Laboratory Technician III

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Work type: Staff Full-Time

Location: Santa Rosa

Categories: Facilities Operations/Skilled Trades, Grant or Research Administration, Agriculture Operations

Department:  - AG-WFREC-JAY

Laboratory Technician III

Associate’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization and four years of related experience or a high school diploma and six years of related experience. Appropriate college course work or vocational/technical training may substitute at an equivalent rate for the required experience.

WFREC Service:
Incumbent practices and fosters team spirit and positive, productive relations with colleagues at the WFREC.

Establish experiments, implement protocols, collect, record, and summarize research data, and maintain records:

• Responsible for coordination, implementation, and execution of a variety of research experiments and activities for the establishment of field, greenhouse, and laboratory experiments at the WFREC and off-site.
• Works independently and cooperatively with the principal investigator to achieve research objectives.
• The activities include, but are not limited to, planning and execution of studies (i.e., land preparation, study initiation, plot maintenance), implementation of treatments (i.e., herbicide application utilizing backpack and tractor sprayers), laboratory assays (i.e., seed germination, DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, qPCR), data collection and entry, statistical analysis, supervision of temporary workers and graduate students.
• Analyzes experimental data and interprets results to write reports and summaries of findings and prepares results for publication.
• Serves as liaison between landowners, industry, cooperators, and UF/IFAS PIs and maintain client-collaborator relations across multiple research locations.
• Trains others in laboratory methods and procedures within and outside of WFREC.
• Travel and ability to drive a state vehicle will be required to implement research objectives at the regional level.

• Design and supervise the construction of research equipment.
• Operate and maintain equipment needed to perform the experiments.
• Oversee inventory of supplies and belongings.
• Purchase necessary supplies, instruments, and other items needed for research under PI approval.
• Help troubleshoot, repair, and maintain equipment and facilities, including, but not limited to, agricultural machines, sprayers, greenhouse, irrigation, etc.
• Responsible for motor pool records and maintenance up to date.
• Prepare information and help with dissemination during field days and other extension events.

• Responsible for compliance with laboratory, greenhouse, and field safety procedures.
• Participates in safety programs, committees, or teams and conduct laboratory or plant safety audits.
• Responsible for maintenance of safe storage, use, disposal, and appropriate documentation of chemicals and pesticides.
• Trains personnel on chemical safety programs and chemical hygiene plans and ensures compliance.

The incumbent must be capable of conducting the activities described independently, while maintaining constant communication with the PI.

$19.16/hr - $23.00/hr commensurate with education and experience

• Associate’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization and four years of related experience or a high school diploma and six years of related experience. Appropriate college course work or vocational/technical training may substitute at an equivalent rate for the required experience.
• Driver’s license or ability to acquire one within 30 days from start.
• Florida Restricted (Public) Pesticide License or ability to acquire one within 90 days from start.

• BS degree in Agronomy, Crop Science, Plant Science, Agricultural Sciences, Biological Sciences, or related disciplines
• Organizational skills, A can-do attitude, hands-on, and common-sense approach to quickly solve problems related to work
• Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Word and Excel
• Experience performing research
• Experi…