Technician I

Texas A&M University System • College Station, TX

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Grunwald lab is seeking an ambitious and highly motivated technician to support the research and outreach activities of the laboratory. A successful candidate will work in a collaborative environment to provide technical support for molecular plant pathology research conducted on plant pathogens of emerging biosafety concern: from developing molecular detection technologies to evaluating the biological risk of seedborne pathogens and including conducting grower/producer surveys to assess the preparedness of agricultural systems to biological threats.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two years of lab experience in molecular biology techniques, including molecular cloning, DNA purification, RNA purification, DNA sequencing, and gel electrophoresis.
• Knowledge of laboratory equipment, scientific apparatus, and computer equipment.
• Ensure attention to detail.
• Able to multitask and work cooperatively with others.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with different PCR techniques (conventional and quantitative).
• Familiarity in “next-generation” sequencing workflows, including bioinformatic analysis.
• An understanding of current research in plant pathology and molecular diagnostics.
• Well organized, self-motivated, and have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficient in or familiar with data analysis using computational platforms, e.g., R or Python.

Responsibilities

• Conducts experiments and technical procedures.
• Solves research problems and collects data.
• Reviews literature on potential procedures and experiments.
• Modifies procedures to suit specific research needs
• Orders scientific supplies and equipment.
• Research and catalogs reference materials requiring subject-matter theory
• Assists with planning and supervising technical operations.
• Assists personnel involved in a series of controlled-environment or analytical experiments
• Writes and/or edits scientific materials for publication, requiring academic knowledge
• Other duties as assigned

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M AgriLife contributing to employee health and basic life premiums
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
• Employee Wellness Initiative for Texas A&M AgriLife

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED