Junior Specialist​/Lynch lab

Position overview

Salary range: A reasonable estimate for this position is $55,000 at Step 1 or $58,600 at Step 2.

Open date: January 13, 2026

Next review date: Thursday, Jan 29, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Wednesday, Apr 15, 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.

Position Overview:

The Forest Pathology and Plant Disease Ecology Lab at the University of California, Davis, led by Dr. Shannon Lynch, is seeking a highly motivated and qualified Junior Specialist to support forest health and active management in forest lands of California and assist with grants and agreements to state, private, tribal, and federal partners.

Position Responsibilities:

Research (85%)

• Provide field support for survey and monitoring of forest conditions in California to inform both broad-scale and project-level management planning. The focus of these activities is to support active management to increase forest health and resilience, reduce fuels, and support recreation. Activities include regular monitoring of invasive species with weekly or bi-weekly trap monitoring and a minimum of five field visits per year.
• Engage with partners through trainings and site visits to support cross-boundary coordination of the management and monitoring of forest insects, diseases, and invasive species (e.g., invasive plants, invasive shot hole borers, goldspotted oak borer, emerald ash borer). A minimum of two site visits or trainings per year is expected.
• Provide assistance to forest landowners on invasive plant management and pesticide use in California.
• Support project and program management for regional forestry assistance programs, including coordination across various agencies and stakeholders.
• Assist in the administration of grants and cooperative agreements with federal, state, and private entities.
• Communicate technical information to diverse audiences through presentations, strategic plans, work plans, and other written and verbal forms of communications. A minimum of one outreach or communication product is expected annually.
• Monitor forest insects, disease, and invasive plants.
• Optimize Euwallacea interjectus monitoring traps by testing lure components, concentrations, and combinations, and by analyzing seasonal flight activity to refine detection strategies.
• Establish ISHB monitoring plots in Northern California.
• Determine the host range of Euwallacea interjectus through no-choice bioassays.

Professional Competence (10%)

• The incumbent will present research at statewide outreach meetings, regional plant pathology meetings, and national meetings (e.g. American Pathological Society Annual Meeting). Presentations will be delivered in poster and oral presentation formats. The incumbent will have opportunities to develop presentation abilities in laboratory meetings and the UC Davis plant pathology department retreat and other local (on-campus) events.
• The incumbent will be encouraged to have membership with the American Phytopathological Society, Pacific Division and national.

University and Public Service (5%)

• Serve as a liaison and respond to inquiries from industry organizations, government agencies, and other external stakeholders regarding areas of expertise.
• Participate in committees and collaborative activities within the department, college, campus, and other university entities, as appropriate.

• Bachelor's degree in plant pathology, ecology, environmental science, microbiology, forestry, or a related field.
• This is an entry level position reserved for graduates with Bachelor's degree and less than 2-3 years of experience.

• Demonstrated experience with ecological fieldwork, ideally in native tree communities or pathogen monitoring.
• Experience working with Fusarium dieback - invasive shothole borers.
• Basic proficiency with GIS software (e.g., ArcGIS Pro, QGIS) and/or experience working with drone imagery.
• Experience with data…