Research Professional II

The University of Arizona School of Plant Sciences (SPLS) is housed within the College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences (CALES). Through several robust undergraduate, graduate and research programs, SPLS is a leader in the study of plants, the organisms that underpin the survival of all life on Earth and the microbes associated with them.

We take pride in the fact that the School of Plant Sciences collaborates with other schools and departments across our campus to provide the richest possible experience for our students.

The Hu lab is hiring for a full-time (1.0 FTE) Research Professional II position in the School of Plant Sciences at University of Arizona to conduct translational research to investigate the etiology, biology, and management of important plant diseases associated with fruit nuts and vegetable production in Arizona. The incumbent will be involved in several plant pathology projects. Research will be based on the Extension Plant Pathology Laboratory under the supervision of Dr. Alex Hu.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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• Develops, plans, designs, and conducts research. Reviews progress and evaluates results. Coordinates laboratory and field work including lab equipment management.
• Formulates research methods. Develops or collaborates in the development of new techniques and methods for plant pathogen detection and quantification.
• Participates in the acquisition of research funding by initiating and writing grant proposals.
• Participates or authors articles in peer-reviewed journals, books or chapter publications. Participate or presents at conferences.
• Supervise, train and direct activities of subordinates and students.
• Supervise and manage the daily workflow, quality assurance, and day to day operation of Extension Plant Pathology laboratory.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong verbal and written communication skills. 
• Ability to learn and follow scientific protocols. Detail-oriented, organized, and maintain a clean working environment.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and delegate to others.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.
• Minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience is required.

• Masters or PhD degree in Plant Pathology with 2+ years research experience in plant pathology research on crop disease identification and management.
• Experience giving oral presentations and writing scientific reports.
• Experience with basic microbiology and molecular biology techniques: pathogen isolation, identification, cataloging and storage of pathogen specimens. DNA/RNA extraction, quantification, conventional PCR, and real-time PCR.