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Staff Research Associate 1 (9613C) - 71151

About Berkeley

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Departmental Overview

The Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management is a multidisciplinary program that recognizes the urgency of the challenges, and the enormous opportunities that may lead to transformative change. We have award-winning faculty in climate science, biodiversity, environmental policy, land use, and community outreach - all driven by a collective interest in our environmental future. We strive to serve as the campus portal to environmental research and issues. Berkeley is founded on the principle of knowledge for the public good. Our department builds on this promise. We offer a portfolio of exciting undergraduate majors that offer diverse career options to students interested in biology, environmental science, environmental policy, and preparation for the health professions. Our highly ranked graduate program consistently serves as a gateway to exciting careers in research, teaching, and public outreach.

Position Summary

Research on the transmission ecology of different genetic clades of grapevine red blotch virus. Work will include sample collection in the field, maintenance of plants and insects in a greenhouse facility, and molecular-based detection of a plant pathogen in the laboratory. The position will support all aspects of this research project. The purpose of the position is to initiate research and gather data on a grapevine disease of economic importance in California. Broadly, this position will support work in the UC Berkeley lab of ecology of emerging vector-borne plant diseases, a research group that studies challenging disease systems to better understand their biologies and ecologies, and to devise effective and sustainable disease management practices.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: 08/07/2024.

Responsibilities

• Maintenance of plants and insects in a greenhouse facility.
• Potting and pruning of plants, growing plant species for insect rearing, changing plants in insect colony as appropriate; monitoring for insect health.
• Experimental manipulations with plants and insects.
• Transferring insects from virus- infected plants to uninfected plants under different time points and conditions using appropriate equipment, keeping record of transfers and plant disease symptoms.
• PCR-based pathogen detection in the laboratory.
• Total plant DNA extraction following standard protocols, followed by PCR-based DNA amplification using quantitative PCR as a detection tool.
• Data evaluation, entry and organization are included in this responsibility.
• Sample collection from field sites. Infected plant tissue will be collected from vineyards in California, total DNA will be extracted from these plants and viruses genotyped using standard molecular protocols already established.
• Support to general research activities in the laboratory.
• Assisting with lab cleaning and organizing, assisting in other projects focused on pathogen detection, support with data organization and sample processing as necessary.

Required Qualifications

• Experience processing and preparing plant samples from vineyards and greenhouse for pathogen detection. It includes DNA extraction, qPCR, and genotyping.
• Experience maintaining plants in a greenhouse facility.
• Experience organizing experimental data.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience with grapevine diseases is highly desirable.
• Experience maintaining insect colonies.
• Experience with grapevine diseases, including symptom evaluation.
• Bachelor's degree in plant pathology, disease biology, entomology or related area and/or equivalent experience/training.

Salary & Benefits

This is a 100% full-time (40 hrs a week) non-exempt career position, which is paid hourly and eligible for UC Benefits.

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $26.52 (Step 1) - $27.14 (Step 2).

How to Apply

• To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Other Information

This position is governed by the terms and conditions in the agreement for the Research Support Professionals Unit (RX) between the University of California and the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE). The current bargaining agreement manual can be found at: http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/labor/bargaining-units/rx/index.html

• This is not a visa opportunity.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California 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, or protected veteran status. For more information about your rights as an applicant, please see the https://apptrkr.com/get_redirect.php?id=5480711&targetURL=U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission poster.

The University of California's Affirmative action policy.

The University of California's Anti-Discrimination policy.


To apply, visit https://careerspub.universityofcalifornia.edu/psc/ucb/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&JobOpeningId=71151&PostingSeq=1&SiteId=21&languageCd=ENG&FOCUS=Applicant