Science and Technology, working with Principal Investigators Dr. Kyria Boundy-Mills and Dr. Irnayuli Sitepu. The Junior Specialist will design a workflow to validate and preserve up to 6,000 yeast culture stocks, database historic data, determine yeast viability and purity, and confirm yeast species identity by DNA sequencing. They will also assist with routine day-to-day lab duties including lab safety duties, budget management and supplies acquisition, and supervise undergraduate assistants.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

RESEARH IN SPECIALIZED AREAS (90% effort)
a. The Junior Specialist will use their academic and professional expertise to contribute to the project, and will contribute to published research. Under the general direction of the Principal Investigators, the Junior Specialist will collaborate with other research personnel to accession up to 6,000 yeasts into the Phaff Yeast Culture Collection following standardized procedures.
b. The Junior Specialist will work with bioinformatics collaborators to validate the species identity of yeasts by DNA sequencing, followed by analysis of DNA sequences against public databases.
c. The Junior Specialist will be responsible for databasing historic phenotype data, as well as DNA sequence data, and ensuring the quality of data entry by undergraduate assistants.
d. The Junior Specialist will assist with laboratory maintenance tasks, including safety management, ordering supplies, maintaining the chemical inventory, managing lab waste, and other lab maintenance tasks.

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (5% effort)
a. The Junior Specialist will participate in appropriate professional/technical societies or groups and other educational and research organizations, such as the US Culture Collection Network, to learn more about the newest advances in culture collection management, microbiology, and food science.
b. The Junior Specialist will organize the contributions to journal manuscripts and publications prior to submission and offer technical and creative contributions to the 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 Investigators, and contribute to manuscript preparation and presentation of research findings.

UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE (5% effort)
a. Participate in public outreach activities related to the project. These include improving and providing material for the Phaff collection website, and events such as UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day.

QUALIFICATIONS

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

• Bachelor’s degree in a field of biology.

• At least 1 year of experience in performing microbiology lab research.

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

• Able to lift 40 pounds to chest height
• Proficiency in aseptic technique
• Experience with database operation
• Strong organizational skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Able to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted

Preferred qualifications

• Must complete safety training including the safe use of blood-borne pathogens, safe use of a biosafety cabinet, hazardous waste management.
• Knowledge of yeast taxonomy and identification
• Purification, identification and preservation of a broad range of microbial species
• Able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Able to work with diverse teams
• Able to troubleshoot and make new decisions during changing conditions

SKILLS/ KNOWLEDGE:
• Microbiology including aseptic technique; media preparation; purification, identification and preservation of a broad range of microbial species
• Knowledge of yeast taxonomy and identification
• Experience with database operation including Filemaker Pro
• Maintenance and operation of bioreactors
• Experience with performing PCR and DNA sequence analysis
• Culture collection management
• Safe handling of human pathogens
• Organizational skills, including maintaining an inventory of supplies.
• Oral and written communication skills
• Standard/safe laboratory and field practices

ABILITIES:
• Concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
• Enter and record data in compliance with Good Laboratory Practice guidelines.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Be able to work with diverse teams
• Be able to troubleshoot and make new decisions during changing conditions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
•Ergonomic hazards including heavy lifting, repetitive motions, awkward motions, etc.
•Exposure to potentially pathogenic yeast strains.
• Exposure to hazardous laboratory chemicals, heat and steam from the autoclave, ultralow temperature materials, broken glass, and open flames.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Document requirements

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

• Cover Letter (Optional)

• Statement of Research (Optional)

• Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion documented in the application file will be used to evaluate applicants. Visit https://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/faculty-equity-and-inclusion for guidelines about writing a statement and why one is requested.

Reference requirements

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

Apply link: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF04579

Help contact: evillasenor@ucdavis.edu

JOB LOCATION

Davis, California