Junior Specialist/Swett Lab

Open date: January 22nd, 2021

Next review date: Friday, Feb 5, 2021 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Monday, Feb 22, 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.

Junior Specialist Position Description
Junior Specialists in the Swett lab are expected have an interest in sustainable agriculture, plant health management, fungal ecology, extension, or a related field. The incumbent must be a motivated, organized, independently driven individual who is able to work and collaborate with members of the lab in a professional manner. She/he must therefore have excellent organization skills, including abilities for short term and long-term time management. As the major contributor to research studies, the incumbent expected to contribute to scholarly manuscripts, outreach publications and reports, and present work at local, statewide and national meetings. Work will be conducted in the lab, in campus greenhouses, field research stations on and off campus, and on tomato, rice, lettuce, and melon farms (among other crops) throughout California.

• Assist the PI in discovery and documentation of new pathogens through analyses of unknown diseases present in vegetable and field crops in California, pathogen characterization (molecular identification and koch’s postulates) and preparation of outreach articles for trade journals and first reports for publication in peer reviewed journals.
• Assist the PI in development and establishment of field and greenhouse trials (experimental design, study set up), data collection, data analysis and interpretation, and contribution to resulting reports, outreach articles for trade journals, and scholarly manuscripts for peer reviewed journals.
• Independently develop and conduct laboratory and greenhouse trials to test hypotheses relating to fungal pathogen ecology and management (analysis of management strategies, pathogen-host-environment interactions) through design, study installation, data collection and analysis, and preparation of scholarly manuscripts and reports—either relevant sections, or entire manuscripts, based on the extent of the contribution.
• Project development will involve active engagement of literature in project development and interpretation beyond that expected in a purely technical capacity, including use of literature for hypothesis development, development of literature reviews, development and optimization of protocols and analytical methods, and development of introductory and discussion material in the preparation of manuscripts and reports. Some literature will be provided (books, articles), but it is expected that the incumbent will conduct literature searches to identify additional materials.
• Present research at both statewide outreach meetings, regional plant pathology meetings (eg. Soil Borne Pathogens Conference, American Pathological Society, Pacific Division) and national meetings (eg. American Pathological Society Annual Meeting). Presentations will be delivered in poster and oral presentation formats. The incumbent will have opportunities to develop presentation abilities in laboratory meetings and the UC Davis plant pathology department retreat and other local (on-campus) events.
• Assist the PI in development of grant proposals based on preliminary data collected in previous studies conducted by the incumbent, including development of project objectives, experimental methods and project background information.
• As a full time lab member, this position includes responsibility for maintaining safety standards and meeting regulatory requirements, staff training and management (undergraduate student technicians), and general laboratory management.

• The incumbent will present research at both statewide outreach meetings, regional plant pathology meetings (eg. Soil Borne Pathogens Conference, American Pathological Society, Pacific Division) and national meetings (eg. American Pathological Society Annual Meeting). Presentations will be delivered in poster and oral presentation formats. The incumbent will have opportunities to develop presentation abilities in laboratory meetings and the UC Davis plant pathology department retreat and other local (on-campus) events.
• The incumbent will be encouraged to have membership with the American Phytopathological Society, Pacific Division and national.

• As part of UC service and service to the public, the incumbent were help serve critical disease diagnosis needs for crop producers as well as for research scientist at UC Davis, and within UC cooperative extension. These diagnosis services are conducted free of charge, representing a significant service to the agricultural producers research community.
• As a component of university service, the incumbent will also be asked to serve on one or more department committees, such as the Department Safety Committee or the Facilities Committee.
• As a public service, the incumbent will also be encouraged to deliver oral presentations at public events, such as those held by California Department of Water Resources and Sonoma County Mycological Association meetings.
• She/he is also encouraged to participate in public disease diagnosis clinics run by UC Davis—this is a public diagnostic service for the community, held at the UC Davis Arboretum Plant Sales.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
This position requires a minimum of a Bachelor of Science or equivalent degree (Plant Pathology or similar field).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
The ideal candidate will have the ability to work well independently and as part of a team. They will also have strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, and decision-making skills.

NOTE: The junior specialist rank is an entry level position; accordingly, it is inappropriate to hire applicants with advanced degrees in this field, or those with bachelor’s degrees and three years’ relevant work experience. (See APM-UCD 330)

TERM OF APPOINTMENT: Full-Time (100%) January 31, 2021-December 30, 2021, with reappointment possible for a second year based on appropriate funding.

JOB LOCATION: Department of Plant Pathology, Davis, CA

TO APPLY: To apply, please click the "Apply Now" button below. Please provide (1) a cover letter that describes your related interests, experiences, and career goals, (2) a current CV, (3) contact information for three references that may be consulted. (4) a diversity statement

The University of California, Davis, is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer with a strong institutional commitment to the development of a climate that supports equality of opportunity and respect for differences. 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. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct.

UC Davis is a smoke- and tobacco free-campus effective January 1, 2014. Smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e-cigarettes) will be strictly prohibited on any property owned or leased by UC Davis - indoors and outdoors including parking lots and residential spaces.

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

• Cover Letter - Please provide a cover letter that describes your related interests, experiences, and career goals

• 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.

• 3-5 required (contact information only)