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Assistant/Associate Researcher - Research Botanist - University and Jepson Herbaria

Job #JPF05487
  • University/Jepson Herbaria / VC Res Museum & Field Stations / UC Berkeley

Position overview

Position title: Assistant Researcher/ Associate Researcher
Salary range: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See the following table(s) for the current salary scale(s) for this position: Table 13A. The current full-time base salary range for this position is $98,500-$154,900. "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: Fall 2026
Position duration: Two years with the possibility of extension based on performance and availability of funding.

Application Window

Open date: October 6, 2026

Next review date: Wednesday, Oct 21, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Friday, Nov 6, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

The University and Jepson Herbaria at the University of California, Berkeley seeks applications for an Assistant Researcher or Associate Researcher in
the University and Jepson Herbaria.

The Jepson Herbarium is the epicenter of research and education on the native and naturalized plants of California. The mission of the Jepson Herbarium is to understand and conserve the California flora through systematic, floristic, and conservation biology studies and to communicate knowledge of the flora through publications and instructional programs.

This position is required to:

Lead the Jepson Flora Project and curation of the Jepson Herbarium (40%):
• Serve as Convening Editor for the Jepson Flora Project.
• Take the lead on Jepson eFlora revisions (with or without author input), request and edit contributions, continue to add synonyms to the eFlora, and
work on KeyBase updates.
• Maintain and update the Index of California Plant Names (ICPN), especially before a major eFlora revision.
• Resolve conflicting taxonomies between eFlora names and names in the ICPN.
• Search literature for new additions to the eFlora and prioritizing them.
• Manage the Jepson editors.
• Supervise the curation of the Jepson Herbarium.
• Supervise staff and students hired to work on the Jepson Flora Project.
• Maintain detailed correspondence related to the Jepson Flora Project and answer questions from the botanical community.
• Take the lead in working to resolve comments from CCH1 backlog and CCH2.

Perform Independent Research (40%):
• Research of choice (with the research program expected to be primarily California-based and collections-oriented, in floristics or systematics).
• Add personal research specimens to the Jepson Herbarium.
• Share results through original peer-reviewed research papers and research talks.
• Submit grant proposals to support research projects.

Research on California Floristics (10%):
• Fieldwork and research on the literature and herbarium collections to stay abreast of the distributions of California plants.
• Conduct novel taxonomic research and keep abreast of the literature on taxonomy at all levels in order to enhance the classification of Californian
plant diversity.

Fundraising and Outreach (10%):
• Participate in donor cultivation, stewardship, planned giving solicitations, and fundraising events.
• Lead a workshop on identification of California plant families or basic botany (alternate years).
• Lead a workshop in area of specialization (alternate years).
• Edit Jepson Videos before they are released to the public.
• Serve as on-site coordinator for one Jepson field workshop per year, and contribute to other workshops, sometimes virtual.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
  • PhD (or equivalent international degree) or enrolled in a PhD (or equivalent international degree) program.
Additional qualifications (required at time of start)
  • PhD (or equivalent international degree)
Preferred qualifications
  • Ph.D. or equivalent international degree in plant systematics or related field.
  • Experience with writing or editing floras.
  • Demonstrated experience studying vascular plants of the California Flora or western North American flora.
  • Demonstrated experience in plant taxonomy and nomenclature.
  • Evidence of independent research in floristics, systematics or related field, including peer-reviewed publications.
  • Demonstrated interest in public outreach.
  • Supervisory experience.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

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

  • Cover Letter

  • Research Statement - Please discuss research accomplishments and proposed plans. This can include, for example, your publication record, awards, presentations, inclusive research practices that promote the excellence of your research, and areas for future research.

Reference requirements
  • 3-5 required (contact information only)
Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05487

Help contact: smarkos@berkeley.edu

About UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our public mission of research, teaching, and service, consistent with UC Regents Policy 4400 and University of California Academic Personnel policy (APM 210 1-d). These values are embedded in our Principles of Community, which reflect our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation, and our deep commitment to contributing to a better world. Every member of the UC Berkeley community has a role in sustaining a safe, caring and humane environment in which these values can thrive.

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity 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 more information, please refer to the University of California’s Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment 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.

Unless stated otherwise, unambiguously, in the position description, this position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

Job location

Berkeley, CA