The Bogar Lab in the Department of Plant Biology at the University of California, Davis is seeking a Junior Specialist to contribute to ecological, physiological, and molecular investigations of symbiosis between plant roots and soil fungi, starting September 1st, 2023. The candidate will work closely with the PI and other lab members to design and implement a variety of projects focused on mycorrhizal symbiosis. They will be involved in: 1) Propagating and caring for plant seedlings and fungal culture and spore collections; 2) aseptic synthesis of mycorrhizal associations between plants and fungi; 3) extracting DNA and RNA from tissues and soils, and preparing libraries for sequencing; and 4) conducting bioassays to investigate the effects of root exudates and component chemicals on the germination, growth, and gene expression of different fungal strains. The Junior Specialist will be expected to participate in field sampling efforts during the winter and spring, and should be comfortable working outdoors under variable conditions. The candidate will also contribute to lab maintenance and upkeep, including tracking inventories and ordering supplies as needed; maintaining freezers and responding in case of emergency freezer failure; washing and storing lab ware and plant propagation equipment for experiments; and helping to ensure compliance with laboratory safety requirements. The candidate will have the opportunity to develop and investigate an independent research question focused on the data they will produce, contributing their findings to publications with appropriate acknowledgement.

The candidate will have research experience in plant and fungal systems, with particular background in culturing fungi from field-collected plant tissues and investigating plant-fungal interactions from a metabolomic perspective. Experience with techniques such as sterile fungal and plant propagation, spore germination assays, Agrobacterium transformation of plants and/or filamentous fungi, fluorescence microscopy, DNA and/or RNA extraction and library preparation, and metabolite analysis with high performance liquid chromatography is desirable. The Bogar Lab values diversity and is committed to maintaining a culture of inclusion.

A. Research and lab maintenance (90%): The Junior Specialist will work closely with lab members to plan and conduct experiments on plant-fungal interactions. The candidate will follow and optimize laboratory protocols for nucleic acid extraction and sterile plant and fungal propagation. They will maintain large experiments in growth chamber and greenhouse contexts, and will be creatively involved in designing and implementing appropriate harvest protocols at the end of experiments to ensure rigorous molecular and physiological data collection. The candidate will discuss and interpret their research results with lab members and will co-author resulting publications as appropriate. In addition, the Junior specialist will help keep the lab running smoothly by managing inventory, maintaining specialized equipment such as freezers, keeping benches and workspaces clean, preparing buffers, media, and reagents for ongoing lab projects, and helping to create a culture of safety in the laboratory.

B. Professional Competence and Activity (5%) The candidate will attend seminars on topics related to fields of interest, participate and present in lab meetings and participate in scientific discussions with colleagues, and may engage in training programs to enhance knowledge and skills depending on the candidate’s long-term goals.

C. University and Public Service (5%) The Junior Specialist will participate in public outreach activities and will help with the mentoring of undergraduate research students.

• Bachelor’s degree in Plant Sciences, Fungal Biology, General Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Ecology, or another related field
• Experience in molecular protocols, DNA or RNA focused
• Experience in organizing experiments and data collection
• Experience in plant and fungal research

• Experience with aseptic culturing techniques for plants and fungi
• Experience in analyzing metabolites using high performance liquid chromatography
• Experience in designing, maintaining, and harvesting large greenhouse experiments

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

• Cover Letter

• Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion documented in the application file will be used to evaluate applicants. Visit

• 3-5 letters of reference required

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