Lab Assistant II (9603C) 67045

About Berkeley

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are committed to creating a community that fosters equity of experience and opportunity, and ensures that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel safe, welcome and included. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

The University of California, Berkeley, is one of the world's leading institutions of higher education, distinguished by its combination of internationally recognized academic and research excellence; the transformative opportunity it provides to a large and diverse student body; its public mission and commitment to equity and social justice; and its roots in the California experience, animated by such values as innovation, questioning the status quo, and respect for the environment and nature. Since its founding in 1868, Berkeley has fueled a perpetual renaissance, generating unparalleled intellectual, economic and social value in California, the United States and the world.

We are looking for equity-minded applicants who represent the full diversity of California and who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. When you join the team at Berkeley, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice that requires broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students and community partners. In deciding whether to apply for a position at Berkeley, you are strongly encouraged to consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, our Principles of Community, and our Strategic Plan.

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. To find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley, visit grow.berkeley.edu.

Departmental Overview

The Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management (ESPM), a multidisciplinary academic department in the Rausser College of Natural Resources (RCNR) on the Berkeley campus, encompasses basic and applied aspects of biological, physical and social sciences as applied to natural resources and natural resource-based production systems in support of the education, research, and extension programs of RCNR. ESPM is the largest of the four departments in RCNR, and is organized into three divisions: Ecosystem Sciences, Organisms and Environment, and Society and Environment, with an annual budget of over $65 million in state, federal and private funds. The department has more than 400 employees, which include >80 faculty and cooperative extension specialists.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: 04/16/2024.

Responsibilities

• Manage fieldwork that primarily consists of organizing travel to commercial fields where plant material is collected and insects counted. The primary field locations are San Luis Obispo (for vineyards and berry crops), Santa Barbara (for berry crops), Lodi and Stockton (for vineyards and cherries) and Salinas-Watsonville (for berry crops).

DATA COLLECTION

• Collect data as part of a research program to develop sustainable control tools for a vineyard pest (vine mealybug) and a berry (e.g., blackberry) and cherry pest (spotted wing drosophila). Data collected will be pest and natural enemy densities in treatment and control plots to evaluate different control tools (e.g., mating disruption).

LAB MAINTENANCE

• Perform insectary and laboratory work such as maintaining laboratory colonies of insects and their natural enemies, using a microscope to sort and count insect from field collections, performing standard laboratory procedures related to insect biology and ecology.
• Maintain a considerable effort in producing a parasitoid (Ganaspis spp.) that attacks the spotted wing drosophila. Most of this work is at the Kearney Agricultural Center, although a secondary colony will be on the Berkeley campus. The parasitoid is being released in coastal regions as well as planned releases in the Stockton area.
• Execute other laboratory tasks including counting insects in pheromone traps, counting ants collected in field traps, rearing flies and parasitoids from collected berry plots, and rearing parasitoids from collected mealybug samples2

LAB/RESEARCH

• Manage data entry of quarantine, lab studies and field studies. This is a research-extension laboratory and, as such, all collected data will be entered into excel for PI or post docs to analyze and prepare for extension to UC clientele or publication.

LAB SAFETY & OPERATIONS

• Help organize personnel for different projects, organizing and maintaining safety equipment and lab safety protocols, instructing new employees on lab safety, lab structure, and time cards. This task includes following the UC rules and regulations on laboratory safety, peer-interactions, and laboratory cleanliness. Task range from required online courses to cleaning/washing insect cages and vials.

Required Qualifications

• Knowledge or ability to learn insect rearing systems, including insect diet preparation, feeding natural enemies and spiders (e.g., black widow spiders), and maintaining multiple species-specific insect colonies.
• Knowledge or ability to learn proper quarantine procedures and/or an understanding of bio-control and invasive species problems (e.g., spotted lantern fly).
• Ability to work with small insects including insect dissections.
• Must be able to work under supervision of post doctorate researchers, and also be able to work independently on specific task assignments.
• Must be willing to work outside in hot or cool weather, and attentive to details.
• Research focuses on sustainable agriculture and biological control and ecology of insect pests and natural enemies and desirable candidates would have an interest in agriculture, entomology, ecology or sustainable program development.
• Must be able to organize laboratory personnel, have a personality that includes leadership roles, work alongside both undergraduate summer employees and post doctorate researchers.
• Must be able to work with or near pesticides in a competent and safe manner.
• Must be able to work with small insects (eye hand dexterity).

Education/Training:

• 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, experience, and training.
• Knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in agriculture, insectary or insect ecology/ control programs.
• Knowledge of Google docs, internet, excel, MS word, and some statistics / math.

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $21.38 (step 1.0).

• This is a 100%, full-time (40 hours per week), career position that is eligible for full UC benefits.
• This position is non-exempt and paid bi-weekly.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Other Information

The work location for this position will be at the Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center < https://kare.ucanr.edu/> located near Parlier, California in Fresno County.

This position is governed by the terms and conditions in the agreement for the Technical Unit (TX) between the University of California and the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE). The current bargaining agreement manual can be found at: http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/labor/bargaining-units/tx/index.html

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California 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, or protected veteran status. For more information about your rights as an applicant, please see the https://apptrkr.com/get_redirect.php?id=5151608&targetURL=U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission poster.

The University of California's Affirmative action policy.

The University of California's Anti-Discrimination policy.



To apply, visit https://careerspub.universityofcalifornia.edu/psp/ucb/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=21&JobOpeningId=67045&PostingSeq=1