Junior Specialist/Vannette Lab

University of California - Davis; Davis (CA); On-site; USD 51,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

UC Davis seeks a Junior Specialist in the Chiu Lab to support bee-mung interactions research, including bee rearing, field sampling, and fungal culture work. The role involves recording data, maintaining cultures, and assisting with manuscript preparation under supervision.

Candidates should be organized, detail-oriented, and capable of handling sterile techniques, insect rearing, and microbiome-related workflows.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor of Science or equivalent in Biology, Entomology, Ecology or related field.
• Entry level position; advanced degrees or extensive experience are not required.

Responsibilities

• Assist with sampling solitary bee nests in field studies at UC campuses and approved sites.
• Support experiments on bee responses to fungal infection and insect rearing.
• Maintain fungal cultures and assist with tissue extraction and inoculum prep.
• Prepare and organize data, figures, and records for publications and talks.
• Participate in lab meetings and contribute to project planning and updates.
• Read relevant literature to help plan new experiments and directions.
• Assist in manuscript preparation, including writing sections and preparing figures.
• Help maintain sterile work areas, growth chambers, and chemical inventories.

Skills

Solitary bees experience

Sterile technique

Microbiome assessment

Fungal culturing

Chemical ecology

Insect behavior

Organized and detail-oriented

Education

Bachelor of Science in Biology/Entomology/related field

Tools

MS PowerPoint

BioRender

R

GraphPad Prism

ImageJ

Job description

Position Overview

Salary range: A reasonable estimate for this position is $57,000.

Open date: August 12, 2026

Next review date: Tuesday, Sep 1, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Tuesday, Sep 1, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications will continue to be accepted until this date.

Position Description

Junior Specialist Position Description in the Chiu Lab

Department of Entomology and Nematology, UC Davis

NATURE AND PURPOSE

The position of Specialist has a narrow focus in a specialized area and provides technical or specialized expertise (e.g., with instrumentation and research equipment or with social science research methods) in the planning and execution of a research project. The Specialist stays apprised of emerging issues and problems and maintains technical competence in the designated area(s) of specialization. Within this defined area and when appropriate, the Specialist is expected to provide mentorship, facilitate teamwork and develop collaborative relationships with colleagues and to supply input into the planning of research and educational programs. Normally, Specialists do not have Principal Investigator (PI) status but may obtain permission by exception and/or collaborate with a PI in preparing research proposals for extramural funding. The Specialist is evaluated for merit and promotion using three basic criteria outlined below.

Overview:

This junior specialist position will support a project on bee-fungus interactions including bee rearing, sampling bee nesting materials, and microbial culture work. The selected candidate will assist with bee rearing fungal culturing experiments including field sampling, maintenance of leaf cutter bee nests and fungal material maintenance and sample preparation. The candidate will also help collect and record experimental data, and support general laboratory and greenhouse activities related to the project. Experience with solitary bees, sterile technique, microbiome assessment, fungal culturing, chemical ecology, or insect behavior work is required. The candidate should be organized, detail-oriented, and able to carefully maintain cultures and experimental records.

Major Responsibilities and Designated Areas of Expertise

Research (90%):

• The successful candidate will assist with sampling solitary bee nests in the field including on the Student Farm, at UC Reserves and additional approved field sites. This includes digging, careful excavation and work in hot and challenging conditions.
• Assist with experiments related to bee responses to fungal infection including insect rearing, assessment of development, sampling tissues and preparation for lipidomics analyses.
• Maintain fungal cultures and assist with fungal tissue extraction, counting, inoculum preparation, and experimental assays including focal fungi under laboratory, growth chamber, or greenhouse conditions.
• Generate figures for publication or presentations using MS PowerPoint, BioRender, R, GraphPad Prism, ImageJ, or other appropriate software.
• Document effective planning and execution of research projects through regular participation in laboratory group meetings and research updates.
• Document effective planning and execution of research projects through regular participation in laboratory group meetings and research updates.
• Read relevant published literature in the fields of solitary bee biology and insect-microbe interactions to assist in planning new research directions.
• Assist the PI and other lab members with laboratory, growth chamber, and greenhouse experiments related to bee-microbe interactions.
• Help organize and maintain protocols, experimental records, culture inventories, bee and fungal materials, culture records, and research data.
• Assist the PI or other lab members in manuscript preparation, including but not limited to reading academic literature, writing manuscript sections, preparing figures and tables, and revising manuscripts based on conducted work.
• Assist with lab maintenance, including maintaining sterile work areas, tissue culture facilities, field materials, lab safety records, and chemical inventory records.

Professional Competence (5%):

• Present research at weekly lab meetings, regional scientific meetings, or national scientific meetings.
• Participate in/attend weekly lab meetings, joint lab meetings with other labs on campus, and weekly seminars in the Department of Entomology.
• Participate in relevant outreach events.
• Engage with scientific literature and related research to inform research directions and protocols and to contribute to new research.

University and Public Service (5%):

• As a component of university service, the incumbent may be asked to serve on one or more department committees, such as the Department Safety Committee or the Facilities Committee.
• As a public service, the incumbent will be encouraged to participate in outreach activities, such as those held as part of events hosted by the Bohart Museum of Entomology, the Department of Entomology and Nematology, or conducted independently by the Siddique lab. This could include various events aimed at promoting circadian wellness among California stakeholders.
• The Junior Specialist will mentor undergraduate students in the lab.

Department: https://entomology.ucdavis.edu/

Qualifications

Basic qualifications required at time of application

This position requires a minimum of a Bachelor of Science or equivalent degree (Biology, Entomology, Ecology, or similar field).

NOTE: The junior specialist rank is an entry level position; accordingly, it is inappropriate to hire applicants with advanced degrees in this field, or those with BS degrees and three years' relevant work experience.

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

The ideal candidate will have the ability to work well independently as well as part of a team. They will also have strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, and decision-making skills. The candidate should be organized, detail-oriented, and able to carefully maintain cultures and experimental records.

Other preferred, but not required, qualifications are:

• Assist with experiments related to bee responses to fungal infection including insect rearing, assessment of development, sampling tissues and preparation for lipidomics analyses.
• Maintain fungal cultures and assist with fungal tissue extraction, counting, inoculum preparation, and experimental assays including focal fungi under laboratory, growth chamber, or greenhouse conditions.
• Generate figures for publication using MS PowerPoint, BioRender, R, GraphPad Prism, ImageJ, or other appropriate software.
• Demonstrated organizational expertise maintaining records and protocols
• Experience working collaboratively and as a member of a team and demonstrated interpersonal skills

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter - A cover letter that describes your related interests, experiences, and career goals and that describes your interest and qualifications in the position.
• Transcripts - Unofficial Transcripts (Optional)
• 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

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

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: Affimative 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.

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 or 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.

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 is also a national leader in inclusive practice. 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.

The University of California and UC Davis are committed to offering a wide variety of benefits for employees. The University of California Employee benefits and UC Davis New Employee benefits webpages have additional information.

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