Assistant Project Scientist - Plant Microbiome - Department of Plant and Microbial Biology

Position overview

Position title: Assistant Project Scientist - Plant Microbiome
Salary range: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See the following table(s) for the current salary scale(s) for this position: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2024-25/july-2024-scales/t37-b.pdf. The current base salary range for this position is $74,100 -$94,200. "Off-scale" salaries, which yield compensation that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions.

Percent time: 100%

Anticipated start: Fall/Winter 2024

Position duration: One year with the possibility of extension based on performance and availability of funding.

Application Window
Open date: September 18, 2024

Next review date: Wednesday, Oct 2, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Friday, Oct 18, 2024 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

The Department of Plant and Microbial Biology at the University of California, Berkeley seeks applications for an Assistant Project Scientist in the Coleman-Derr Lab, in the area of plant and crop microbiome.

The Coleman-Derr lab develops microbiome-based tools for improving crop performance and tools for understanding the impact of abiotic stress and host specificity on microbiome recruitment with cereal crops. In addition, we assess the utility of existing microbial inoculants, specifically root-applied bacterial products that influence crop phenotypes. The project is a highly collaborative effort consisting of researchers located at the Plant Gene Expression Center in Albany, CA, including researchers affiliated with UCB and the USDA ARS.

The specific duties of the chosen candidate will involve research on synthetic communities in relation to the plant microbiome, especially the role of bacteria in conferring tolerance to abiotic stress, and the role of host genetics in recruitment of specific bacterial taxa.

Responsibilities:

The position will contribute in three major ways:
1) Leading synthetic community development and assessment
2) Leading field trial development
3) Designing experiments to assess plant growth performance under abiotic stress and with bioinoculants.
The position will keep detailed records of experiments performed, conclusions made, and communication of results orally and through lab notebook records.

Further responsibilities include analyzing data and preparing papers for publication in journals and presentations at conferences.

Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
PhD (or equivalent international degree)

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)
Minimum 3 years work experience post PhD.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with plant microbiome research analysis.
• Experience working with sorghum or related cereal crops.
• Experience with the construction of synthetic communities and bacterial isolate.
• Experience running field trials for bioinoculants, bacterial mutagenesis, plant mutagenesis, and plant transcriptomics.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

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

Reference requirements

• 2-3 required (contact information only)

Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF04622

Help contact: colemanderr@gmail.com

About UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The excellence of the institution requires an environment in which the diverse community of faculty, students, and staff are welcome and included. Successful candidates will demonstrate knowledge and skill related to ensuring equity and inclusion in the activities of their academic position (e.g., teaching, research, and service, as applicable).

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

Please refer to the University of California's Affirmative Action Policy and the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy.

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

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
Berkeley, California


To apply, visit https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF04622