Overview
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Job Category: Academic Staff
Employment Type: Terminal (Fixed Term)
Job Profile: Research Specialist
Job Summary
This multi-functional Research Specialist position housed within the Department of Plant Pathology, UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) provides support to the UW-Madison Wisconsin Seed Potato Certification Program (WSPCP). The WSPCP, established in 1913, inspects and certifies Wisconsin seed potatoes with the goal of providing potato farmers with healthy seed potato planting stock. This position is focused on providing support to the program’s tissue culture and diagnostic laboratories but provides opportunities to learn and support the other facets of the program such as certification, early generation seed production, research advancement, and outreach activities.
Location and Travel: This position is housed in Middleton, WI but requires travel to the program’s diagnostic laboratory in Madison, WI, and occasionally to the program’s certification and early generation greenhouse production sites in Antigo, WI and Rhinelander, WI respectively. Work is in-person in Middleton, WI and surrounding areas, remotely, and occasional travel outside Wisconsin. Occasional night and weekend work is required. Must hold a valid US Driver’s License and meet UW Risk Management standards.
Key Job Responsibilities
* Documents and maintains Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). Ensures compliance with established policies and procedures.
* Operates, cleans, and maintains organization of research equipment and research area. Tracks inventory levels and places replenishment orders.
* Participates in novel pathogen testing of seed potato samples.
* Provides operational guidance on day-to-day activities of unit or program staff and/or student workers.
* Reviews, analyzes, and interprets data and/or documents results for presentations and/or reporting to internal and external audiences.
* Performs literature reviews and writes reports.
* Conducts research experiments according to established research protocols with moderate impact to the project(s). Collects data and monitors test results.
* Participates in the development, interpretation, and implementation of research methodology and materials.
Department
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Department of Plant Pathology, Wisconsin Seed Potato Certification Program
Compensation
Minimum $45,000 ANNUAL (12 months) Depending on Qualifications
Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Please review the summary of benefits for more information.
Required Qualifications
* Laboratory diagnostic experience: Familiarity with performing molecular assays, specifically ELISA, Conventional, Immunocapture and real-time PCR, RNA and/or DNA extraction
* General Laboratory skills and knowledge: examples include following Standard Operating Procedures, measuring and making various medias, utilizing a pH meter, knowledge of how to pipette, understanding/utilization of sterile technique, etc. General laboratory technique skills and knowledge required.
* Drivers License Required - Valid and Meets UW Risk Management Standards
Preferred Qualifications
* Experience in Micropropagation on potato or similar crops.
* Experience with research experimental design and implementation
* Experience in website design, survey development, working on cloud-based databases, and/or performing data analysis.
Education
Bachelor’s Degree Preferred; focus in a field related to the responsibilities of this position such as plant pathology, bacteriology, agronomy/plant science, horticulture, plant breeding preferred.
How to Apply
Click the "Apply" button to start the application process.
You will be prompted to upload the following documents:
* Resume
* Letter of Qualifications
Applicants should attach a letter of qualifications and resume detailing their training and experience relating to the required and preferred qualifications referenced above. The application reviewers will be relying on written application materials to determine which qualified applicants will advance in the recruitment process.
Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.
Contact Information
Megan Sullivan, megan.sullivan@wisc.edu
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY SERVICE for further information.
Institutional Statement on Diversity
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.
To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.
Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.
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