Job Title Technician I Agency Texas A&M Agrilife Research Department Plant Pathology & Microbiology Proposed Minimum Salary Commensurate Job Location College Station, Texas Job Type Staff Job Description About Texas A&M AgriLife Texas A&M AgriLife is comprised of the following Texas A&M University System members: • Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service • Texas A&M AgriLife Research • College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University • Texas A&M Forest Service • Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory As the nation’s largest most comprehensive agriculture program, Texas A&M AgriLife brings together a college and four state agencies focused on agriculture and life sciences within The Texas A&M University System. With over 5,000 employees and a presence in every county across the state, Texas A&M AgriLife is uniquely positioned to improve lives, environments and the Texas economy through education, research, extension and service. Click here to learn more about how you can be a part of AgriLife and make a difference in the world! Position Information 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. 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 Required Education and Experience: • 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. Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: • 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. Preferred Qualifications: • 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. What You Need to Know Salary: Compensation for this position is commensurate based on the selected candidate’s qualifications. This is an hourly paid position. Why Work at Texas A&M AgriLife? When you choose to work for Texas A&M AgriLife, you become part of an organization that is an established leader in agriculture and life sciences with a wide range of capabilities to meet the needs of our statewide, national, and international constituents. In addition, Texas A&M AgriLife offers a comprehensive benefit package including the following: • 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 Applicant Instructions Applications received by Texas A&M AgriLife must either have all job application data entered or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume or use a LinkedIn profile to prepopulate the online application. Required Documents • Resume • Cover Letter All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check. Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.