General Information
| Payroll Title | LAB AST 2 | Title Code | 009603 | Grade/Step | Working Title | Laboratory Assistant 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department Name | Entomology Dept | Supervisor | Peter W Atkinson | Department Head | Richard A Redak |
Special Requirements and Conditions
| Critical Position |
Level of Supervision Received
| Close Supervision |
Items Used
| Computer, printer, phone, general office equipment. |
| Lab equipment including but not limited to microscopes, autoclaves, freezers, refrigerators, water circulators, incubators, centrifuges, dry ice supply, ice making machines, growth chambers and control panels, hobos, thermocyclers, microscopes, microinjection systems, heat blocks. |
Position Purpose
| Under supervision, the lab technician will maintain a large number of GWSS colonies and assist in the generation, screening and molecular characterization of genetic lines of this species. They will also grow and maintain plants necessary for the rearing of GWSS and whitefly colonies. Documentation of the health of each GWSS colony in lab electronic/paper notebooks. This position requires knowledge of insect rearing, especially hemiptera rearing. The individual will help maintain and clean the lab and support spaces as needed, and assist in general laboratory and insectary programming and maintenance. |
Essential Functions
| Essential Function | % Time |
|---|---|
| Maintenance of glass-winged sharpshooters | 50 |
| Ensure an ample supply of wild type and genetic strains of GWSS for use by the lab. Tasks will include collection of adults for microinjection experiments, for establishing genetic crosses and for use in genetic screening techniques. Weekly establishment of new colonies and removal of expended colonies. Full documentation of all crosses and colonies in paper/electronic notebooks. |
|
| Propagation of plants for whitefly colony rearing and health | 30 |
| Assist in the propagation of plants used for rearing healthy whitefly and GWSS colonies. | |
| Assist with generating, screening and molecularly characterizing transgenic GWSS | 15 |
| Assist in the techniques required to generate transgenic and gene-edited GWSS, screening genetic lines for transgene expression, and in the genetic and molecular analysis of transgenic GWSS strains. | |
| General Laboratory Maintenance | 5 |
| Undertake routine ordering for general laboratory and other supplies needed, and perform routine lab maintenance procedures as needed, such as annual chemical inventory; controlled chemical and laboratory safety procedures. Routine maintenance of insectaries and incubators. Help arrange quarterly journal club and room reservations. | |
Minimum Requirements
| Minimum Requirement | Display Ranking |
|---|---|
| 1 | |
| Ability to follow instructions and ability to maintain logs. | |
| 2 | |
| Experience with the maintenance insect colonies, preferably hemiptera colonies. | |
| 3 | |
| Have strong attention to detail while being able to multitask and adapt to changing work load and priorities. | |
| 4 | |
| Demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills and be able to work as part of team. | |
| 5 | |
| Needs to have a sense of responsibility and strong work ethics. | |
| 6 | |
| Ability to use Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Google platforms. Facile with communicating by email. Experience with Outlook or similar email system. | |
| 7 | |
| 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 and experience; and knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position. | |
Preferred Qualifications
| Preferred Qualification | Display Ranking |
|---|---|
| 1 | |
| Two (2) or more years of college and one (1) year of laboratory experience, OR an equivalent combination of education and experience. | |
| 2 | |
| Five years of related work experience. | |
| Posted Position Purpose |
|---|
| Under supervision, the lab technician will maintain a large number of GWSS colonies and assist in the generation, screening and molecular characterization of genetic lines of this species. They will also grow and maintain plants necessary for the rearing of GWSS and whitefly colonies. Documentation of the health of each GWSS colony in lab electronic/paper notebooks. This position requires knowledge of insect rearing, especially hemiptera rearing. The individual will help maintain and clean the lab and support spaces as needed, and assist in general laboratory and insectary programming and maintenance. |
| Posted Minimum Requirements |
| - Ability to follow instructions and ability to maintain logs. - Experience with the maintenance insect colonies, preferably hemiptera colonies. - Have strong attention to detail while being able to multitask and adapt to changing work load and priorities. - Demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills and be able to work as part of team. - Needs to have a sense of responsibility and strong work ethics. - Ability to use Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Google platforms. Facile with communicating by email. Experience with Outlook or similar email system. - 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 and experience; and knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position. |
| Posted Preferred Qualifications |
| - Two (2) or more years of college and one (1) year of laboratory experience, OR an equivalent combination of education and experience. - Five years of related work experience. |