Assistant/Associate Project Scientist- Drakakaki Group

An exciting Assistant/Associate Project Scientist position, up to 100%, in the Drakakaki Group to conduct research on plant development of specialty crops such as pistachio and olive. Pistachio is one of the most rapidly growing crop sectors in California due to its relatively high drought/salinity tolerance, heat resilience, and nutritional value. Similarly, olive is one of the emerging crops in California, greatly enhanced by mechanical harvesting. The candidate will be dissecting molecular mechanisms of fruit development and stress adaptation.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESIGNATED AREAS OF EXPERTISE:

Pistachio is one of the most rapidly growing crop sectors in California due to its relatively high drought/salinity tolerance, heat resilience, and nutritional value. Similarly, olive is one of the emerging crops in California, greatly enhanced by mechanical harvesting. This project focuses on dissecting mechanisms that control fruit development in pistachio and olive by employing biochemical and structural analyses combined with genetics and genomics to identify key regulatory pathways. Further, pistachio germplasm resilient to abiotic stresses will be evaluated within the framework of this project. The Project Scientist will conduct research on plant development of specialty crops such as pistachio and olive. During pistachio and olive fruit development, environmental stresses affect the fruit quality and fruit yield. Although this process is of profound importance to CA's agriculture, understanding of mechanisms that control fruit development and maturation is still lacking. In addition, pistachio cultivars are grafted on rootstocks that need to be selected for resilience to adverse climate conditions.

The Project Scientist will use biochemical, and genetic approaches combined with analytical chemistry, plant anatomy via confocal microscopy to characterize molecular players involved in pistachio and olive fruit development and abiotic stress response. The Project Scientist will be integrated in a large research team, that includes experts from diverse disciplines at UCD and nationally.

The Project Scientist will use analytical chemistry, biochemistry, genomics and cell biology to characterize rootstocks and different cultivars. Research will take place in a combination of field and laboratory setting. The Project Scientist will disseminate the outcome in the form of peer review publications and presentations at local, national and international meetings. The Project Scientist will be integrated in a group of other scientists and students and will perform interdisciplinary collaborative work.

I. RESEARCH IN SPECIALIZED AREAS (95%)

Research activity (80%)

The candidate will collaborate with other research and extension personnel and graduate and undergraduate students in carrying out research on pistachio and olive fruit development and how it is affected under abiotic stress and application of growth hormones. The candidate will use will use analytical chemistry, biochemistry, genomics and cell biology to characterize rootstocks and different cultivars. The candidate will take the responsibility in the planning and execution of experiments, data analysis, annotate results and writing of scientific papers to disseminate the results. The candidate will be responsible for the data management of the research project while assisting in dissemination of data and biological material produced within the framework of the project. The candidate will work together with graduate and undergraduate students related to the project. The candidate will work with Pl in the implementation of training activities, lab safety compliance and lab management as well as preparing information for presentation at scientific meetings.

Publication (10%)

In collaboration with the Pl, the candidate is expected to prepare manuscripts and contribute to publications in peer-reviewed journals. The candidate will contribute to writing reports and present results to project collaborators.

Grant Acquisition (5%)

The candidate will assist in preparing project proposals to funding agencies.

II. PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (5%)

The candidate will contribute to writing reports and present results to project collaborators. The candidate will participate in appropriate professional/technical societies such as ASPB and AHS. The candidate will review research proposals, journal manuscripts, and publications related to plant biology. The candidate will participate in outreach activities within the group and the department training high school and undergraduate students or engage in workshops and public speaking events.

a. PhD in plant breeding, plant genetics or other relevant field (must be obtained at time of appointment)

b. Experience in analytical chemistry

c. Experience in biochemistry

d. Experience in confocal imaging

e. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, proposal preparation, experience in manuscript writing and oral presentations

f. Experience in research with pistachio and olive both in a laboratory and field setting

g. Experience in plant anatomy

h. Experience in quantitative image analysis

i. Experience in molecular cloning

j. Experience in gene editing

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

Extramural letters required, but do not need to be arm's length letters.

• 3-5 letters of reference required

Extramural letters required for Associate rank, but do not need arm's length letters.

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus (http://breathefree.ucdavis.edu/).

We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals' with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct

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