Lab Assistant 1 - Salinas, CA, Job ID 87379

University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources; Salinas (CA); On-site; USD 37,195 - 39,950; Part time

Job summary

The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) is seeking a Laboratory Assistant to perform standardized procedures in teaching or research laboratories, set up plots, collect data, and generate simple graphs and tables. The role supports field and lab activities across varied environments, emphasizing accuracy and careful data handling.

This limited-term appointment is 40% variable.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED and one year of laboratory experience or two years of college including courses in the natural, physical or social sciences; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with data collection and scientific studies.
• Experience using and reading maps to navigate.

Responsibilities

• Prepare field samples for microscope work, use microscope for limited analysis, such as counting; keep lab spaces clean and organized.
• Assist in data collection, enter data into Microsoft Excel for analysis and recording; monitor and ensure accuracy.
• Help set up field experiments.

Skills

Data collection

MS Excel

Maps navigation

Education

High school diploma or GED

Two years college in sciences

Tools

MS Excel

Job description

Job Description

Laboratory Assistants perform the standardized and recurring technical procedures in the natural, physical or social sciences in a teaching and/or research laboratory; perform or supervise a variety of business operations related to management of a laboratory; and perform other related duties as required. The Laboratory can be in any location where measurements occur and the equipment is located, indoors and outdoors depending on the experiment. The Lab Assistant will be responsible for setting up plots to research specifications, monitoring plots for integrity, collecting data, entering into spreadsheets, and making graphs and simple tables.

This position is a limited term appointment that is 40% variable.

Pay Scale: $27.04/hour to $29.26/hour

Job Posting Close Date: This job is open until filled. The first application review date will be 07/24/2026.

Key Responsibilities

• 50% Prepare field samples for microscope work, use microscope for limited analysis, such as counting. May perform some repetitive laboratory procedures such as grading and measuring. Clean and maintain laboratory space as needed.
• 25% Assist in preparing materials for data collection, collecting data, and reporting data for field and laboratory work. Enter data into computer (Microsoft Excel) for analysis and recording. Monitor and ensure accuracy.
• 25% Help set up field experiments.

Requirements

• Graduation from high school or a General Education Diploma and one year of laboratory experience or two years of college including courses in the natural, physical or social sciences; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience with data collection and scientific studies.
• Experience using and reading maps to navigate.
• Experience using MS Excel for data collection and manipulation.

Special Conditions of Employment

• Must possess valid California Driver's License to drive a County or University vehicle. Ability and means to travel on a flexible schedule as needed, proof of liability damage insurance on vehicle used is required. Reimbursement of job-related travel will be reimbursed according to University policies.
• Overtime and occasional weekend work as needed, usually on short notice to meet operational needs may be requested.
• The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check. This is a designated position requiring a background check and may require fingerprinting due to the nature of the job responsibilities. UC ANR does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities.
• As of January 1, 2014, ANR is a smoke- and tobacco-free environment in which smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e-cigarettes), is strictly prohibited.
• As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.
• Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer. Misconduct means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct: UCSexualViolenceandSexualHarassmentPolicy; UCAnti-DiscriminationPolicy; AbusiveConductintheWorkplace.

Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.