Assistant Specialist/Grettenberger Lab

NATURE AND PURPOSE

The position of Specialist has a narrow focus in a specialized area and provides technical or specialized expertise (e.g., with instrumentation and research equipment or with social science research methods) in the planning and execution of a research project. The Specialist stays apprised of emerging issues and problems and maintains technical competence in the designated area(s) of specialization. Within this defined area and when appropriate, the Specialist is expected to provide leadership, facilitate teamwork and develop collaborative relationships with colleagues and to supply input into the planning of research and educational programs. Normally, Specialists do not have Principal Investigator (PI) status but may obtain permission by exception and/or collaborate with a PI in preparing research proposals for extramural funding. The Specialist is evaluated for merit and promotion using three basic criteria outlined below.

Overview

We aim to hire an entry-level Assistant Specialist to conduct research in arthropod integrated pest management and insect ecology. The Assistant Specialist will contribute to a number of projects related to pest management in field and vegetable crops. This includes, but is not limited to, studies in cole crops, lettuce, rice, and cotton. Projects will be examining insecticide resistance levels and alternative management strategies for diamondback moth, efficacy of registered and experimental insecticides in cotton, biological control in lettuce for thrips and aphid management, and management of rice seed midge in rice. The Assistant Specialist will assist with studies examining pest management strategies for other pests addressed by the lab's research and extension program as appropriate. Primary duties will involve executing lab experiments, maintaining colonies of insects, setting up and deploying field trials, sampling and identifying insects, managing data, and summarizing and presenting results. The incumbent must be motivated, detail-oriented, and organized and able to conduct work independently in a professional environment, including working with scientific collaborators and industry cooperators.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESIGNATED AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Research (90%):

The incumbent of this position will be actively and significantly involved in publishable research activities through the following roles and duties:

* Assist with field sampling of diamondback moth populations for insecticide resistance studies and parasitoid surveys. Assist with deployment of mating disruption trials for diamondback moth and collection of field samples.

* Assist with greenhouse maintenance of diamondback moth populations and conducting lab assays to quantify insecticide resistance.

* Participate in laying out research plots for lettuce IPM field trials and sampling insects from these plots.

* Assist with field trials examining insecticide efficacy in cotton, which will include sprayer setup and calibration, assisting with applications, sampling arthropods from the plots, and processing insect populations.

* Assist the PI and other lab members with greenhouse studies.

* Help organize and maintain protocols, field records, and data.

* Assist the PI or other lab members in manuscript preparation, including but not limited to: reading academic literature, writing manuscript sections, and revising manuscripts based on conducted work.

Professional Competence (5%):

* Present research at weekly lab meetings, extension meetings, regional entomology meetings, or national entomology meetings.

* Participate in/attend weekly lab meetings, weekly meetings of the Insect Ecology group within the Department of Entomology and Nematology, weekly seminars in the Department of Entomology.

* Participate in relevant extension events.

* Engage with scientific literature and related research to inform research directions and protocols and to contribute to new research.

University and Public Service (5%):

* As a component of university service, the incumbent may 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 be encouraged to participate in outreach activities, such as those held as part of events hosted by the Bohart Museum of Entomology, the Department of Entomology and Nematology, or conducted independently by the Grettenberger lab. This could include various events aimed at promoting integrated pest management among California stakeholders.

Required to hold valid driver's license, have a driving record that is in accordance with local policies/procedures, and/or enroll in the California Employer Pull Notice Program

This position requires expertise consistent with four to six years of training and/or experience in Biology, Entomology, Ecology, or similar field. Either a Master's degree in a relevant discipline; a Bachelor's plus three or more years of research experience; or four to six years in a similar, professional technical position. Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.

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

Other preferred, but not required, qualifications are:

* Experience rearing and optimizing rearing of insects

* Experience with greenhouse and/or growth chamber plant/insect studies

* Experience with insect identification

* Experience conducting field research, research in agricultural systems/crop fields, and sampling insect populations

* Experience inputting and managing data, including the use of Excel, R, or similar

* Demonstrated organizational expertise maintaining records and protocols

* Experience working collaboratively and as a member of a team and demonstrated interpersonal skills

* Willing and capable of driving to field locations and working in outdoor, sometimes distant, agricultural locations in hot weather. Overnight travel and long travel days associated with research may occasionally be required.

• 3-5 letters of reference required

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

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