Scientific Assistant

Title:

1161-YN - Scientific Assistant

Business Title:

Scientific Assistant

Location:

Employee Type:

Admin. Professional

Job Family:

Administrative Professional - OT Eligible

Position Details:

COVID-19 Vaccine Information:

In accordance with Washington State Governor's Proclamation 21.14.2, as a condition of employment, you must be fully vaccinated or have an approved medical/religious accommodation by time of hire. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their last shot in a vaccine series. Full vaccination status or an approved accommodation will be verified prior to your first day of work. Should you not be fully vaccinated or have an approved medical/religious accommodation you will not be able to start employment with WSU. Information regarding vaccine verification and/or requesting a medical/religious accommodation is available at https://hrs.wsu.edu/covid-19/vax-verification/. Please contact HRS at [email protected] or 509-335-4521 if you have questions.

Summary of Duties:

Incumbent will be responsible for performing laboratory and greenhouse experiments related to wheat seed biology and stress tolerance, specifically to the problems of low falling numbers, late maturity alpha-amylase (LMA), and preharvest sprouting.  The incumbent will lead a project aimed at mapping and breeding for LMA and preharvest sprouting resistance.  Duties include but are not limited to, conducting plant growth and tissue culture, DNA preps, PCR analysis, protein extractions, alpha-amylase enzyme assays, and western blots under laboratory conditions,  organizing temporary employees to perform tests in the greenhouse and in the laboratory , and performing data analysis in order to map genes.  The incumbent will need to hire temporary student workers to assist with the project.  The incumbent will need to modify and/or adapt procedures to meet specific project requirements, and make substantive suggestions for improvement in techniques and interpretation.

Job Duties:

30% | Laboratory Experiments

• Perform laboratory experiments to examine the expression of alpha-amylase enzyme in wheat grain due to either LMA or preharvest sprouting. 

• Perform tissue culture experiments in wheat. 

• Examine molecular markers by performing genomic DNA extractions and PCR analysis.

• Perform mapping and cloning of wheat genes.

• Perform Hagberg-Perten falling numbers tests, germination assays, hormone response analayses, and other experiments as required to examine wheat seed biology and plant stress tolerance. 

• Perform protein expression analyses.

30% | Greenhouse and Field Experiments

• Create wheat mapping populations and grow plants for use in developing callus in tissue culture experiments. 

• Develop and perform LMA and pre-harvesting sprouting tests in the greenhouse and in the field. 

• Determine growth stage in terms of days and growing degree days past anthesis. 

• Grow and maintain wheat plants, performing experiments at the appropriate developmental stage. 

• Perform crosses, cold treatments for LMA, and spike-wetting tests.

20% | Data Recording, Analysis, and Reporting

• Maintaining records in a bound notebook and in an electronic database including records of purpose, procedure, results, and conclusions of each experiment. 

• Maintaining records of experiments; compiling data into graphic, tabular or other formatting and performing statistical analysis and analytical modeling; preparing data for publication; coordinating with other research and support personnel. 

• Perform statistical analysis of data as needed in R or SAS. 

• Place seeds, primers, or constructs into lab collections and databases to create an accessible record of available materials for all lab members.

10% | Guide Temporary Employees

• Hire and supervise student and other temporary employees to assist in laboratory, greenhouse, and field research. 

• Train and lead technical personnel with regards to all general laboratory protocols and in safety regulations as well as equipment operation, calibration, use-scheduling, and maintenance.

10% | Laboratory Upkeep and Operations

• Manage operation of specialized equipment in laboratory including set up, clean-up, monitoring performance and performing routine maintenance. 

• Make certain that lab materials are kept clean and in good repair. 

• Program equipment such an incubators.  

• Assure that work is performed in a manner consistent with regulatory and safety protocols.  

Required Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate related scientific or engineering discipline and three (3) years of progressively responsible related professional research experience. Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis. A Master’s degree in an appropriate related scientific or engineering discipline may be substituted for up to one year of the required work experience.

Additional Requirements:

• Strong demonstrated background in molecular biology. 

• Demonstrated ability in independently developing experimental protocols with minimal guidance.

• Experience with molecular cloning, PCR, library construction, gene or protein expression analysis, enzyme assays, and plant cultivation. 

• Ability to develop protocols and to research with minimal guidance. 

• Must be exceptionally self-motivated, have excellent organizational and interpersonal skills. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Hand-on experience with QIAXcel system for DNA analysis and with the ProteinSimple Jess system from protein analysis.   Co-authorship on peer-reviewed scientific publications.  

Additional Information:

Area/College:

College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences

Department Name:

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

City, State, Zip:

Pullman, WA 99164

Department Link:

https://css.wsu.edu/

Monthly Salary:

Commensurate with Qualifications and Experience

FTE:

100%

Position Type:

Permanent

Temporary End Date:

This is a temporary position expected to end 12 months from hire date. Renewal is dependent on the need for extension and/or if additional funding is secured to extend employment.

Posting Close Date:

Applicants must submit their completed application by December 16, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.

Background Check:

This position has been designated by the department to require a background check.

Applicant Instructions:

Applicants must attach the following documents to their online application: 1) resume and 2) cover letter. Applicants are required to include contact information for professional references within the application. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements.

Required Documents:

1) Resume

2) Cover Letter

Time Type:

Full time

Position Term:

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EDUCATOR AND EMPLOYER. Members of ethnic minorities, women, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam-era, recently separated veterans, and other protected veteran, persons of disability and/or persons age 40 and over are encouraged to apply.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or [email protected] .

Title:

1161-YN - Scientific Assistant

Business Title:

Scientific Assistant

Location:

Employee Type:

Admin. Professional

Job Family:

Administrative Professional - OT Eligible

Position Details:

COVID-19 Vaccine Information:

In accordance with Washington State Governor's Proclamation 21.14.2, as a condition of employment, you must be fully vaccinated or have an approved medical/religious accommodation by time of hire. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their last shot in a vaccine series. Full vaccination status or an approved accommodation will be verified prior to your first day of work. Should you not be fully vaccinated or have an approved medical/religious accommodation you will not be able to start employment with WSU. Information regarding vaccine verification and/or requesting a medical/religious accommodation is available at https://hrs.wsu.edu/covid-19/vax-verification/. Please contact HRS at [email protected] or 509-335-4521 if you have questions.

Summary of Duties:

Incumbent will be responsible for performing laboratory and greenhouse experiments related to wheat seed biology and stress tolerance, specifically to the problems of low falling numbers, late maturity alpha-amylase (LMA), and preharvest sprouting.  The incumbent will lead a project aimed at mapping and breeding for LMA and preharvest sprouting resistance.  Duties include but are not limited to, conducting plant growth and tissue culture, DNA preps, PCR analysis, protein extractions, alpha-amylase enzyme assays, and western blots under laboratory conditions,  organizing temporary employees to perform tests in the greenhouse and in the laboratory , and performing data analysis in order to map genes.  The incumbent will need to hire temporary student workers to assist with the project.  The incumbent will need to modify and/or adapt procedures to meet specific project requirements, and make substantive suggestions for improvement in techniques and interpretation.

Job Duties:

30% | Laboratory Experiments

• Perform laboratory experiments to examine the expression of alpha-amylase enzyme in wheat grain due to either LMA or preharvest sprouting. 

• Perform tissue culture experiments in wheat. 

• Examine molecular markers by performing genomic DNA extractions and PCR analysis.

• Perform mapping and cloning of wheat genes.

• Perform Hagberg-Perten falling numbers tests, germination assays, hormone response analayses, and other experiments as required to examine wheat seed biology and plant stress tolerance. 

• Perform protein expression analyses.

30% | Greenhouse and Field Experiments

• Create wheat mapping populations and grow plants for use in developing callus in tissue culture experiments. 

• Develop and perform LMA and pre-harvesting sprouting tests in the greenhouse and in the field. 

• Determine growth stage in terms of days and growing degree days past anthesis. 

• Grow and maintain wheat plants, performing experiments at the appropriate developmental stage. 

• Perform crosses, cold treatments for LMA, and spike-wetting tests.

20% | Data Recording, Analysis, and Reporting

• Maintaining records in a bound notebook and in an electronic database including records of purpose, procedure, results, and conclusions of each experiment. 

• Maintaining records of experiments; compiling data into graphic, tabular or other formatting and performing statistical analysis and analytical modeling; preparing data for publication; coordinating with other research and support personnel. 

• Perform statistical analysis of data as needed in R or SAS. 

• Place seeds, primers, or constructs into lab collections and databases to create an accessible record of available materials for all lab members.

10% | Guide Temporary Employees

• Hire and supervise student and other temporary employees to assist in laboratory, greenhouse, and field research. 

• Train and lead technical personnel with regards to all general laboratory protocols and in safety regulations as well as equipment operation, calibration, use-scheduling, and maintenance.

10% | Laboratory Upkeep and Operations

• Manage operation of specialized equipment in laboratory including set up, clean-up, monitoring performance and performing routine maintenance. 

• Make certain that lab materials are kept clean and in good repair. 

• Program equipment such an incubators.  

• Assure that work is performed in a manner consistent with regulatory and safety protocols.  

Required Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate related scientific or engineering discipline and three (3) years of progressively responsible related professional research experience. Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis. A Master’s degree in an appropriate related scientific or engineering discipline may be substituted for up to one year of the required work experience.

Additional Requirements:

• Strong demonstrated background in molecular biology. 

• Demonstrated ability in independently developing experimental protocols with minimal guidance.

• Experience with molecular cloning, PCR, library construction, gene or protein expression analysis, enzyme assays, and plant cultivation. 

• Ability to develop protocols and to research with minimal guidance. 

• Must be exceptionally self-motivated, have excellent organizational and interpersonal skills. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Hand-on experience with QIAXcel system for DNA analysis and with the ProteinSimple Jess system from protein analysis.   Co-authorship on peer-reviewed scientific publications.  

Additional Information:

Area/College:

College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences

Department Name:

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

City, State, Zip:

Pullman, WA 99164

Department Link:

https://css.wsu.edu/

Monthly Salary:

Commensurate with Qualifications and Experience

FTE:

100%

Position Type:

Permanent

Temporary End Date:

This is a temporary position expected to end 12 months from hire date. Renewal is dependent on the need for extension and/or if additional funding is secured to extend employment.

Posting Close Date:

Applicants must submit their completed application by December 16, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.

Background Check:

This position has been designated by the department to require a background check.

Applicant Instructions:

Applicants must attach the following documents to their online application: 1) resume and 2) cover letter. Applicants are required to include contact information for professional references within the application. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements.

Required Documents:

1) Resume

2) Cover Letter

Time Type:

Full time

Position Term:

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EDUCATOR AND EMPLOYER. Members of ethnic minorities, women, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam-era, recently separated veterans, and other protected veteran, persons of disability and/or persons age 40 and over are encouraged to apply.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or [email protected] .