General Information
| Job Description | SRA 1 | Working Title | Staff Research Associate 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Job Code | 009613 | Grade | |
| Department Name | Entomology - D01048 | Department Head | Richard Redak |
| Supervisor | Houston Wilson | Effective Date | 02/01/2022 |
Position(s) Directly Supervised
| Job Code | Title | FTE |
|---|
Department Custom Scope
| Position will serve as the laboratory manager for the Wilson Lab (Dept. Entomology, UC Riverside) located at the UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center (KARE) in Parlier, CA. Working under the supervision of, and in coordination with, Dr. Houston Wilson, the lab manager will be responsible for carrying out multiple lab, greenhouse and field experiments associated with Dr. Wilson's research and extension program in integrated management of arthropod pests of tree nut and stone fruit crops in California. Duties will also include management and training of seasonal laboratory assistants, lab organization and inventory upkeep, preparation of materials for experiments, and supporting graduate student projects as needed. |
Education & Experience Requirements
Education Requirements
| Degree | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Bachelors degree in environmental science, entomology, ecology or a related field. | Required |
Experience Requirements
| Experience | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum of 1-3 years of experience | Required |
License Requirements
Certification Requirements
| Certification | Requirement |
|---|
Educational Condition Requirements
| Condition | Requirement |
|---|
Key Responsibilities
| Description | % Time |
|---|---|
| Research and Experiment Management. Carry out laboratory, greenhouse and field experiments. This includes reviewing experimental design and materials with Dr. Wilson, preparation and labeling of supplies, communicating with growers and pest control advisors about access to field sites, driving the lab vehicle to/from field sites, marking off field plots, independently setting up traps, data loggers, game cameras and/or collecting insect/plant/soil material according to experimental design, as well as recording, organizing and entering data into spreadsheets. | 50 |
| Laboratory Management. Maintenance of Wilson Lab facilities at the Kearney Ag. Center. This includes management and organization of lab inventory and equipment, purchasing supplies and equipment, logging receipts and filing reimbursements with Dept. Entomology administration, ensuring all Wilson lab spaces are maintained in accordance with all current UC ANR, UC Riverside, and Kearney Ag. Center environmental health and safety requirements, and generally maintaining an organized and clean lab, greenhouse and storage space. | 30 |
| General Laboratory Support. Supporting graduate student, post-doctoral scholar and research specialist projects. This includes orientation to the Kearney Ag. Center, training on health and safety protocols, insect and plant identification, use of lab materials and equipment, and location of field sites. | 10 |
| Laboratory Personnel Assistance. Training of seasonal laboratory assistants. This includes orienting new lab assistants to the Kearney Ag. Center (including overview of health and safety requirements), scheduling weekly work assignments, training on lab and field sampling protocols (e.g. setup and servicing insect traps, collection and identification of insect and plant material, recording plant damage etc.), inspecting the quality of lab assistant work. | 10 |
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
| Knowledge/Skill/Ability | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Strong knowledge of entomology with an emphasis in agricultural entomology and the insects commonly encountered in tree nuts, stone fruit and figs in California. | Required |
| Field entomology skills, including insect observation, collection, preservation/transport and identification. | Required |
| Ability to operating vehicles, including the lab vehicle (large SUV), electric golf cart, and 4-wheel ATVs. Hitching and towing a large trailer to/from field sites, including loading/unloading ATVs. | Required |
| Skills in manipulation of small organisms with forceps, tweezers, paint brush etc. | Required |
| Knowledge of Insect colony maintenance and rearing, including provision of food/water, adjusting light/temperature/humidity conditions, monitoring colony health and hygiene, and use of incubators. | Required |
| Working knowledge of greenhouse plant propagation and maintenance, both annual and perennial plants for use in insect colonies and experiments. | Required |
| Ability to work under extreme environmental conditions (>95F, sunny, dusty) for long periods of time (8 hours/day) and independently lift 50lbs. | Required |
| Competency working with stereo and imaging microscopes, sometimes for long periods of time (>4 hours/day). | Required |
| Knowledge of agronomic and ecological aspects of tree nut, stone fruit and fig production in California. | Preferred |
| Familiarity with current research in tree nut, stone fruit and figs in California. | Preferred |
| Data management, including organization, backup and analysis. | Preferred |
Special Requirements & Conditions
| Special Condition | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Valid Drivers License | Required |
Other Special Requirements & Conditions
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Level of Supervision Received
| General Direction |
Environment
Working Environment
| UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center. |
Other Requirements
Items Used
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Physical Requirements
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Mental Requirements
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Environmental Requirements
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Critical Position
| Is Critical Position: Yes |