Biological Scientist II

Apply now Job no: 539062
Work type: Staff Part-Time
Location: Main Campus (Gainesville, FL)
Categories: Biology/Life Science
Department:  - AG-WILDLIFE ECOLOGY - CONSERV

Classification

Title:

Biological Scientist II

Bachelor’s degree in biology or a related field and three years of experience or Master’s degree in biology or a related field with one year of relevant experience.

Job Description:

The .75 FTE Biological Scientist II position provides intermediate laboratory, data management, and analytical support for ecological research projects led by three faculty members. This position involves conducting molecular experiments, managing PHP/SQL databases, applying statistical models, and automating data analysis workflows for contract reporting. The role supports research in areas such as molecular ecology, population modeling, spatial and theoretical ecology, wildlife disease, biogeography, and wildlife biology.

This is a time-limited appointment dependent upon external funding; extension of position is possible should additional funding become available.

This position plays a central role in supporting molecular and ecological research by performing a wide range of laboratory experiments. The employee will prepare biological samples for downstream molecular analyses, including DNA/RNA extraction, purification, and quality assessment using established protocols. The role involves carrying out next‑generation sequencing workflows such as library preparation, indexing, and sequencing runs using advanced molecular platforms. The employee will operate, maintain, and troubleshoot specialized laboratory equipment—including thermocyclers, sequencers, and spectrophotometers—to ensure accurate and reliable results.

Meticulous documentation of all procedures, observations, and outcomes in laboratory notebooks is essential to ensure research reproducibility and compliance with university and sponsor standards. The position also requires adherence to UF Environmental Health & Safety guidelines and maintaining a clean, organized work environment. Field duties include driving a large work truck over long distances and on off‑road terrain to reach research sites and collect samples.

This position supports research productivity by developing and enhancing automated workflows for data analysis and reporting. The employee will modify existing scripts and pipelines to streamline repetitive tasks, reduce manual effort, and ensure consistent processing across studies. They will implement automated solutions for recurring analytical needs associated with grant‑funded projects, contractual deliverables, and regulatory reporting. Close collaboration with faculty and research staff is essential to ensure accurate, timely delivery of data summaries, progress updates, and final reports.

The employee is expected to continuously evaluate automation approaches, recommend improvements, and implement efficiencies that strengthen research operations and reduce error rates.

The employee will develop, implement, and maintain relational databases that support large and complex ecological and molecular datasets. Using PHP and SQL, the incumbent will design and refine database structures, ensuring data are well organized, accessible, and secure. Responsibilities include maintaining intuitive web‑based interfaces that allow researchers to enter, retrieve, and visualize data effectively. The position monitors system performance, troubleshoots technical issues, and optimizes database queries for speed and scalability.

Ensuring data integrity, consistent backups, and compliance with UF and sponsor data‑management requirements is a critical component of this role.

This position contributes to research objectives by applying advanced statistical models to ecological and genomic datasets. The employee will use statistical software such as R and Python to process raw data, perform quality checks, and conduct analyses using regression models, mixed‑effects approaches, and spatial modeling techniques. They will…