TITLE: Biological Science Technician OPEN PERIOD: Friday, August 31, 2007 to Friday, September 28, 2007 SERIES & GRADE: GS-0404-5/7 POSITION INFORMATION: Full-Time Permanent PROMOTION POTENTIAL: 7
Please See Announcement ARS-S7W-0315 at WWW.USAJOBS.GOV for KSAs, contacts, and details on applying for the position. Job Summary: The Davis location is a part of the Agricultural Research Service in the Pacific Western Area. Davis is located between San Francisco and Sacramento in California's Central Valley. We are located in Yolo County where agriculture is the primary industry. The Crops Pathology and Genetics Research Unit established in 1956 and located on the Campus of the University of California, Davis has scientists located in three academic departments across the campus. Currently we support 9 scientists and their associated technicians, graduate students and post doctoral associates in our research unit. Duties include the following: -Provides technical support in a laboratory dedicated to research on the biology and control of weeds in vineyards, and the effects of weed management on soil microbial communities, nutrient cycling and grapevines. -Performs a variety of technical duties that may include, but not limited to: designing, planning, establishment and maintenance of lab, field and greenhouse experiments; propagation and care of plants; collection, rudimentary statistical analysis and graphical summary of plant, soil and microbial data. -Extracts and characterizes phospholipid fatty acids and/or DNA from soil samples; application of PCR, cloning, sequencing and related DNA-based technologies to characterize fungal and bacterial communities of soils. -Monitors ecophysiology (e.g. photosynthesis and water stress) of weeds, cover crops and/or grapevines. -Orders and maintains supplies and equipment. -Organizes and maintains data notebooks, safety records, chemical records and microbial and DNA collections.
