Details
Posted: 08-Apr-22
Location: Berkeley, California
Type: Full-time
Salary: Open

Plant Technician (9611C) 33902 About Berkeley
At the University of California, Berkeley, we are committed to creating a community that fosters equity of experience and opportunity, and ensures that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel safe, welcome and included. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.
The University of California, Berkeley, is one of the world's leading institutions of higher education, distinguished by its combination of internationally recognized academic and research excellence; the transformative opportunity it provides to a large and diverse student body; its public mission and commitment to equity and social justice; and its roots in the California experience, animated by such values as innovation, questioning the status quo, and respect for the environment and nature. Since its founding in 1868, Berkeley has fueled a perpetual renaissance, generating unparalleled intellectual, economic and social value in California, the United States and the world.
We are looking for equity-minded applicants who represent the full diversity of California and who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. When you join the team at Berkeley, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice that requires broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students and community partners. In deciding whether to apply for a position at Berkeley, you are strongly encouraged to consider whether your values align with our
Guiding Values and Principles, our
Principles of Community, and
our Strategic Plan. Departmental Overview
This position will be the lead plant technician for a three year USDA-funded Sustainable Agroecosystems project on quaking aspen forest resilience to drought. Quaking aspen is the most widely distributed tree species in North America, but is experiencing high mortality due to ongoing regional droughts. This project there seeks to determine the genetic and physiological basis of drought tolerance in this species. The project will be growing, in a Berkeley greenhouse, several hundred genotypes of aspen collected from across North America; then the project will measure drought tolerance and other physiological properties of these genotypes. These data will be used to develop genetic tools to help land managers identify at-risk and drought-tolerant genotypes for future planting/conservation efforts.
Flexible working days and hours are available. All work will take place at the Oxford Tract greenhouse, which is 1 block northwest of the main Berkeley campus. There is also the possibility of optional field travel to help collect additional root samples.
Responsibilities
- Propagate aspen saplings from root stocks and shoots;
- Regularly care for saplings via rotation of individuals through greenhouses and outdoor spaces (watering and pest control will be handled by greenhouse staff)
- During short-term (1-month long) drought experiments, manage watering schedules
- Maintain digital records inventorying plant identity and location throughout the greenhouse
- Provide occasional informal summary reports to supervisor on inventory status
- Assist with measurements of plant performance and physiology (e.g. growth rate, hydraulic conductance, spectral reflectance) after training in protocols and instrumentation with the project team
- Supervise undergraduate work-study or intern student carrying out the same tasks (i.e. delegate some roles)
- Provide daily safety supervision of students
- Assign tasks to students
- Provide initial training on protocols and safety to students
- Procure supplies
- Use BearBuy ensure adequate supplies of consumable supplies are on hand for work
- Use EH&S safety portal to maintain accurate chemical inventory
Required Qualifications
Incumbents are expected to possess the skills, knowledge, and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the positions. These skills, knowledge, and abilities are typically acquired through a combination of extensive study and experience.
- Ability to lift 15 pounds
- Ability to stand for 2-3 hours/shift in warm greenhouse conditions, or outdoors in potentially rainy weather
- Knowledge of use basic spreadsheet programs for data entry
- Knowledge of basic plant care
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior experience with horticulture, ecology, forestry, gardening, or other plant care
- Ability to work alone without direct supervision for extended periods of time
- Ability to organize and track complex datasets
- High attention to detail
- Prior experience working with or supervising students
- Effective professional communication skills
- Team-focused attitude
Salary & Benefits
Hourly rate will be commensurate with experience up to $29.55 (step 2.0).
How to Apply
Please submit your cover letter and resume as a single attachment when applying.
Other Information
This is a part-time (14 hours per week), temporary position.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. For more information about your rights as an applicant see:
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_files/employers/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdfFor the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see:
http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct To apply, visit https://careerspub.universityofcalifornia.edu/psp/ucb/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=21&JobOpeningId=33902&PostingSeq=1
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