CDA-Pine Beetle Lab Technician; Laboratory Technology II

Who we are

Agriculture is a part of all our lives. When you eat, put on clothes, or care for an animal–your life is touched by agriculture. Colorado's food and agriculture industry generated $47 billion of economic activity in 2019 and supports nearly 5% of the state's workforce. CDA is proud to be a part of such an important industry.

The CDA's mission is to strengthen and advance Colorado's agriculture; promote a safe and high-quality food supply; protect consumers; and foster responsible stewardship of the environment.

Partnership, Service, Professionalism, Proactivity, and Respect

• Goal 1:
  Advancing Local Food Access
• Goal 2:
  Expanding Water-Resilient Agriculture
• Goal 3:
  Supporting the Next Generation in Agriculture
• Goal 4:
  Advancing Animal Health and Welfare

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus optional 401(k) and 457 plans ((Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).)
• Medical and dental health plans ()
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account ($60 per month)
• Paid life insurance, plus additional optional life insurance options
• Paid Short Term Disability and optional Long Term Disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave accruals
• Benefit Hub state employee discount program
• Employee Wellness program State of Health
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, remote work opportunities, free parking, professional development and more!

The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness. The State is resolute in non‑discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities. We believe that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply.

The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

This work unit collects, raises, and distributes biological control agents for use against weeds and insect pests. The unit also monitors the results of biocontrol releases and uses the information to formulate pest control recommendations. The unit educates resource managers and the public on the uses and benefits of biocontrol. These actions result in more effective pest control and decreased use of pesticides in the State of Colorado – serving both the agricultural industry and citizens of the state.

This position will be responsible for rearing biocontrol agents for use against mountain pine beetles and for utilizing molecular diagnostics techniques for the identification of natural enemies of mountain pine beetles. Full‑time laboratory duties include data management, live insect rearing on artificial diet and live plants, sterile techniques, microscopy work, sampling for PCR analysis, specimen preparation, dissection and cataloguing. The position will focus on duties that have not been formally assigned to current staff positions.

Brief Duty

Description:

This position will work to facilitate the rearing, collecting and distributing of biocontrol agents.

• Produce biological control agents for use against mountain pine beetles and related pests in Colorado through laboratory rearing, particularly using artificial diets…