Assistant Project Scientist- Feldmann Lab

UC Davis College of Engineering; Davis (CA); On-site; USD 74,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The UC Davis College of Engineering is seeking an Assistant Project Scientist for the Strawberry Breeding Program. The successful candidate will lead research efforts in plant genetics and breeding, contribute to scientific publications, and mentor students. This role requires a Ph.D. and experience in plant pathology and molecular breeding.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. required at time of application.
• 1-5 years of postdoctoral research experience in plant genetics or breeding.
• Experience with field trials and plant disease evaluation.

Responsibilities

• Lead research in quantitative genetics and plant pathology.
• Design and execute experiments for strawberry breeding.
• Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals.

Skills

Plant Genetics

Molecular Breeding

Statistical Analysis

Research Design

Field Trials

Education

Ph.D. in Plant Sciences, Horticulture, Plant Genetics, or related field

Tools

R

Genotyping Tools

Job description

Assistant Project Scientist- Feldmann Lab

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Position overview

Salary range: The salary range for this position is $74,100-$94,200. “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.

Application Window

Open date: April 21, 2025

Most recent review date: Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.

Final date: Tuesday, Apr 21, 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 UC Davis Strawberry Breeding Program is hiring an Assistant Project Scientist to lead ongoing and future field, greenhouse, and controlled environment disease breeding and research efforts. The University of California, Davis strawberry breeding program has been breeding public strawberry varieties since the 1930s and includes both research and teaching components. Today, its goals are to investigate key issues in strawberry (e.g. the genetic basis of disease resistance, aroma, yield, etcetera) and leverage these discoveries in developing new varieties of strawberry plants that address the needs of growers in California and around the world. The strawberry breeding program strives to be accessible and transparent regarding the research underway and operates with collaborators from around the world to advance the field of knowledge underlying strawberry breeding. The successful applicant will help to execute research projects, design new experiments and projects, mentor graduate and undergraduate students, lead and participate writing papers, grants, and reports, and present to national and international audiences, as well as be a positive member of the campus community.

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 carry out 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.

Major Responsibilities And Designated Areas Of Expertise

I. RESEARCH IN SPECIALIZED AREAS (90 % EFFORT)

Research activity (55 %)

This position requires creative contributions to and collaborative development of an active research program investigating topics relevant to the research area of quantitative genetics, plant pathology and the application of genome-informed approaches in strawberry breeding, including but not limited to marker assisted selection and genomic prediction. This will involve the planning and designing experiments and populations to discover, validate, and incorporate novel resistance loci into commercial breeding material. The candidate will help to determine research goals in consultation with the Principal Investigator. He/she will design specific projects, including the selection of appropriate methods and techniques. The candidate will contribute to routine breeding activities to support the continued health of the program and to maintain a quality research program, including but not limited to executing controlled pollinations and managing greenhouse and controlled environment cleanliness in collaboration with PI and other members of the research team. The candidate will further contribute to the lab through supervising students or technicians and consulting scientists regarding the technical aspects of the research, including methods development, trouble-shooting problems, interpreting results and planning follow-up experiments.

Publication (20 %)

The candidate will publish research results in peer-reviewed journals, books and other outlets either independently or in collaboration with the PI or other members of the research team, or other members of the scientific community.

Grant Acquisition (15 %)

The candidate will assist in acquiring proposals for funding from federal and state agencies and other funding organizations. The candidate will prepare and assist in the preparation of reports as required by granting agencies. The candidate will interact with funding agencies and prepare modifications of budgets and other grant components as needed.

II. PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (5 % EFFORT)

The candidate will participate in professional societies and conferences appropriate to his/her specific field and will serve as a reviewer of research proposals and scientific publications as appropriate. The candidate will attend seminars to present research results and may give oral presentations to public and professional interest groups. When appropriate, the candidate may coordinate and/or give presentations at seminars, laboratory meetings or educational functions.

III. UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE (5 % EFFORT)

The candidate will engage in public outreach activities that include presenting scientific research results to the general public and providing relevant advice to individuals and public agencies. This will include scientific presentations at the Plant and Animal Genome, National Association of Plant Breeders, and other professional society meetings, national and international scientific symposia and conferences, agricultural industry workshops and cooperative extension meetings, and virtual and in-person field days. The candidate will engage in University service activities such as guest lecturing and committee service. This will include guest lectures in plant pathology and plant breeding and genetics courses. Teaching classroom courses is not an expectation of this position.

The University will not offer sponsorship for this position. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate that they are legally authorized to work in the United States.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

• Ph.D. in plant Sciences, Horticulture, Plant Genetics, Plant Breeding or related field (must be obtained at the time of appointment)
• 1-5 years of Postdoctoral research in plant genetics, plant breeding or related fields specifically working with plant pathology, molecular breeding, genotyping tools, and molecular marker design. Experience working with polyploid genomes preferred
• 5+ experience with the design and execution of large field trials
• 5+ years with the evaluation of plant disease symptoms in field, greenhouse, glasshouse, and the use lab based and marker assays, production of inoculum for disease assays. Experience working with Strawberry preferred
• 5+ experience in R or other statistical languages for the analysis of experiments, GWAS, genomic prediction, as well as the tools for creating and editing publication quality figures and display items
  
  

Preferred qualifications (other preferred, but not required, qualifications for the position)

• Experience with the design, validation, and deployments of high throughput genotyping (KASP, HRM, PCR)
• Ability to travel in CA and domestic US for work
• Intermediate spoken Spanish
  
  

Application Requirements

Document Requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter
• Statement of Research
• Authorization to Release Information Form - This form is required for all applicants applying to academic recruitments. Please see the Employment Disclosure Requirements webpage for more information. Download, complete, sign, and upload the form.
  
  

Reference Requirements

• 2 required (contact information only)
  
  

Apply link: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07093

Help contact: [e-mail]

About UC Davis

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, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

• “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment
  
  

To implement this process, UC Davis requires all applicants for any open search to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled, "Authorization to Release Information" into UC RECRUIT as part of their application. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration.

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus (http://breathefree.ucdavis.edu/).

The University of California 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, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state for federal law.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. More information is available at: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all employees and students. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service are embodied by members of our academic community who share our commitment to these values. A variety of resources and programs are available to academics, staff, and students that reflect the core values reflected in our strategic plan: “To Boldly Go,” our Principles of Community, the Office of Academic Affairs’ Mission Statement, and the UC Board of Regents Policy 4400.

UC Davis also is making important progress towards our goal of achieving federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). There are numerous links available on the About Us webpage where you can learn more about our administration, campus rankings, locations, campus safety, sustainability, visiting UC Davis and UC Davis Health.

The university is consistently ranked among the top institutions in the world for campus sustainability practices by the UI Green Metric World University Rankings. UC Davis is focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and repeatedly shown its commitment to preserving a healthy and sustainable environment for generations to come.

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.

Job location

Davis, CA

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Contract

Job function

• Job function

  Research, Analyst, and Information Technology

• Industries

  Higher Education

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