Research Assistant II

Center for Watershed Protection; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University seeks a Research Assistant II to support diverse research projects in plant biology under the supervision of experienced staff. This role includes lab maintenance and opportunities for skill enhancement in a renowned research environment over a two-year term.

Qualifications

• One to two years of relevant work experience may count towards qualifications.
• Demonstrated abilities in basic laboratory techniques required.

Responsibilities

• Support various research projects in the Friedman lab.
• Perform training and lab maintenance duties.
• Enhance research and technical skills in organismic and evolutionary biology.

Skills

Histology

Microscopy

Communication

Microsoft Office

Adobe Photoshop

Illustrator

Education

College background in Biology or equivalent work experience

Job description

Job Summary

The Arnold Arboretum is Harvard University's museum of trees, with one of the world's most biodiverse collections of temperate woody plants, combined with world-class scientific resources and a commitment to diverse programming. As part of the Boston Parks system, free and open to all daily, we host three to four million visitors each year and were one of the few botanical gardens or arboreta in the world not to close during the height of the pandemic. We view ourselves as a key public health resource to the City of Boston and beyond.


Position Summary: The Research Assistant II position reports to William (Ned) Friedman, Director of the Arnold Arboretum and Arnold Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (70% of the time) and to Faye Rosin, Director of Research Facilitation (30% of the time). The Friedman lab covers a broad range of projects (e.g., origin and evolution of flowering plants, plant evo-devo, plant fertilization biology, and embryology) and methods (histology and various types of microscopy, molecular biology, greenhouse studies).
Please note: This is a two-year term appointment, with an end date two years from the date of hire.

Position Description

Job Responsibilities
The research assistant will work closely with the Principal Investigator and Friedman Lab graduate students on various research projects while supporting the Director of Research Facilitation by performing various training and lab maintenance duties. This position allows an early-career individual to improve their research and technical skills while studying organismic and evolutionary biology among the Arnold Arboretum's renowned collection of woody plants. Additionally, the research assistant will interact with undergraduates, researchers, and visiting scholars working across a broad range of plant biology-related disciplines at the Weld Hill research facilities.

Basic Qualifications

Candidates MUST meet the following basic qualifications to be considered for this role:

• College background in Biology or equivalent work experience required.
• Demonstrated basic abilities in laboratory techniques required.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• One to two years of related work experience (relevant coursework may count towards experience).
• Histology and microscopy skills.
• Skills in applicable computer technologies, including Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, and Illustrator.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.