General Information
| Job Description | LAB AST 2 | Working Title | Plant Pathology Laboratory Technician |
|---|---|---|---|
| Job Code | 009603 | Grade | |
| Department Name | Microbiology & Plant Pathology - D01052 | Department Head | Katherine Borkovich |
| Supervisor | Alexander Putman | Effective Date | 04/21/2021 |
Position(s) Directly Supervised
| Job Code | Title | FTE |
|---|---|---|
| 004922 | STDT 1 | 0.6 |
Department Custom Scope
| The Plant Pathology Laboratory Technician will be responsible for supporting applied research on pathogens of vegetable and strawberry crops. Our goal is to improve the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of crop production in California by addressing disease challenges facing vegetables and strawberry. The duties will include: isolation and manipulation of plant pathogens; DNA extraction, standard and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and sequence analysis; performing greenhouse experiments and assisting with field experiments; supervising undergraduate student assistants; and general laboratory management responsibilities including culture collection maintenance and media preparation. |
Education & Experience Requirements
Education Requirements
| Degree | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree in a biological science field | Preferred |
| Graduation from high school or a General Education Diploma, or two years of college including courses in the biological sciences | Required |
Experience Requirements
| Experience | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum of 1-2 years of laboratory experience | Required |
License Requirements
| License | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Valid driver's license | Required |
Certification Requirements
| Certification | Requirement |
|---|
Educational Condition Requirements
| Condition | Requirement |
|---|
Key Responsibilities
| Description | % Time |
|---|---|
| Molecular quantification of pathogens by qPCR | 20 |
| Molecular identification of pathogens by PCR | 20 |
| Supervise undergraduate student assistants | 15 |
| Perform greenhouse experiments, assist with field experiments | 15 |
| General laboratory maintenance | 15 |
| Isolation of plant pathogens | 15 |
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
| Knowledge/Skill/Ability | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Knowledge and expertise in aseptic techniques and microbiology | Required |
| Experience with molecular techniques including DNA or RNA extraction, standard PCR, and quantitative PCR (qPCR) | Required |
| Excellent organizational skills and a strong attention to detail, with the ability to multitask and adapt to changing priorities | Required |
| Ability to document experiments, follow instructions, and maintain a safe working environment | Required |
| Excellent communication skills and ability to actively participate in a mutually-supportive and respectful team environment | Required |
| Proficiency with word processing and spreadsheet software (Microsoft and Google) | Required |
| Experience in a research laboratory | Preferred |
| Knowledge and experience with mycology or plant pathology | Preferred |
| Ability to train other team members on standard lab techniques | Preferred |
Special Requirements & Conditions
| Special Condition | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Ability to occasionally: a) work outside normal hours; and b) assist with planting, harvesting, or sampling of field experiments, which includes possessing a valid driver?s license | Required |
Other Special Requirements & Conditions
|
|
Level of Supervision Received
| Supervision |
Environment
Working Environment
| Mostly on campus, but occasionally (estimated 1-2 days per month) off-campus at field sites. |
Other Requirements
Items Used
|
Physical Requirements
|
Mental Requirements
|
Environmental Requirements
|
Critical Position
| Is Critical Position: Yes |