University of Maine System - Orono, ME
posted about 1 month ago
Full-time - Entry Level
Orono, ME
10,001+ employees
Educational Services
About the position
The Scientific Research Specialist position at the University of Maine is a full-time, temporary role focused on plant genetics research, specifically in areas such as plant genomics, viromics, and potato breeding. The specialist will work collaboratively within a team and independently on various tasks related to laboratory maintenance, plant care, data organization, and basic data analysis.
Responsibilities
- Assist as a team member on projects related to plant genetics in the lab, greenhouse, and field.
- Perform duties related to laboratory maintenance and plant care.
- Work independently on assigned tasks such as sample collection, leaf tissue collection, and sample extraction in the laboratory.
- Enter and organize data related to the project, laboratory stocks, and inventories.
- Perform basic data analysis to generate visualization plots.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in a plant science field or related discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively as a productive team member.
- Strong attention to detail for data collection and following protocols.
- Basic analytical skills to assess and perform statistical analysis on quantitative data.
- Experience with DNA and RNA extraction from plant tissues, use of PCR-based markers, and quantitative fluorescent-based PCR methodologies.
- Experience in maintenance of growing plants in chambers or greenhouses, and general plant tissue culture techniques.
Nice-to-haves
- Experience with R or other programming languages.
- Familiarity with sequencing technologies and bioinformatic pipelines, especially long-read sequencing for genome assemblies.
- Interest in contributing to research for peer-reviewed publications.
Benefits
- Tuition benefits for employees and dependents.
- Comprehensive insurance coverage including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short and long-term disability.
- Retirement plan options.
