Biological Scientist II

This Biological Scientist II position supports the Grove First projects, utilizing therapeutic molecules and symbiont technology to mitigate the effects of Citrus Greening (Huanglongbing or HLB) and serves a vital role in planning, establishing, and maintaining field, greenhouse, and laboratory-based research. This position will conduct laboratory experiments, treatment applications, establishment of field trials, fruit harvesting, data collection, and laboratory and molecular biology techniques necessary for the success of the project. This position interacts with all phases of the projects; from aiding in conception/design, all the way to presentation and publication of the results. The position is located at the UF/IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center in Fort Pierce, Florida. This is a TIME LIMITED – TEAMS EXEMPT position.

Bachelor’s degree in biology or a related field and three years of experience or Master’s degree in biology or a related field with one year of relevant experience.

Install and maintain field and laboratory experiments, this including helping with design, project setup, and project management. The incumbent is expected to work with a degree of independence and make the day-to-day decisions that will best achieve overall goals of the experiments. Required to drive to occasionally distant field sites to administer treatments, collect data, and harvest samples.

Collect, record, verify, and analyze scientific data from experiments. Monitor plant growth and health, facilitate fruit harvests (essential without accommodations) and postharvest evaluations, summarize experiments, manage, collect and analyze the data, and summarize results for reports, presentations, and manuscript preparation. Modify and implement existing research methods. The use of programming tools, spreadsheets, databases, word processing, and other software will be required to analyze and tabulate data.

Prepare progress reports which document results of experiments.

Collaborate with fellow researchers and scientists to implement innovative ideas and methods for citrus plant disease management.

Present data periodically to a team of researchers and industry partners.

Train, organize, and supervise the work of others working on the projects.

Facilitate communication between project team members and external stakeholders to ensure project goals are understood and met.

Perform trunk injection associated with the Grove First field therapeutic molecule screen protocol. Apply chemicals and biologicals. Essential without accommodations.

Perform symbiont biopesticide field trials ensuring all APHIS and EPA required permit regulations are adhered to and recorded. Essential without accommodations. Other duties as assigned.

$46,000 - $75,000 commensurate with education and experience

Bachelor’s degree in biology or a related field and three years of experience or Master’s degree in biology or a related field with one year of relevant experience.

Valid driver's license required.

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Biology or related is preferred. Knowledge of field, laboratory, and packinghouse equipment and machinery.
• Knowledge of basic lab apparatus, chemicals, and analytical methods. Knowledge of microbiological/pathological laboratory techniques.
• Knowledge of basic field and greenhouse entomological techniques.
• Knowledge of basic postharvest handling principles and juice quality analysis.
• Ability to organize and conduct experiments that provide statistically valid data.
• Knowledge of computer techniques.
• Knowledge of pest management principles.
• Possess or able to obtain a FL Restricted Use Pesticide Applicator License – Required to apply restricted use chemicals as part of potential field treatments.
• Knowledge of statistics and field plot design.
• Ability to supervise lab and field personnel in a manner that maintains productivity and good relations.
• Ability to communicate effectively with written reports as well as in oral presentations before industry and scientific groups.
• Ability to accurately collect, analyze, and maintain records of lab and field test data.

In order to be considered, you must upload your cover letter and resume.

Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.

This is a time limited position.