Junior/Assistant Specialist - Microbiome Engineering - Innovative Genomics Institute

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley (CA)

On-site

USD 58,000 - 67,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

University of California, Berkeley seeks applications for a Junior/Assistant Specialist in the Ronda Lab, focused on microbiome engineering. This role works at the intersection of anaerobic microbiology, metabolic engineering, and synthetic biology to develop tools for engineering rumen microbial communities and related human microbiomes.

The position is embedded in a collaborative IGI environment with access to advanced genomics and molecular biology facilities; applicant must be authorized to

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree or equivalent international degree or enrolled in a bachelor's degree or equivalent international degree program.
Experience in strain/microbiome engineering, with focus on rumen microbial communities and anaerobic microbiology.
Hands-on experience with molecular cloning, plasmid design and construction, bacterial culturing, anaerobic techniques, PCR-based screening, sequencing validation, and strain characterization.

Responsibilities

Conduct metabolic and synthetic biology experiments targeting rumen microbial communities and other human-related microbiomes; include anaerobic culturing, isolation and characterization of microbes, strain engineering, and community manipulation.
Perform plasmid design and construction, bacterial transformation or conjugation, PCR-based screening, Sanger and next-generation sequencing validation, and preparation of metagenomic sequencing libraries.
Manage data and computational analysis, processing metagenomic and amplicon sequencing datasets to characterize community composition and functional changes in engineered communities.

Skills

Microbiome engineering

Metabolic engineering

Molecular cloning

Anaerobic microbiology

Data analysis

PCR-based screening

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

PCR

Sanger sequencing

Next-generation sequencing

Job description

Position overview

Position title: Junior/Assistant Specialist

Salary range: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See the following table for the current salary scale(s) for this position. A reasonable full-time estimate for this position is $57,600 - $67,000.

Percent time: 100%

Anticipated start: Fall 2026

Position duration: One year with the possibility of extension based on performance and availability of funding.

Application Window

Open date: August 5, 2026

Next review date: Thursday, Aug 20, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Final date: Friday, Sep 4, 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 Innovative Genomics Institute at the University of California, Berkeley seeks applications for a Junior/Assistant Specialist in the Ronda Lab, in the area of microbiome engineering

The Ronda Lab at the Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI), UC Berkeley, develops and deploys genome engineering and synthetic biology platforms to understand and reprogram microbial communities. Research in the lab centers on designing molecular tools for in situ microbiome editing, decoding host-microbiome molecular interactions, and translating these discoveries into next-generation biotechnology applications in health and agriculture.

This position supports a metabolic engineering project focused on the rumen microbiome and others human-related microbiomes. The Junior/Assistant Specialist will work at the intersection of anaerobic microbiology, metabolic engineering, and synthetic biology to develop and apply tools for engineering rumen microbial communities. The position will be embedded in the highly collaborative research environment of the IGI, with access to cutting‑edge genomics and molecular biology facilities and expertise across UC Berkeley.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Responsibilities

The position will contribute in three major ways: 1) metabolic and synthetic biology experiments targeting rumen microbial communities others human-related microbiomes, including anaerobic culturing, isolation and characterization of microbes, strain engineering, and microbial community manipulation; 2) molecular biology and genomics workflows, including plasmid design and construction, bacterial transformation or conjugation, PCR-based screening, Sanger and next-generation sequencing validation, and preparation of metagenomic sequencing libraries; and 3) data management and computational analysis, including processing and interpretation of metagenomic and amplicon sequencing datasets to characterize community composition and functional changes in engineered communities.

The position will maintain detailed records of all experiments, conclusions, and results through lab notebooks and internal data management systems. The Junior/Assistant Specialist will contribute to manuscript preparation, present findings at internal lab meetings and scientific conferences, and participate in the preparation of grant proposals. Opportunities to mentor undergraduate researchers and contribute to the collaborative culture of the Ronda Lab and the broader IGI community are expected.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

Bachelor's degree or equivalent international degree or enrolled in a bachelor's degree or equivalent international degree program.

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

Bachelor's degree or equivalent international degree.

Preferred qualifications

Experience in strain/microbiome engineering, with particular interest in rumen microbial communities, anaerobic microbiology, microbial metabolism, and synthetic biology approaches for engineering bacterial functions.

Experience with metabolic engineering, microbial pathway design, microbial community manipulation, or engineering microbes to alter metabolic outputs.

Hands-on experience with molecular cloning, plasmid design and construction, bacterial culturing, anaerobic techniques, microbial transformation or conjugation, PCR-based screening, sequencing-based validation, and strain characterization.

Experience working with complex microbial communities, microbiome samples, or non-model bacteria.

Experience with next-generation sequencing workflows, metagenomics, microbiome data analysis, high-throughput screening, synthetic biology design tools, or computational analysis of microbial pathways.

Demonstrated strong attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, careful record-keeping, and the ability to work effectively in a collaborative research environment.

A strong interest in microbiome engineering, metabolic engineering, and translational synthetic biology.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

Cover Letter

Reference requirements

2 required (contact information only)

Help contact: cronda@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 Affiantive 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.

"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 or discrimination, as defined by the employer.