Assistant/Associate Specialist-Plant Microbiome- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology

Position overview Position title: Assistant/Associate Specialist -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/t24-b.pdf. The current base salary range for this position is $61,300 - $76,500. "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 23, 2024

Next review date: Tuesday, Oct 8, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Thursday, Oct 24, 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/Associate Specialist 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 Assistant/Associate Specialist will assist in conducting research in the specialized area of crop microbiome management and will be responsible for operating within the lab as a coordinator for the team's greenhouse and growth chamber research experiments, as well as being responsible for assisting in the managing of field trials during the summer growing season. The position will also assist in keeping detailed records of experiments performed, conclusions made, and communication of results orally and through lab notebook records.

Responsibilities:
The position will contribute in three major ways:
1) Assisting with synthetic community development and assessment.
2) Assisting with field and growth chamber experiments.
3) Assist in assessing plant growth performance under abiotic stress and with bioinoculants.

The candidate will also be responsible for coordinating with the team to ensure the timely publication of reports on an annual basis and adding research data to research publications.

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

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with crop microbiome research analysis.
• Experience working with tomato or other crops.
• Experience with working in growth chamber plant trials.
• Experience with running bioinformatics analysis.
• Coursework on plant development or plant biology.
• Bioinformatics.
• 16S rRNA analysis.
  
  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/JPF04627
  
  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/JPF04627