JUNIOR SPECIALIST STEP 1 POSITION DESCRIPTION
NATURE AND PURPOSE
The position of Junior Specialist provides technical or specialized expertise in the planning and execution of research projects in a Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) Laboratory. The Junior Specialist stays apprised of the research area and maintains technical competence in the designated area(s) of specialization. The role of this position is to provide specialized expertise in microbial food safety research projects of the laboratory of the Principal Investigators Dr. Luxin Wang. The Junior Specialist is expected to focus on research related to the microbial safety of produce grown and harvested in a controlled environment. The Junior Specialist is responsible for setting up and executing experiments and conducting quality control and data management procedures. The Junior Specialist will have the opportunity to have creative input into the design of and selection of experiments to meet the study objectives. They will also assist with routine day-to-day lab duties including lab safety duties, supplies acquisition, and will lead undergraduate assistants.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
RESEARH IN SPECIALIZED AREAS (90% effort)
a. The Junior Specialist will use their academic and professional expertise to make scientific contributions to one or more research studies and will contribute to published research. Under the general direction of the Principal Investigator, the Junior Specialist will collaborate with other research personnel to as part of a project that seeks to understand the prevalence and distribution of foodborne pathogens in the produce growing environment and in harvested products.
b. The Junior Specialist will work be actively engaged in field sample collection and analysis and will work with collaborators in the laboratory as well as from other departments at UC Davis.
c. The Junior Specialist will draft tables and figures for presentations, reports, and scientific publications as well as participate in drafting and revising manuscripts as needed.
d. The Junior Specialist will assist with laboratory maintenance tasks, including safety management, maintaining the chemical inventory, managing lab waste, ordering supplies and other lab maintenance tasks.
PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (10% effort)
a. The Junior Specialist will participate in appropriate professional/technical societies or groups and other educational and research organizations, such as the International Association for Food Protection or the Institute for Food Technologists, to learn more about the newest advances in food safety, microbiology, and food science.
b. The Junior Specialist will organize data for grant reports and publications prior to submission and offer technical and creative contributions to manuscript preparation.
c. The Junior Specialist will conduct literature searches for articles relevant to the research topic, engage in discussions of data with the Principal Investigators, and contribute to presentation of research findings and manuscript preparation.

WORK LOCATION
This employee will work on the 3rd floor in RMI South, room 3221.

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

B.S. in food science or related field and work experience in a BSL-Level 2 lab.

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

Direct work experience with common foodborne pathogens.

• 2 required (contact information only)

Apply link: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07322