Lab Assistant II (9603C)
University of California
- Berkeley, CA
- Permanent
- Full-time
80 faculty and cooperative extension specialists.Application Review DateThe First Review Date for this job is: 04/16/2024.Responsibilities
- Manage fieldwork that primarily consists of organizing travel to commercial fields where plant material is collected and insects counted. The primary field locations are San Luis Obispo (for vineyards and berry crops), Santa Barbara (for berry crops), Lodi and Stockton (for vineyards and cherries) and Salinas-Watsonville (for berry crops).
- Collect data as part of a research program to develop sustainable control tools for a vineyard pest (vine mealybug) and a berry (e.g., blackberry) and cherry pest (spotted wing drosophila). Data collected will be pest and natural enemy densities in treatment and control plots to evaluate different control tools (e.g., mating disruption).
- Perform insectary and laboratory work such as maintaining laboratory colonies of insects and their natural enemies, using a microscope to sort and count insect from field collections, performing standard laboratory procedures related to insect biology and ecology.
- Maintain a considerable effort in producing a parasitoid (Ganaspis spp.) that attacks the spotted wing drosophila. Most of this work is at the Kearney Agricultural Center, although a secondary colony will be on the Berkeley campus. The parasitoid is being released in coastal regions as well as planned releases in the Stockton area.
- Execute other laboratory tasks including counting insects in pheromone traps, counting ants collected in field traps, rearing flies and parasitoids from collected berry plots, and rearing parasitoids from collected mealybug samples2
- Manage data entry of quarantine, lab studies and field studies. This is a research-extension laboratory and, as such, all collected data will be entered into excel for PI or post docs to analyze and prepare for extension to UC clientele or publication.
- Help organize personnel for different projects, organizing and maintaining safety equipment and lab safety protocols, instructing new employees on lab safety, lab structure, and time cards. This task includes following the UC rules and regulations on laboratory safety, peer-interactions, and laboratory cleanliness. Task range from required online courses to cleaning/washing insect cages and vials.
- Knowledge or ability to learn insect rearing systems, including insect diet preparation, feeding natural enemies and spiders (e.g., black widow spiders), and maintaining multiple species-specific insect colonies.
- Knowledge or ability to learn proper quarantine procedures and/or an understanding of bio-control and invasive species problems (e.g., spotted lantern fly).
- Ability to work with small insects including insect dissections.
- Must be able to work under supervision of post doctorate researchers, and also be able to work independently on specific task assignments.
- Must be willing to work outside in hot or cool weather, and attentive to details.
- Research focuses on sustainable agriculture and biological control and ecology of insect pests and natural enemies and desirable candidates would have an interest in agriculture, entomology, ecology or sustainable program development.
- Must be able to organize laboratory personnel, have a personality that includes leadership roles, work alongside both undergraduate summer employees and post doctorate researchers.
- Must be able to work with or near pesticides in a competent and safe manner.
- Must be able to work with small insects (eye hand dexterity).
- Graduation from high school or a General Education Diploma and two years of laboratory experience or two years of college including courses in the natural, physical or social sciences and one year of laboratory experience; or an equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.
- Knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.
- Experience in agriculture, insectary or insect ecology/ control programs.
- Knowledge of Google docs, internet, excel, MS word, and some statistics / math.
- This is a 100%, full-time (40 hours per week), career position that is eligible for full UC benefits.
- This position is non-exempt and paid bi-weekly.
https://kare.ucanr.edu/
located near Parlier, California in Fresno County.This position is governed by the terms and conditions in the agreement for the Technical Unit (TX) between the University of California and the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE). The current bargaining agreement manual can be found at:Equal Employment Opportunityposter.The .The .