The Panama drought experiment at Berkeley Lab's Climate & Ecosystems Division is seeking a Organic Matter Formation Research Assistant who will participate in activities examining the microbial role in the nitrogen cycle and organic matter formation within high-altitude ecosystems and tropical forest soils. The successful candidate will work alongside the PI and postdoc to isolate and grow novel bacteria from diverse environments, extract nucleic acids from soil and prepare libraries for sequencing, and make associated biogeochemical and physicochemical measurements. There may also be the possibility of time spent in the field.
What You Will Do:
Grow and maintain bacterial cultures.
Nucleic acid extraction and library sequencing.
Sequence analysis.
Additional Responsibilities as needed:
Become familiar with isotope systematics.
What Is Required:
Bachelor degree, or equivalent experience, in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, or a related field, or one year of relevant experience.
Strong interest in supporting researchers in ecosystem and climate sciences.
Expertise in the above responsibilities.
Expertise in data handling.
Excellent lab skills and an ability to work unsupervised in the laboratory.
Additional Desired Qualifications:
Ability to carry out field work in high-altitude environments and humid tropical forests (long days, potentially arduous conditions).
Some programming skills (python, Matlab, R).
The posting shall remain open until the position is filled.
Notes:
This is a full time career appointment.
Full-time, M-F, exempt (monthly paid) from overtime pay.
This position is represented by a union for collective bargaining purposes.
Salary will be determined based on range by collective bargaining agreement.
This position may be subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
Work will be primarily performed at: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA.
Berkeley Lab (LBNL) addresses the world's most urgent scientific challenges by advancing sustainable energy, protecting human health, creating new materials, and revealing the origin and fate of the universe. Founded in 1931, Berkeley Lab's scientific expertise has been recognized with 13 Nobel prizes. The University of California manages Berkeley Lab for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.
Equal Employment Opportunity: Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action 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. Berkeley Lab is in compliance with the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision under 41 CFR 60-1.4. Click here to view the poster and supplement: "Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law."
