Postdoctoral Researcher in Freshwater Ecology

Department: BSE – Biosphere Sciences & Engineering

Salary: 64,480

Location: Pasadena, CA

Position Summary

Seeking a postdoctoral associate for collaboration in freshwater research, with a general emphasis on data-intensive approaches to understanding lake ecology, but with specific topics to be defined primarily by the successful candidate. Special opportunities exist for the postdoc to engage in research on winter limnology and alpine lake ecology, as part of large collaborations using existing large data sets. Several additional areas of current interest include zooplankton-microbiome ecology, integration of satellite-derived and in situ lake data, and global patterns in freshwater use and status. However, we are open to considering many areas of inquiry for the postdoctoral researcher’s work.

Required Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. (A.B.D. candidates will be considered) and a record of peer-reviewed publication in aquatic ecology or a relevant science field is required.
• A strong commitment to collaborative work is necessary.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in large research collaborations is desired.
• Experience with programming in R is ideal, but those experienced in other programming environments should feel free to contact us to determine their fit for this position.
• Experience working in a freshwater ecology lab, with standard water chemistry and plankton culturing.

Please direct inquiries to shampton@carnegiescience.edu with “postdoc inquiry” in the subject line.

A complete application will include:

• Statement of Interest (1-page maximum) that outlines some of the areas of potential research
• C.V.
• Names and contact information of 3 professional references.

For full consideration, applications should be received by April 21, 2023. We anticipate that the postdoc will begin by 1 August 2023, with the yearly appointment renewable for up to two years.

We believe academic environments should be places where diverse groups of people with a variety of viewpoints and ideas can thrive and work together. As such, we encourage applicants from under-represented groups and backgrounds to apply.

The Carnegie Institution is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of gender, race/ethnicity, protected veteran status, disability, or another protected group status.

Research Assistant – Data Intensive Ecology Research

Department: BSE – Biosphere Sciences & Engineering

Salary: $25-$30/hr.

Location: Pasadena, CA

Position Summary:

We seek a full-time Research Assistant to provide high-level scientific research support for short- and long-term projects related to environmental science, frequently but not always with a focus on freshwater science. The research assistant will be located at Carnegie Institution for Science in Pasadena, CA, and will work under the supervision of Dr. Stephanie Hampton. Ideally, the position will begin by July 1, 2023, but the start date is negotiable.

The primary job responsibility of this Research Assistant is handling all portions of the data lifecycle, depending on project needs (i.e., data cleaning and organization, integrating heterogeneous datasets, metadata creation, preparing datasets for public release, etc.). Additional responsibilities include but are not limited to completing statistical analyses and visualizations using the software R, co-authoring or supporting peer-reviewed manuscripts, assisting with project management and logistics of large collaborative projects, and serving as a point person for data management best practices training.

Required Qualifications:

The successful candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in ecology, environmental science, biology, or a related discipline. Additional qualifications: experience applying statistics to environmental data, experience programming for data management or analysis (e.g. in R or Python), a high level of attention to detail, ability to quickly learn and apply new skills, capacity to work efficiently with limited oversight, and good interpersonal skills. Candidate should be familiar with, or willing to learn, a variety of tools for open science, such as Ecological Metadata Language, Git/GitHub, RMarkdown or Quarto, and QGIS.

Preferred Qualifications:

Additional desirable qualifications include a Master’s degree in a related field, experience using R, particularly with data management and visualization packages, familiarity with aquatic data collection in field and laboratory settings, and familiarity with remote sensing products related to environmental science.

To Apply:

Applicants must submit a cover letter and current CV or resume. Feel free to contact us (shampton@carnegiescience.edu) with questions or if you are unsure of your fit for the position, using the subject header “Application for Research Assistant”. Application review will begin on April 24, 2023, and will continue until the position is filled.  The projected start date for this position is July 1, 2023.

We believe academic environments should be places where diverse groups of people with a variety of viewpoints and ideas can thrive and work together. As such, we encourage applicants from under-represented groups and backgrounds to apply.

The Carnegie Institution is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of gender, race/ethnicity, protected veteran status, disability, or another protected group status.

 

Research Technician

Department: BSE – Biosphere Sciences & Engineering

Salary: $26.44 per hour

Location: Pasadena, CA

Position Overview:

The Cao Lab is seeking a self-motivated and detail-oriented research technician as the first member to join the Cao laboratory, located in Pasadena, CA on the Caltech campus. My lab will be studying symbiosis between the insect parasitic nematode Steinernema hermaphroditum and its mutualistic bacterium Xenorhabdus griffiniae. The research focuses on developing genetic tools to uncover the molecular mechanisms of communication between the nematode-bacteria symbiotic partners as well as the application in biosphere engineering.

This is a full-time position with competitive salary and benefits. I am hoping to fill this position as soon as possible. A successful candidate will be responsible for assisting the PI in managing the lab, assisting postdoc and undergraduate students research, performing a variety of laboratory procedures, maintaining accurate records, and contributing to the overall operation of a start-up laboratory. The candidate must be capable of critical thinking, problem solving, and working in a team. This position is particularly relevant for candidates who have experience as a lab technician or equivalent. I will also consider students who are particularly interested in assisting me to establish a new group while seeking more laboratory research experience before applying to graduate school. If you are passionate about biology, I encourage you to apply for this position

Essential Duties:

1. Perform routine laboratory procedures, including sample preparation, record keeping, analysis, and interpretation of results.
2. Assist PI in managing lab purchases and organization.
3. Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory equipment, including performing regular maintenance and troubleshooting as needed.
4. Prepare solutions and reagents.
5. Collaborate with other laboratory personnel and assist with projects as needed.
6. Ensure a safe and clean laboratory environment by following proper safety protocols.
7. Participate in training and development opportunities to stay current with the field.

Minimum Qualification:

1. Bachelor’s degree in molecular biology, microbiology, genetics, biochemistry, ecology or a related scientific field.
2. Prior laboratory experience and knowledge of laboratory procedures.
3. Expertise or willingness to learn molecular cloning and nematode gonadal microinjection.
4. Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.
5. Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
6. Strong verbal and written communication skills.
7. High resilience in technology development when working with the emerging model organism.

To be considered for this position, please submit an application with the following materials:

• Brief cover letter including past experiences and future career goals
• CV emphasizing prior research experience
• Academic transcript
• Contact information from at least 2 academic references

Informal inquiries about this position can be made by emailing Mengyi Cao at mcao@carnegiescience.edu Applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled. The projected start date for this position is the summer of 2023.

We believe academic environments should be places where diverse groups of people with a variety of viewpoints and ideas can thrive and work together. As such, we encourage applicants from under-represented groups and backgrounds to apply.

The Carnegie Institution is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of gender, race/ethnicity, protected veteran status, disability, or another protected group status.