Research Specialist
About The Position
This multi-functional research specialist position is housed within the Department of Plant Pathology at the UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). It provides support to the UW-Madison Wisconsin Seed Potato Certification Program (WSPCP), which was established in 1913 to inspect and certify Wisconsin seed potatoes, aiming to provide potato farmers with healthy seed potato planting stock. The role focuses on supporting the program’s tissue culture and diagnostic laboratories, with opportunities to learn and support other program facets like certification, early generation seed production, research advancement, and outreach activities. This is an agriculturally based laboratory position and may require extra hours during certain times of the year, including peak seed production seasons and increased diagnostic periods. Travel within and outside Wisconsin is required as requested for the position. Occasional night and weekend work is also required, as is driving for extended periods.
Requirements
- 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.
- Must hold a valid US driver’s license and meet UW Risk Management standards.
Nice To Haves
- 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.
Responsibilities
- Documents and maintains Standard Operation Procedures (SOP).
- Ensures compliance with established policies and procedures.
- Participates in novel pathogen testing of seed potato samples.
- Participates in the development, interpretation, and implementation of research methodology and materials.
- Performs literature reviews and writes reports.
- Operates, cleans, and maintains organization of research equipment and research area.
- Tracks inventory levels and places replenishment orders.
- Reviews, analyzes, and interprets data and/or documents results for presentations and/or reporting to internal and external audiences.
- Provides operational guidance on day-to-day activities of unit or program staff and/or student workers.
- Conducts research experiments according to established research protocols with moderate impact to the project(s).
- Collects data and monitors test results.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Associate degree
