Junior​/Assistant Specialist- Marino Lab

Position overview

Salary range: A reasonable estimate for the Jr. Specialist position is $55,000 at Step 1 or $58,600 at Step 2. The salary range for a Assistant Specialist position is $63,500-$70,700. "Off-scale salaries", i.e., a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions, qualifications, and experience.

Open date: October 7, 2025

Most recent review date: Wednesday, Oct 22, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time). Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.

Final date: Wednesday, Oct 7, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time). Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

The Department of Plant Sciences is seeking an Assistant and/or Junior Specialist to work in the Tree Systems Lab at UC Davis, under the supervision of Dr. Giulia Marino. This is a full-time, one-year position (with the possibility and the interest to extend it longer) based at the UC Davis campus. Duties include conducting field and laboratory research focused on characterizing the productive, horticultural and physiological performance of various perennial crop species, including almond, agave, cherry, olive and pistachio under different management (irrigation level, planting density, etc.)

and/or environmental conditions (low winter chill, extreme temperatures, soil salinity, etc.). Other duties include mentoring and coordinating with students and other personnel in the lab at both UC Davis campus and, mainly via video conference, email or phone, the Kearny Agricultural Research Station, in Parlier, as well as projects' collaborators (from UCD, UC ANR, CA growers, international researchers, etc.), inputting and analyzing data, data quality control, reporting results, contributing to writing grant proposals and grant reports, ensuring safety protocols are followed, operating and maintaining equipment and managing lab inventory.

The position may require the candidate to hold valid driver's license, have a driving record that is in accordance with local policies/procedures, and/or enroll in the California Employer Pull Notice Program as the Jr. Specialist and Assistant Specialist position may sometimes require, during peak season or critical time period such as harvest and bloom, or the initiation of a new project or the training of a new person, to go to Kearney and remain there for one or two nights.

The Assistant and/or Junior Specialist will work directly with the PIs.

The successful candidate will be actively involved in publishing research results, participating in research planning, implementation, and analysis, with opportunities for co-authorship in research and extension publications if desired.

I. RESEARCH IN SPECIALIZED AREAS (85% EFFORT)

A. Collaborate with other research and extension personnel affiliated with research activities involving the horticultural characterization of various perennial crops, under different environmental and management conditions. This includes but is not limited to:

• Develop experimental designs and protocols
• Coordinate with projects' collaborators from UC Davis, UC ANR, and other local and international institutions for project development
• Mentor students and coordinate data collection across locations
• Assist with lab maintenance, purchasing and inventory of equipment and supplies for experiments, and organization of lab storage facilities
• Ensure safety protocols are followed
• Perform field data collection and laboratory analyses of physiological and biometric parameters, including bloom progression, nut quality, yield, plant growth, water potential, etc.
• Build, calibrate, and install sensors for in-field plant-based and environmental data collection
• Analyze and interpret research data and perform quality control
• Meet periodically with PIs and others to discuss results and interpretations of data collected
• Critically read scientific literature to help define research objectives and protocols and interpret experimental results
• Contribute to the production of grant proposals and associated reports, scholarly manuscripts and extension and outreach material

B. Serve as a research coordinator for the "Tree Systems Lab" projects, as resources permit. Responsible for ensuring uninterrupted communication between laboratory personnel, individual laboratories, data management and preparation of reports tailored to meet the needs of the requesting individual(s).

II. PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (10% EFFORT)

A. Attend, present, and help organize appropriate professional/technical societies or groups and other educational and research organizations, such as the ASHS annual meeting, and various ANR and Industry-organized meetings, such as the annual…