Junior Specialist/Emerson lab

Position overview

Salary range: A reasonable estimate for this position is $55,000 at Step 1 or $58,600 at Step 2.

Application Window

Open date: May 20, 2026

Next review date: Sunday, Jun 7, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Wednesday, Jul 15, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

We seek to hire a Junior Specialist to conduct research in viral (mostly bacteriophage) communities in the healthy human microbiome, using molecular biology equipment and techniques, as well as bioinformatics, as part of a project focused on characterizing viral roles in human-associated microbial ecosystems. Primary duties will involve co-designing and undertaking laboratory protocols for human biosamples (mostly human gut, some urine, saliva, and other sample types); receiving and logging biosamples; entering data into spreadsheets; analyzing experimental and metagenomic (viromic) data; and supervising and training undergraduate assistants. Apart from the primary project supporting this position, our research group is predominantly focused on soil viral (bacteriophage) communities, such that experience with viromes (metagenomes from the viral size fraction) and/or phage-host dynamics and/or microbiomes in any ecosystem would be good preparation for this human virome-focused position.

Research (90%):
The incumbent of this position will be actively and significantly involved in publishable research activities through the following roles and duties:
* Assist the PI by performing viral particle purification and nucleic acid extractions of viral and other microbial communities from healthy human biosamples (mostly human gut samples, also including urine, saliva, and other biosamples from healthy humans), using autoclaves, molecular biology equipment, and molecular biology techniques as part of larger projects focused on characterizing viral roles in human microbiome ecology, and in order to establish the best laboratory protocols for studying viromes from human biosamples.
* Assist the PI by obtaining and maintaining (in culture) ~10-20 viruses and their hosts from existing culture collections to generate and test viral "spike-in" standards to facilitate absolute quantification of viral abundances in viromes.
* Assist the PI by performing other laboratory procedures related to human and/or soil viral ecology, for example, microscopy, cultivation, and microfluidics.
* Maintain a well-organized lab notebook detailing laboratory procedures, results (e.g., DNA and RNA extraction yields), and sample IDs, and share lab notebook information with the PI during regular meetings (approximately every 1-2 weeks).
* Adhere to laboratory safety standards, follow standard operating procedures (SOPs), and adhere to safety guidelines for all laboratory work, with special care taken to adhere to the SOP for processing healthy human biosamples, including a requirement that those samples be processed under a chemical fume hood.
* Assist the PI and project team in retrieving human biosamples, most often from our collaborators at the UC Davis Medical School in Sacramento, CA.
* Assist the PI with bioinformatics data processing and analysis of sequencing and other omic data, for example using our high-performance computing (HPC) cluster and the R programming language.
* Assist the PI and project collaborators in manuscript preparation, including but not limited to: preparing tables and figures, statistically analyzing data, reading scholarly literature, writing methods and results sections, and revising manuscripts.
* Assist the PI and other lab members in shared tasks required for running a safe research laboratory, such as eyewash checks, fire extinguisher checks, ensuring secondary containment for hazardous chemicals, and appropriate storage and disposal of hazardous waste.
* Assist the PI by acting as a logistical liaison to the NIH Human Virome Project Consortium team, including attending team meetings and reporting back to the PI; this role will complement the roles of other liaisons to that consortium team, including the scientific liaison (PI Emerson) and the bioinformatics liaison (a postdoctoral researcher).
* Work collaboratively with other members of the Emerson group, particularly the postdoctoral researcher, and with our collaborators at UC Davis, the University of Colorado at Boulder, and other institutions.

Professional competence (5%):
* The incumbent will participate in weekly lab meetings and will be encouraged to attend weekly seminars in the Department of Plant Pathology (and/or seminars in other programs of interest on campus).
* The incumbent will be encouraged to read scientific literature to assist with experimental design and interpretation.

University and Public Service (5%):
* As a component of university service, the incumbent will be available to serve on one or more departmental committees as suggested by department administration.
* As a public service, the incumbent will also be encouraged to provide occasional research updates at public events such as those held by UC Cooperative Extension.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

Minimum requirements to fit the position would be a Bachelor's degree in Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Genomics, or a related field.

Preferred qualifications (other preferred, but not required, qualifications for the position)

Preferred qualifications would include research lab experience with DNA extractions and bioinformatics research experience in viral (bacteriophage) community ecology and/or phage-host dynamics and/or microbiomes, DNA and RNA extraction from microorganisms and/or microbiomes, high-performance computing (HPC) experience, and programming experience in R.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

• Cover Letter

• Authorization to Release Information Form - This form is required for all applicants applying to academic recruitments. Please see the Employment Disclosure Requirements webpage for more information. Download, complete, sign, and upload the form.

Reference requirements

• 3-4 required (contact information only)

Apply link:

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About UC Davis

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

To implement this process, UC Davis requires all applicants for any open search to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled, "Authorization to Release Information" into UC RECRUIT as part of their application. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration.

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state for federal law.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check.

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all employees and students. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service are embodied by members of our academic community who share our commitment to these values. A variety of resources and programs are available to academics, staff, and students that reflect the core values reflected in our strategic plan: "To Boldly Go," our Principles of Community, the Office of Academic Affairs' Mission Statement, and the UC Board of Regents Policy 4400.

UC Davis is also a national leader in inclusive practice. There are numerous links available on the About Us webpage where you can learn more about our administration, campus rankings, locations, campus safety, sustainability, visiting UC Davis and UC Davis Health.

The university is consistently ranked among the top institutions in the world for campus sustainability practices by the UI Green Metric World University Rankings. UC Davis is focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and repeatedly shown its commitment to preserving a healthy and sustainable environment for generations to come.

The University of California and UC Davis are committed to offering a wide variety of benefits for employees. The University of California Employee benefits and UC Davis New Employee benefits webpages have additional information.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Job location

Davis, CA

Required

Preferred

Job Industries

• Other