Research Assistant II - Laboratory of Dr. Julie Law

As a Research Assistant II, this position will support the laboratory of Dr. Julie Law where they will focus on chromatin and gene regulation. The Harnessing Plants Initiative’s (HPI) CO2 Removal on a Planetary Scale (CRoPS) program aims to leverage these processes to develop crop plants that sequester more carbon via extensive root systems containing recalcitrant carbon polymers to fight climate change.

This position will support a major component of this research which conducts genetic and genomic analysis for understanding traits relevant for plant improvements.

The Research Assistant II will work closely with Dr. Law and fellow lab members of the HPI CRoPS program to perform various molecular biology and microscopy techniques in support of research projects aimed at understanding gene regulation at the genetic and epigenetic levels. Incumbent will work in a team responsible for (1) phenotyping Arabidopsis thaliana lines of interest (2) screening, genotyping, and maintaining plant lines (3) designing constructs to assess gene function and expression and (4) staining and preparing plant samples for various types of microscopy.

• Genotype reporter and mutant lines.
• Assist in designing novel constructs and optimize cloning strategies.
• Assess the expression of reporter lines via staining, imaging, and/or western blotting.
• Screen mutants and inducible plant lines for desired traits.
• Record and analyze all data and observations in an appropriate electronic lab notebook.
• Prepare technical reports, summaries, protocols, and quantitative analyses, ensuring experiments are well documented.
• Collaborate with and discuss results with the rest of the research team.
• Prepare solutions, reagents, and media plates.
• Grow and maintain plant lines.
• Organize plant lines & construct stocks.
• Ability to exercise judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action.
• Ability to follow general instruction on routine work, and detailed instructions on new assignments.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by management.

• Minimum 2 years’ experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
• Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences or related scientific discipline required. A minimum of 4 years of experience in a scientific role is required for consideration of a Bachelor's degree in a different discipline.
• Computer skills required:
  Microsoft Office, statistical analysis, graphing, and presentation of data.

The expected pay range for this position is $21.00 to $25.00 hourly.

Salk Institute offers competitive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, retirement, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, patient advocacy services, and transit/parking program.

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal access to opportunities for students, employees, applicants for employment and other visitors. Salk has also adopted and maintains a policy to encourage professional and respectful workplace behavior and prevent discriminatory and harassing conduct in our workplace.

Accordingly, the Institute prohibits harassment and discrimination in employment on the basis of, and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to, actual or perceived race (race is inclusive of traits associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include, but not limited to, such hairstyles as braids, and twists), color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status (disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era, other covered veteran status), political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.

Discrimination is prohibited with any intersectionality of the above-mentioned characteristics, including: