Technician I

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. Solve 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. 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. Security and Verification 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 The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a statewide network of twelve universities, eight state agencies, a comprehensive health science center, Texas A&M-Fort Worth and Texas A&M-RELLIS. The A&M System is committed to providing an educational and work environment that is conducive to the personal and professional development of each employee. Each member institution provides equal opportunity and access to all students, employees and prospective employees. External Applicants - Applicants not currently employed by a Texas A&M System member may Search Postings and apply for positions within one or more A&M System members by selecting the job posting. Internal Applicants - This site lists job postings throughout The Texas A&M University System. It is intended for applicants not currently employed by a member of the system. Current employees should apply for jobs on the Internal Career site. The Texas A&M System is an Equal Opportunity/ Veterans/ Disability Employer.