Field and Diagnostic Research Technician (SRA 2 NEX)

Apply for Job

Job ID

81395

Location

Davis

Full / Part Time

Full Time

Add to Favorite Jobs

Email this Job

Job Summary

The primary function of this position is to provide support to field and greenhouse-based research projects by assisting in field experimental procedures; a secondary function is to provide support to the plant disease diagnostic laboratory through plant pathology techniques. This position has some student oversight roles, although all direct management will be done by other lab managers.

Apply By Date : October 8, 2025

Minimum Qualifications - For full consideration, applicants are encouraged to upload license and / or certification if required of the position

• Required to hold a valid California driver's license, have a driving record that is in accordance with local policies / procedures, and / or enroll in the California Employer Pull Notice Program
• Experience planting and maintaining tomato research field trials including irrigation management, weed management and insect scouting. Experience harvesting processing tomatoes using a small plot harvester. Experience working in commercial tomato fields. Experience collecting tomato fungal disease data in the field. (Minimum 6 months)
• Experience collecting garlic and onion fungal rot data. (Minimum 6 months)
• Experience with propagating and maintaining tomatoes, potatoes, melons, cowpeas, onion, garlic, and garbanzo in the greenhouse. (Minimum 6 months)
• Experience in maintaining plants in the controlled environment facility. Experience with fungal isolation from diseased plant materials. Experience with growth media preparation and fungal culturing. (Minimum 6 months)
• Experience managing student teams of 3 or more people. Experience working with farm advisors. (Minimum 6 months)
• Knowledge, skill, and ability to : perform plant propagation, weeding, irrigation system repair, and pest scouting in the field and both train and manage student field team; collect tomato disease and yield data for research trials; perform plant propagation, irrigation, pest scouting, and plant training and pruning in the greenhouse, and train and manage student greenhouse team; and use aseptic techniques for plant tissue isolations, fungal culturing and media preparation.

Preferred Qualifications

Key Responsibilities

Department Overview

Plant Pathology is a teaching, research, and extension department within the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The purpose of this department is to determine the nature and cause of plant diseases, promote the science of plant pathology, provide leadership in research and teaching programs, and train qualified scientists to continue the principals and conduct high quality mission-oriented and fundamental research. The mission of the UC Davis Plant Pathology department is to improve plant health in the agricultural and natural landscape, so as to ensure long term food security and continuation of natural resource availability at the local, national and global scale. Through partnerships with producers, regulatory agencies, consumer communities and industry, we seek to identify key disease problems, develop short, medium and long-term solutions, and disseminate critical management information.

This position will contribute to the the Swett lab program, which conducts applied ecological research on fungal pathogens across a suit of vegetable and field crops. We explore how environmental conditions influence survival and host associations, and seek to better understand life history strategies of Fusarium spp. and other soil borne fungal pathogens as endophytes, pathogens and saprophytes in agroecosystems. All projects are are developed in response to growers needs and aim to produce translational and / or directly applicable information and resources for producers to more effectively co-manage diseases, water use and soil health as interacting components in agricultural systems. The Swett lab has a strong outreach component and aims to provide rapid and frequent communication to growers, to enable improved disease management methods.

POSITION INFORMATION

Benefits

Outstanding benefits and perks are among the many rewards of working for the University of California. UC Davis offers a full range of benefits, resources and programs to help you bring your best self to work, as well as to help you and your family achieve your health, wellness, financial and career goals. Learn more about the benefits below and eligibility rules by visiting either our handy Benefits Summary for UC Davis Health Employees or Benefits Summary for UC Davis Employees and our Benefits Page .

If you are represented by a union, benefits are negotiated between the University of California (UC) and your union and finalized in a contract. Read your bargaining unit's employment contract, stay abreast of current negotiations and learn about collective bargaining at UC : https : / / ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu / labor / bargaining-units / index.html

Physical Demands

Environmental Demands

Mental Demands

Work Environment

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco free campus effective January 1, 2014. Smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e-cigarettes) will be strictly prohibited on any UC Davis owned or leased property, indoors and outdoors, including parking lots and residential space.

Field work involves working for long hours on your feet conducting manual labor under warm conditions; heat safety awareness is critical. Some field work involves working on or around large farm equipment and in commercial fields treated with agricultural pesticides, requiring spacial awareness and protocols for handling footwear and garments exposed to pesticide residues.

Special Requirements - Please contact your recruiter with questions regarding which activities apply by position

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement : As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

A Culture of Opportunity and Belonging

At UC Davis, we're committed to solving life's most urgent challenges and building a healthier, more resilient world. We believe in growing through every challenge, continually striving to improve, and welcoming new perspectives that strengthen our community. We recognize that a vibrant and innovative organization values both individual strengths and shared purpose. The best ideas often emerge when people with different experiences come together.

As you consider joining UC Davis, we invite you to explore our Principles of Community , our Clinical Strategic Plan and strategic vision for research and education. We believe you belong here. The University of California, Davis is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status.

To view the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit : https : / / policy.ucop.edu / doc / 1001004 / Anti-Discrimination

Because we want you to feel seen and valued, our recruitment process at UC Davis supports openness and authenticity. Research shows that some individuals hesitate to apply unless they meet every qualification. You may be an excellent fit for this role-or the next one. We encourage you to apply even if your experience doesn't match every listed requirement. #YouBelongHere

To learn more about our background check program, please visit : https : / / hr.ucdavis.edu / departments / recruitment / ucd / selection / background-checks