Junior Specialist / Emerson lab

Position overview

Salary range :

A reasonable estimate for this position is $55,000 at Step 1 or $58,600 at Step 2.

Application Window

Open date : September 23, 2025

Most recent review date : Thursday, Oct 9, 2025 at 11 : 59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.

Final date : Friday, Oct 31, 2025 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

We seek to hire a Junior Specialist to conduct research in soil, using molecular biology equipment and techniques, soil science techniques, and bioinformatics as part of larger projects focused on characterizing viral roles in soil microbial ecology and biogeochemistry. Primary duties will involve co-designing field and laboratory experiments; executing field and laboratory experiments; purchasing and preparing field and laboratory supplies; receiving and logging soil samples; entering data into spreadsheets and archiving paper data forms.

Research (90%) :

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

• Assist the PI by performing viral particle purification and nucleic acid extractions of viral and other microbial communities from soil, using autoclaves, molecular biology equipment, and molecular biology techniques as part of larger projects focused on characterizing viral roles in soil microbial ecology and biogeochemistry.
• Assist the PI by culturing bacteria, archaea, and their viruses from soil to contribute to the group's culture collection, and work with the PI to develop and execute experiments on the culture collection.
• Maintain a well-organized lab notebook detailing laboratory procedures, results (e.g., DNA and RNA extraction yields), sample IDs, and sample locations, and share lab notebook information with the PI during regular meetings (approximately every 1-2 weeks).
• Assist the PI in designing and executing field and laboratory microcosm experiments. The field sites to be visited most regularly are within ~35 min of the UC Davis campus, but occasional travel to field sites up to 4.5 hours away is possible and may involve overnight stays (accommodations and transportation to be covered by the PI's grants). Lead small teams of undergraduates on field expeditions as needed.
• Interact professionally with colleagues at UC Davis and other collaborative institutions. One of the primary projects associated with this position will be in collaboration with a large research team. Professional interactions for sharing scientific data and coordinating logistically across the team will be expected.
• Assist the PI with bioinformatics data processing and analysis of sequencing and other omic data, for example using our high-performance computing cluster and the R and Python programming languages.
• Assist the PI in manuscript preparation, including but not limited to : preparing tables and figures, statistically analyzing data, reading scholarly literature, writing methods and results sections, and revising manuscripts.
• Assist the PI and other lab members in shared tasks required for running a safe research laboratory, such as eyewash checks, fire extinguisher checks, ensuring secondary containment for hazardous chemicals, and appropriate storage and disposal of hazardous waste.
• Assist the PI and other lab members with their ongoing projects (mostly soil, very occasionally human biosamples including human gut), using techniques already commonly used as part of the primary roles described above, such as field sample collection, virome preparation, and DNA and RNA extraction.

Professional competence (5%) :

University and Public Service (5%) :

Qualifications

Basic qualifications

(required at time of application)

Preferred qualifications

(other preferred, but not required, qualifications for the position)

Preferred qualifications would include programming experience in R and Python, experience cultivating diverse soil bacteria, experience with isotopes in the biological sciences (stable and / or radioisotopes), and experience contributing to scientific publications.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

Authorization to Release Information Form - This form is required for all applicants applying to academic recruitments. Please see the Employment Disclosure Requirements webpage for more information. Download, complete, sign, and upload the form.

Statement of Interest - Please submit a brief statement of interest (maximum 2 pages).

Reference requirements

Apply link : JPF07342

Help contact : About UC Davis

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.

To implement this process, UC Davis requires all applicants for any open search to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled, "Authorization to Release Information" into UC RECRUIT as part of their application. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration.

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus ().

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

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. More information is available at : e-verify

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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

Davis, CA