Junior Specialist​/Chiu Lab

Junior Specialist Position Description in the Chiu Lab
Department of Entomology and Nematology, UC Davis

The position of Specialist has a narrow focus in a specialized area and provides technical or specialized expertise (e.g., with instrumentation and research equipment or with social science research methods) in the planning and execution of a research project. The Specialist stays apprised of emerging issues and problems and maintains technical competence in the designated area(s) of specialization. Within this defined area and when appropriate, the Specialist is expected to provide mentorship, facilitate teamwork and develop collaborative relationships with colleagues and to supply input into the planning of research and educational programs.

Normally, Specialists do not have Principal Investigator (PI) status but may obtain permission by exception and/or collaborate with a PI in preparing research proposals for extramural funding. The Specialist is evaluated for merit and promotion using three basic criteria outlined below.

We aim to hire a Junior Specialist, Step 1 to conduct research in insect circadian and seasonal biology. The Junior Specialist will contribute to a number of projects related to understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the regulation of insect circadian and seasonal rhythms. Projects will examine the mechanisms by which insects sense external time cues, such as photoperiod and temperature, and metabolic signals, including timing of food consumption and quantity/quality of food, to orchestrate diurnal and seasonal changes in physiology and behavior.

Primary duties will involve executing lab experiments, maintaining colonies of insects, lab maintenance, managing data, and summarizing and presenting results. The incumbent must be motivated, detail‑oriented, and organized and able to conduct work independently in a professional environment, including working with lab members and scientific collaborators.

Research (90%):

• Junior specialist must be continuously and effectively engaged in research activity of scholarly quality and significance in the area of chronobiology.
• Assist with maintenance of Drosophila melanogaster populations and conducting lab assays to circadian rhythms, seasonal rhythms, and sleep‑wake cycle.
• The successful candidate will create DNA constructs, introduce DNA constructs into
  
  D. melanogaster to create new fly strains using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing or site‑specific recombination approaches and analyze circadian and/or seasonal rhythms in those strains using molecular, behavioral, and imaging approaches.
• Generate figures for publication using MS PowerPoint, Bio Render, R, or other appropriate software.
• Documentation of effective planning and execution of research projects through regular laboratory group meetings.
• Read relevant published literature in the field of chronobiology and Drosophila neurogenetics to plan new research directions.
• Assist the PI and other lab members with lab experiments.
• Help organize and maintain protocols and data.
• Assist the PI or other lab members in manuscript preparation, including but not limited to: reading academic literature, writing manuscript sections, and revising manuscripts based on conducted work.
• Assist with lab maintenance, including maintaining lab safety and chemical inventory records.

Professional competence (5%):

• Present research at weekly lab meetings, regional scientific meetings, or national scientific meetings.
• Participate in/attend weekly lab meetings, joint lab meetings with other Drosophila labs on campus, and weekly seminars in the Department of Entomology.
• Participate in relevant outreach events.
• Engage with scientific literature and related research to inform research directions and protocols and to contribute to new research.

University and Public Service (5%):

• As a component of university service, the incumbent may be asked to serve on one or more department committees, such as the Department Safety Committee or the Facilities Committee.
• As a public service, the incumbent will be encouraged to participate in outreach activities, such as those held as part of events hosted by the Bohart Museum of Entomology, the Department of Entomology and Nematology, or conducted independently by the Chiu lab. This could include various events aimed at promoting circadian wellness among California stakeholders.
• The Junior Specialist will mentor undergraduate students in the lab.