Job Information
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN Research Engineering/ Scientist Assistant in Austin, Texas
Assist graduate students, research scientists, and faculty members with specific research experiments related to plant-microbiome interactions. This will often involve working with plants grown in growth chambers, greenhouses, and the field. Experiments may involve studies evaluating synthetic microbial communities and studies engineering microbial communities for improved plant growth. Specific tasks may include isolation and cultivating plant associated microbes, molecular cloning, functional studies of plant genes by analyzing mutants, using established protocols to extract genomic DNA or total RNA in a high throughout manner, and preparing libraries using these samples for next generation sequencing (including tag-seq and itags procedures). Driving is an essential function.Assist with data archiving, filtering, and basic bioinformatics analyses when possible.Place orders for equipment and consumables; reorder common-use consumables when they are running low; arrange proper waste disposal and pickup; defrost freezers as necessary; keep a catalog of orders; keep a catalog of items in freezer. Help maintain a safe and clean lab work environment.Help ensure lab's compliance with biosafety and fire codes. Arrange shipments of biological materials involved in research. Contribute to lab outreach activities. Attend weekly lab meeting.Train and supervise undergraduate assistants; provide lab safety training for new lab members.Requires QualificationsBachelor's degree in molecular biology, biology, evolutionary biology or related field. Ability to communicate clearly, maintain a laboratory notebook and present results graphically and oral. Relevant experience and education may be substituted as appropriate.Preferred QualificationsAt least one year of biology research experience at the undergraduate level. Experience in a molecular lab. Demonstrated ability to carry out research. Experience with basic data processing and bioinformatics. Communication skills for interaction and documentation functions. Familiarity with Excel and Google sheets.Driving RequiredThis job requires a class "C" operator's driver's license. The applicant selected must provide a current three year driving record from the current state of residence. If not currently a Texas resident, a Texas driver's license must be obtained within 30 days of becoming a Texas resident. Employees who are required to have a CDL are subject to drug and alcohol testing (pre-employment, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, random, return-to-duty, and follow-up drug and alcohol testing).Salary Range$31,200 + depending on qualificationsWorking ConditionsUniforms and/or personal protection equipment (furnished)May work in all weather conditionsMay work in extreme temperaturesMay work around chemical fumesMay work around standard office conditionsMay work around biohazardsMay work around chemicalsRepetitive use of a keyboard at a workstationUse of manual dexterityClimbing of stairsClimbing of laddersLifting and movingWork ShiftFlexible: 40/hours/week is required, and most of this time should be during normal business hours (e.g., 8:00 am - 5:00 pm), although numbers of hours/day and days/week can be negotiated and may change depending on what projects are being pursued.Required MaterialsResume/CV3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisorLetter of interestImportant for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot ake changes.Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.