Company
Employment Type
- Full-time
- Job
Job Categories
- Research & Science
Job Details
The Science & Conservation: Research department at Holden Forests & Gardens (HF&G) is looking for a Research Specialist to join the Evolutionary Ecology team. The team is interested in the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms that influence plant adaptation to rapid environmental change, through the lenses of ecology, genomics, and microbiome. The team is currently funded by National Science Foundation and state grants. The Research Specialist will contribute to a project on plant-microbiome symbiosis that leverages robotic and phenotyping platforms to advance our understanding of the rules that govern microbe-microbe and microbe-plant interactions under changing climates. The Research Specialist will conduct field sampling, maintain cultures of plants and microbes, perform manipulative experiments and microbiome sequencing, and prepare scientific results for presentation and publication. The Research Specialist will have opportunities to travel to collaborators’ labs, perform outreach, mentor undergraduate and high school students, and present at meetings and conferences. This position is based out of the Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, OH in the Long Science Center. We are looking for a motivated member who is curious to understand how symbiosis works, passionate to work at the interface of plant biology, ecology, evolution, microbiology, computer science, statistics, and environmental science, dedicated to share findings with communities, and willing to do meaningful work in an organization that values diversity of thoughts and perspectives. Holden Forests & Gardens connects people with the wonder, beauty and value of trees and plants, to inspire action for healthy communities. HF&G strives for a welcoming workplace where everyone feels that they belong.
Position Details:
Reports to Principal Investigator (Na Wei, Ph.D., Plant Biologist)
Non-Exempt Position
32-40 hours a week flexible
Starting date flexible but preferably August 1, 2023
One year appointment at minimum with reappointment contingent upon satisfaction of performance
Supports Holden Forests & Gardens’ mission, vision, values, and core commitment
Manages and executes field work such as sampling plants and microbes across states
Manages and executes laboratory work such as microbial culturing and assays, maintaining cultures of plants and microbes, DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, genomic sequencing, and growth chamber experiments
Leads data management and protocol creation for research projects
Assists in experimental data analyses, preparation for publication in scientific journals, and presentation to agencies or the public
Practices generally accepted ethical standards in research and scholarship
Assists and mentors interns, students, volunteers with data collection, independent projects, and other coursework as needed
Performs K-12 STEM outreach
Contributes to internal and external publications for Holden Forests & Gardens
Collaborates with various cross-departmental initiatives at Holden Forests & Gardens
Other duties as assigned
Qualifications and Skills:
Demonstrated passion for people and nature
A bachelor's degree in biology, ecology, evolution, genetics, microbiology, molecular biology, or related field, required
Master of Science or higher, preferred
Experience with field work, preferred
Experience with laboratory work including but not limited to microbial culturing and assays, aseptic techniques, DNA/RNA extraction, and PCR, required
Experience with data management practices using Microsoft 365, Dropbox, OneDrive, and Google Drive, required
Experience with statistical data analyses using R, programming, bioinformatics, or related skills, preferred
Experience with scientific writing, preferred
A valid Driver’s License and acceptable driving record, required
Physical Requirements:
Must be able to perform with or without reasonable accommodation:
Frequent work outdoors under a wide range of weather conditions
Ability to transport oneself on and off trail over a variety of terrain that may be wet, slippery, uneven, rocky
Qualified applicants should submit Curriculum Vitae, Letter of Interest describing research interests and previous research experience, and contact information of 2 professional references and apply directly through the link below:
https://holdenfg.org/career-and-internships/?gnk=job&gni=8a78839f882ca4a...
