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Junior/Assistant Specialist - Koskella Lab - Department of Integrative Biology

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Position overview

Position title: Junior Specialist/Assistant Specialist
Salary range: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See the following table for the salary scale for this position: [https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2022-23/july-2022-salary-scales/t24-b.pdf]. The current base salary range for this position is $49,000 – $63,000. ‘Off-scale salaries’ which yield compensation that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions.
Percent time: 100%
Anticipated start: June 2023
Position duration: One year with the possibility of extension based on satisfactory performance and availability of funding.

Position description

The Koskella lab in the department of Integrative Biology focuses primarily on how plant-microbiome, plant-pathogen, and bacteria-phage interactions occur, both as model systems for understanding fundamental principles and with the aim of leveraging these findings for design of novel disease management strategies. The lab integrates ecological and evolutionary thinking with cutting-edge microbiological and molecular approaches to gain insight to microbiome establishment and function, within-microbiome interactions, and the role that microbiota and phages play in shaping disease.
This position is to assist with completion of a funded project to examine the effect of phage growth with non-host bacterial strains on their morphology and evolution.
The Specialist will be based in the Koskella Lab and will lead a series of experiments in which phage particles are grown in varying bacterial community backgrounds in order to determine how this ecological complexity impacts phage morphology (using microscopy) and/or fitness on hosts.
Other responsibilities include:

  • Co-culturing bacteria and phages in a sterile setting, preparing phage cultures for electron microscopy, analyzing images, and running experiments to measure bacterial fitness.
  • General lab maintenance tasks, such as autoclaving waste, filling pipette tip boxes, and making growth media.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

Bachelor's degree or enrolled in a Bachelor's degree program, or equivalent international degree.

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent international degree.

Preferred qualifications
  • Previous microbiological experience especially familiarity with sterile technique, and bacterial and/or virus cultivation.
  • Strong organizational abilities
  • Attention to details.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Cover Letter

  • Statement of Research (Optional)

  • Statement on Contributions to Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Statement on your contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion, including information about your understanding of these topics, your record of activities to date, and your specific plans and goals for advancing equity and inclusion if hired at Berkeley. More Information and guidelines.

Reference requirements
  • 3 required (contact information only)

Letters of reference are not required at this time. We will seek your permission before contacting your references. All letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality (http://apo.berkeley.edu/evalltr.html) prior to submitting their letters.

Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF03960

Help contact: bkoskella@berkeley.edu

About UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The excellence of the institution requires an environment in which the diverse community of faculty, students, and staff are welcome and included. Successful candidates will demonstrate knowledge and skill related to ensuring equity and inclusion in the activities of their academic position (e.g., teaching, research, and service, as applicable).

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Job location

Berkeley, CA