Research Technician 2

The Department of Food Science and Technology is seeking a reliable and motivated Research Technician to support laboratory research in enology (wine) and fermentation science. This is a one-year position, renewable contingent upon satisfactory performance and continued grant funding. Under the direction of a faculty investigator, the Research Technician will assist in the execution and documentation of laboratory research related to microbiology, fermentation science, and basic molecular biology.

Responsibilities include:

Research (50%)

• Preparing media, reagents, and fermentation vessels using aseptic technique
• Preparing and maintaining yeast and bacterial cultures using established protocols
• Conducting routine fermentation sampling and sample processing for routine laboratory analyses
• Assisting with DNA and RNA workflows, including nucleic acid extraction, PCR, and preparation of samples for sequencing

Laboratory organization (30%)

• Maintaining laboratory equipment, supplies, and documentation in accordance with lab and safety guidelines

Data Collection (20%)

• Collecting data, performing data entry and basic data analysis.

This position is ideal for candidates seeking hands-on experience in enology and fermentation science. Opportunities for professional development may include co-authorship on publications, conference presentations, mentoring, and training in advanced experimental techniques.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School diploma or GED. 1 year of relevant experience required
• Experience with basic laboratory techniques, including pipetting, sample preparation, sterile technique, and data entry
• Familiarity with Microsoft Excel

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in microbiology, molecular biology, food science, or a related biological science field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience with PCR and nucleic acid extraction
• Experience with data analysis tools such as R.
• Familiarity with Linux or basic bioinformatics workflows

This job profile is a Research Technician 2 (T2 level) on the career roadmap.

The offer for this position will fall within this range based on internal equity, units available budget, and the candidates qualifications