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The Department of Plant and Microbial Biology at the University of California, Berkeley seeks applications for an Assistant Project Scientist in the Coleman-Derr Lab, in the area of plant and crop microbiome.

The Coleman-Derr lab develops microbiome-based tools for improving crop performance and tools for understanding the impact of abiotic stress and host specificity on microbiome recruitment with cereal crops. In addition, we assess the utility of existing microbial inoculants, specifically root-applied bacterial products that influence crop phenotypes. The project is a highly collaborative effort consisting of researchers located at the Plant Gene Expression Center in Albany, CA, including researchers affiliated with UCB and the USDA ARS.

The specific duties of the chosen candidate will involve research on synthetic communities in relation to the plant microbiome, especially the role of bacteria in conferring tolerance to abiotic stress, and the role of host genetics in recruitment of specific bacterial taxa.

Responsibilities:

The position will contribute in three major ways:
1) Leading synthetic community development and assessment
2) Leading field trial development
3) Designing experiments to assess plant growth performance under abiotic stress and with bioinoculants.
The position will keep detailed records of experiments performed, conclusions made, and communication of results orally and through lab notebook records.

Further responsibilities include analyzing data and preparing papers for publication in journals and presentations at conferences.

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.

Please refer to the University of California’s Affirmative Action Policy and the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy.

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.