Junior Specialist - Meyer Lab

This position provides technical, scientific and organizational assistance to Dr. Deanne Meyer's research and extension program in the Department of Animal Science, which focuses on the environmental stewardship in dairy operations. The research is designed to better understand manure management and subsequent emissions and evaluate implementation of management practices to reduce these emissions (carbon and nitrogen focused). The research contributes both to the generation of fundamental knowledge about how animal housing and manure management practices lead to potential emissions and provides foundational information to determine if vermifiltration improve emissions at farm scale.

Physical demands:

Bend, squat, reach above shoulder level, kneel, stand, and walk on hard surfaces or dirt for up to 10 hours per day as needed.

Ability to lift at least 40lbs and carry short distances.

Sit for extended periods to travel to research sites.

Position requires working in an unclean environment (dust, manure).

Ability to work outdoors for up to 10 hours/day in summer and winter as needed.

Availability to work on nights/evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.

Ability to work remotely as needed.

Required to hold valid driver's license, have a driving record that is in accordance with local policies/procedures.

95% RESEARCH

• Coordinate and conduct field research, experiments, and make local field
  arrangements. Arrange for assistance from county- and campus- based staff
  and other collaborators to facilitate research as necessary. Requires ingenuity,
  resourcefulness, and adaptability to special and changing needs of the field
  activities.
• Establish protocol and perform a limited number of non-standard field - based
  experiments. Ability to design or work with unique experimental equipment.
  Search out lab sources for further information, develop cooperation team
  members.
• Create and manage a database of needed information, communicate with PI or
  team members to maintain and update inventory and order supplies, maintain
  computers, files, and programs with appropriate backup for all computers
  under supervision, development/revision of appropriate standard operating
  procedure (SOP) as needed.
• Contribute to scholarly manuscripts through reviewing and commenting on
  draft manuscripts, conducting literature searches, data collection, and helping
  to write methods sections.
• Keep research paperwork and data as required. Contribute original ideas for
  further investigation.
• Collect, organize, and summarize field and laboratory data. Evaluate data and
  prepare tables and graphs for publication. Calculate statistics as needed using
  
  SAS and/or Excel.
• Provide summary information for reports and sections of publications and
  
  presentations.
• Maintain field equipment and other tools used in the laboratory.
• Develop/revise appropriate standard operating procedure (SOP) for lab or
  field procedures as needed.

5% Professional Competence

• Presentation of data at scientific conferences as opportunities arise (poster or
  oral).
• Participation in workshop development/speaking as opportunities arise.
• Participation at Western Dairy Management Conference.

In general, it is inappropriate to appoint an individual with a Master's or doctoral degree in the relevant discipline or a baccalaureate degree plus three or more years of experience with the specialized methods as a Junior Specialist.

Bachelor's degree in Animal Science, Statistics, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Plant Sciences, Agricultural and Environmental Education or related field with skill set required.

• Required to hold valid driver's license, have a driving record that is in accordance with local policies/procedures.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience with handling data in spreadsheets.
• Familiarity with wet sieve particle size analyses, dry matter and ash.
• Willingness and interest to learn new techniques and to work in an applied
  setting on dairy farms.
• Demonstrated computer skills in word processing, data analysis, and
  statistical software: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), SAS and/or R
  and troubleshooting experience.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills necessary to work with a diverse team from
  different backgrounds and with varying skill levels for the purpose of
  assisting/mentoring.
• Ability to conduct library and database searches and synthesize acquired
  knowledge effectively in writing and apply it to research processes.
• Ability to conduct field work outside (year-round) on commercial dairy
  operations. Requires overnight work away from Davis.

• Experience working on commercial dairy facilities.
• Experience working collaboratively.
• Spanish speaking desirable.
• Demonstrated experience with statistical analyses (SAS or R).
• Demonstrated organizational expertise in maintaining records, ordering
  supplies, updating inventories, and safety records.

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

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.

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