Plant Pathogen Discovery and Research Assistant (SRA 3)

The UC Davis Vegetable and Field Crop Pathology program in the Plant Pathology department provides pathology support to over 25 farm advisors, 45 crops and 1,000 conventional and organic farms spanning >500,000A across California. Responsibilities of this position will include a combination of the below, with selection of responsibility based on incumbents interest. (1) Discovery pathology and diagnostic tool improvement, including: diagnosing crop diseases of unknown etiology, characterizing new diseases discovered through diagnosis efforts, conducting survey's for new diseases, characterizing pathogen strain populations, developing new diagnostics tools and soil/seed testing methods for priority diseases. (2) Integrated pest management: conducting and/or assisting with industry collaborations to screen cultivars for disease resistance, conducting or assisting with on-farm trials evaluating cultural, genetic and chemical-based management methods, providing quantitative microbial risk assessment analysis support for farm equipment sanitation studies, and running monitoring programs for resistance-breaking pathogen strains.
Managerial responsibilities include serving as the primary technical manager of the diagnostics clinic and / or the molecular diagnostic lab, assisting to coordinate lab activities, onboarding and training new lab members, and maintaining lab databases and culture collections. Additional responsibilities include assisting in coordinating field days, conferences and workshops put on by the PI, preparation of newsletter articles and reports, contribution to grant proposals, and contribution to peer reviewed papers. This position involves active participation in regular lab meetings and there will be many opportunities to give oral and poster presentations at field days, stakeholder and scientific meetings, and contribute to outreach and scientific publications.

Apply By Date February 26, 2026 at 11:59pm

Minimum Qualifications - For full consideration, applicants are encouraged to upload license and/or certification if required of the position

• Required to hold a valid California driver's license, have a driving record that is in accordance with local policies/procedures, and/or enroll in the California Employer Pull Notice Program
• MS in Plant Pathology or related field, with a focus on fungal plant pathogens OR BS in Plant Pathology or related field and at least two years experience working in fungal plant pathology.
• Experience conducting an independent research project. Experience with staff management and delegation.
• Experience working in the field. Experience in plant propagation and maintenance. Experienced in basic molecular methods relevant to the identification of fungal species and strains (DNA extraction, PCR, sequence preparation, BLAST-search analysis).
• Experience working with plant diseases in-planta. Experience working with fungal pathogens. Some basic experience in / exposure to the process of plant disease diagnostics.
• Experience with computer packages for data storage and analysis, word processing and Excel spreadsheet management. Experience in using power-point to prepare presentations and posters. Experience with scientific writing.
• Effective interpersonal skills. Strong time management and multitasking skills.
• Skills to maintain a fungal culture collection. Some knowledge of methods in plant disease diagnosis. Knowledge of experimental design and basic statistical analysis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience independently diagnosing plant diseases, methods for inoculation and isolation of plant pathogenic fungi, methods for quantifying disease development, and methods for identifying fungi to the genus level based on morphology using standard keys, experience working with fungi in the genus Fusarium.
• Experience with qPCR. Experience with basic bioinformatics methods including use of sequence editing software (Genius, CLC, chromas, Mega or similar) and use of BLAST databases. Primer/probe design and phylogenetic analysis experience is desirable but not required.
• Experience designing field experiments and knowledge of how to conduct field plantings, evaluations and harvests.
• Experience with in-field disease diagnosis; how to interpret the significance of in-field distribution patterns over space and time.
• Experience with public speaking and willingness to speak in public. Experience working with extension professionals and growers.
• Experience with conducting basic statistical analyses (ANOVA, means comparisons) using statistics software (eg. R, SAS, JPM, or other).
• Strong writing skills; demonstrated capacity in writing scientific and/or outreach publications as the lead author. Strong skill set in working with research collaborators.

Key Responsibilities

• 35% - Research to Develop Integrated Pathogen Management Methods
• 35% - Discovery Pathology / Disease Diagnostics
• 20% - Diagnostic Lab Management
• 5% - Outreach Support
• 5% - General Lab Management

Department Overview

The Department of Plant Pathology at UC Davis is a teaching, research, and extension department within the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The purpose of this department is to determine the nature and cause of plant diseases, promote the science of plant pathology, provide leadership in research and teaching programs, and train qualified scientists to continue the principals and conduct high quality mission-oriented and fundamental research. The mission of the UC Davis Plant Pathology department is to improve plant health in the agricultural and natural landscape, so as to ensure long term food security and continuation of natural resource availability at the local, national and global scale. Through partnerships with producers, regulatory agencies, consumer communities and industry, we seek to identify key disease problems, develop short, medium and long-term solutions, and disseminate critical management information.

POSITION INFORMATION

• Salary or Pay Range: $69,759.29/annually - $112,173.89/annually
• Salary Frequency: Annually
• UC Job Title: SRA 3
• Number of Positions: 1
• Appointment Type: Staff: Career
• Percentage of Time: 100% - Fixed
• Shift (Work Schedule): Monday-Friday, 8:00AM-5:00PM
• Location: Davis, CA.
• Union Representation: RX-Research Professionals
• Benefits Eligible: Yes
• This position is 100% on-site

Benefits

Outstanding benefits and perks are among the many rewards of working for the University of California. UC Davis offers a full range of benefits, resources and programs to help you bring your best self to work, as well as to help you and your family achieve your health, wellness, financial and career goals. Learn more about the benefits below and eligibility rules by visiting either our handy Benefits Summary for UC Davis Health Employees or Benefits Summary for UC Davis Employees and our Benefits Page.

If you are represented by a union, benefits are negotiated between the University of California (UC) and your union and finalized in a contract. Read your bargaining unit's employment contract, stay abreast of current negotiations and learn about collective bargaining at UC: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/labor/bargaining-units/index.html

• High quality and low-cost medical plans to choose from to fit your family's needs
• UC pays for Dental and Vision insurance premiums for you and your family
• Extensive leave benefits including Pregnancy and Parental Leave, Family & Medical Leave
• Paid Holidays annually as stipulated in the UC Davis Health Policies or Collective Bargaining Agreement
• Paid Time Off/Vacation/Sick Time as stipulated in the UC Davis Health Policies or Collective Bargaining Agreement
• Continuing Education (CE) allowance and Education Reimbursement Program as stipulated in the UC Davis Health Policies or Collective Bargaining Agreement
• Access to free professional development courses and learning opportunities for personal and professional growth
• WorkLife and Wellness programs and resources
• On-site Employee Assistance Program including access to free mental health services
• Supplemental insurance offered including additional life, short/long term disability, pet insurance and legal coverage
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSFL) Qualified Employer & Student Loan Repayment Assistance Program for qualified roles
• Retirement benefit options for eligible roles including Pension and other Retirement Saving Plans. More information on our retirement benefits can be found here

Physical Demands

• Standing - Occasional Up to 3 Hours
• Walking - Occasional Up to 3 Hours
• Sitting - Frequent 3 to 6 Hours
• Lifting/Carrying 0-25 Lbs - Occasional Up to 3 Hours
• Lifting/Carrying 26-50 lbs - Frequent 3 to 6 Hours
• Pushing/Pulling 0-25 Lbs - Occasional Up to 3 Hours
• Keyboard use/repetitive motion - Frequent 3 to 6 Hours

Mental Demands

• Sustained attention and concentration - Frequent 3 to 6 Hours
• Complex problem solving/reasoning - Occasional Up to 3 Hours
• Ability to organize & prioritize - Frequent 3 to 6 Hours
• Communication skills - Frequent 3 to 6 Hours
• Numerical skills - Occasional Up to 3 Hours
• Constant Interaction - Frequent 3 to 6 Hours
• Customer/Patient Contact - Frequent 3 to 6 Hours
• Multiple Concurrent Tasks - Frequent 3 to 6 Hours

Work Environment

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco free campus effective January 1, 2014. Smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e-cigarettes) will be strictly prohibited on any UC Davis owned or leased property, indoors and outdoors, including parking lots and residential space.

Work long hours in the field and greenhouse; work under variable uncomfortable conditions including extreme heat and rain; lift heavy items (>25lbs).

Special Requirements - Please contact your recruiter with questions regarding which activities apply by position

• N/A

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional 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; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

A Culture of Opportunity and Belonging

At UC Davis, we're committed to solving life's most urgent challenges and building a healthier, more resilient world. We believe in growing through every challenge, continually striving to improve, and welcoming new perspectives that strengthen our community. We recognize that a vibrant and innovative organization values both individual strengths and shared purpose. The best ideas often emerge when people with different experiences come together.

As you consider joining UC Davis, we invite you to explore our Principles of Community, our Clinical Strategic Plan and strategic vision for research and education. We believe you belong here. The University of California, Davis is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status.

To view the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination

Because we want you to feel seen and valued, our recruitment process at UC Davis supports openness and authenticity. Research shows that some individuals hesitate to apply unless they meet every qualification. You may be an excellent fit for this role-or the next one. We encourage you to apply even if your experience doesn't match every listed requirement. #YouBelongHere

To learn more about our background check program, please visit: https://hr.ucdavis.edu/departments/recruitment/ucd/selection/background-checks