Undergraduate Laboratory Assistant

Undergraduate Laboratory Assistant STDT 3 -

This position is for an undergraduate laboratory assistant through June 30, 2026, with the possibility of extension. This position is located in Incline Village, NV and is open to University of Nevada, Reno Students, UC Davis students, and Truckee Meadows Community College student son Handshake as well as all other undergraduate students who can submit application materials (resume, cover letter, references) to Fatima Garcia at UC Davis.

Position expectations will include, but are not limited to laboratory analyses, field sampling, data processing, specialized equipment training and operations, and data Quality Assurance and Quality Control. The position will be expected to work in collaboration with graduate students, technical staff, and researchers associated with the Tahoe Environmental Research Center.

The primary focus of this role will be to perform nutrient analysis and other chemical and biological analysis associated with ongoing projects at Lake Tahoe and Clear Lake. This position will perform chemical analysis on lake, stream, and other environmental samples including, but not limited to ammonium, nitrate + nitrite, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, orthophosphate, total phosphorus, total hydrolysable phosphorus, particulate phosphorus, total inorganic carbon, dissolved organic carbon, chlorophyll, turbidity, and pH.

This position will also perform sediment nutrient digestions, extractions, and analyses for ash free dry weight and phosphorus and nitrogen content.

Additional training will be provided on the job for specialized equipment, lab safety and field safety. This is a high-altitude lab.

• Completion of coursework/exposure to but not limited to ecology, environmental chemistry, atmospheric sciences, and geosciences
• Prior lab experience, either from courses or jobs
• Familiarity with Excel, Word, PowerPoint,
• Integrity & communication skills
• Ability to learn Quality Control (QC) procedures, safe handling and disposal of hazardous chemicals, decontamination procedures, and other laboratory skills.
• Familiarity with specific lab equipment, such as pipettes, graduated cylinders, volumetric flasks, balances, drying ovens, fume hoods and/or spectrophotometers.
• Experience with laboratory software to track samples and operate instruments.
• Non-UC Davis students must be enrolled in at least 6 units at a two-year or four-year college.