Assistant Project Scientist/Grettenberger Lab

Assistant Project Scientist/Grettenberger Lab

Position Overview:
The salary range for this position is $76,700-$97,600. 'Off-scale salaries', i.e., a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions, qualifications, and experience.

NATURE AND PURPOSE

The Project Scientist makes significant and creative contributions to a research or creative project in his/her academic discipline. The appointee possesses the subject matter expertise and the creative energy necessary to function at a high level of competence. The appointee will participate in activities to increase, improve, or upgrade competency. Appointees with Project (e.g., Scientist) titles may engage in University and public service. They do not have teaching responsibilities. Although the Project Scientist is expected to work independently
under the general guidance of an academic member with an independent research program (i.e., Professor, Professional Researcher, Specialist in Cooperative Extension, etc.), he/she is not required to develop an independent research program or reputation. He/she will conduct research or creative programs with supervision by an individual in an academic title that carries with it automatic Principal Investigator status. The Project Scientist does not usually serve as a Principal Investigator but may do so by exception.

The Assistant Project Scientist will lead a research project that aims to improve the epidemiological knowledge of impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV), an insect-transmitted virus affecting lettuce. Specifically, the candidate will conduct field surveys to identify geographical locations of INSV reservoirs in the Salinas Valley. The candidate will also perform INSV susceptibility tests on a panel of native and beneficial plants to identify safe options for on and off farm plantings. The candidate must have experience performing virus transmission assays using insect vectors, maintaining insect colonies and virus cultures, and performing molecular diagnostic assays for the detection of plant viruses. The Assistant Project Scientist will be employed by UC Davis in the laboratory of Dr. Ian Grettenberger and located full-time at the USDA-ARS in Salinas, CA under the supervision of Dr. Grettenberger. The candidate will work closely in partnership with Dr. Daniel Hasegawa, a USDA-ARS entomologist based in Salinas, CA. He and Dr. Grettenberger collaborate on various project involving integrated management of key arthropod pests in cool season vegetables, including aphids, thrips, and diamondback moth. For this project, he brings in particular his expertise in INSV dynamics and virus transmission studies.

The candidate is expected to develop and execute protocols to conduct the research, analyze the data using appropriate statistical methods, and report on the outcomes of the work in the form of project meetings, grant reports, and peer reviewed scientific manuscripts. In addition, the candidate is expected to work in a highly collaborative environment with university and government researchers, undergraduate students and lab technicians, as well as stakeholders from the leafy greens vegetable industry.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESIGNATED AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Research in Specialized areas (95%):
The candidate will conduct field surveys to identify epidemiologically relevant plant reservoirs for INSV in the Salinas Valley by implementing sampling protocols and diagnostic assays (ELISA and RT-qPCR). The candidate will also conduct INSV transmission assays using insect vectors (thrips) to a panel of native and beneficial plant species that provide various ecosystem services, including cover crops, insectary habitat, ground cover and erosion control. The candidate will be responsible for propagating and maintaining healthy and virus-inoculated plants in a greenhouse. As such, the candidate will be expected to independently design research projects, implement research protocols, analyze the data using the appropriate statistical methods, and to publish research results in scientific peer reviewed journals. In addition, the candidate must be able to work collaboratively with the director and other members of the research team and assist in preparing required grant reports. Responsibilities are broken down as follows: Demonstrate significant, original, and creative contributions to the outlined research (75%), publish research results in scientific peer reviewed journals (15%), and assist in the preparation of grant reports (5%).

Professional Competence and Activity (5%):
The candidate will participate in grower and extension meetings, workshops, and present abstracts at scientific conferences specific to the field of plant pathology and entomology. The candidate will engage with and advise students to enhance the overall mission of the research program and to promote teamwork, cooperation, and a trustworthy and secure work environment.

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