BML White Abalone / Shellfish Health Jr. Specialist

Position overview

Salary range :

A reasonable estimate for this position is $55,000 at Step 1 or $58,600 at Step 2.

Application Window

Open date : November 12, 2025

Next review date : Thursday, Nov 27, 2025 at 11 : 59pm (Pacific Time)

Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date : Thursday, Nov 12, 2026 at 11 : 59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

JOB SUMMARY

The position is 100% (full-time) and is located at UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory in Bodega Bay, CA. This position will have laboratory duties under the supervision of UC Davis Academic Administrator Dr. Frederick, director of the White Abalone Captive Breeding Program and California Department of Fish and Wildlife Shellfish Health Laboratory's Dr. Burge. The white abalone is an ESA-listed endangered species which was overfished in the 20th century and is now on the brink of extinction. Outplanting of captively bred animals is the essential method of saving the species. The goal of this position is to contribute to the successful captive rearing and health maintenance of endangered white abalone as part of recovery efforts for the species.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESIGNATED AREAS OF EXPERTISE :

I. RESEARCH IN SPECIALIZED AREAS (80% EFFORT)

• Care for the captive population of endangered white abalone held at Bodega Marine Laboratory, including feeding animals, cleaning animal holding areas and related seawater systems, changing filters, and maintaining pumps, temperature systems, UV units, LED lighting, and time clocks.
• Assist with the health maintenance of captive white abalone at Bodega Marine Laboratory and partner institutions, including performing health examinations, feces testing, qPCR, necropsy, and histology, especially related to the agent of withering syndrome (Xenohaliotis californiensis), shell-boring organisms, and other abalone pathogens and symbionts.
• Assist in the coordination of spawning attempts and animal transfers among Bodega Marine Laboratory and partner facilities.
• Assist in maintaining ongoing laboratory experiments related to white abalone health.
• Assist with the general care of endangered white abalone held at Bodega Marine Laboratory, including feeding animals, cleaning animal holding areas and related seawater systems, changing filters, and maintaining pumps, temperature systems, UV units, LED lighting, and timeclocks.
• Assist with acquiring food for captive white abalone held at Bodega Marine Laboratory, including field collection of wild kelp and other seaweeds, maintenance of a dulse culture, and travel to Monterey and other areas in California to acquire harvested kelp.
• Assist with general laboratory operations : Ordering supplies, lab organization, maintaining equipment, maintaining state and federal permits, and maintaining a safe and well-organized laboratory environment. Preparing supplies for animal assessments and spawning events, acquiring and managing samples, working with fellow animal care staff and volunteers and develop schedules for animal care and life support systems maintenance. Assisting with laboratory safety information and training.
• Enter, organize, analyze, and interpret data. Opportunities for independence and leadership in research projects. Write and present on research for public and scientific audiences.
• Actively support ongoing research activities for students, postdoctoral scholars, and staff. This will include, but may not be limited to, review and editing of proposals, presentation of results at scientific conferences, and providing feedback on manuscripts in preparation related to their area of expertise.
• Opportunities for independence and leadership in research projects. Writing and presenting on research for public and scientific audiences.
• Assist with writing progress and final reports for the Endangered Species permit and funding agencies.

II. PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (15% EFFORT)

III. UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE (5% EFFORT)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

A Junior Specialist appointee should have a baccalaureate or similar degree in a discipline relevant or related to the research conducted in the unit hiring the appointee, or if lacking a relevant baccalaureate degree should have experience with the appropriate specialized research methods. In general, it is inappropriate to appoint an individual with a Master's or doctoral degree in the relevant discipline or a baccalaureate degree plus three or more years of experience with the specialized methods as a Junior Specialist. A Junior Specialist appointee should have a baccalaureate or similar degree in a discipline relevant or related to the research conducted in the unit hiring the appointee, or if lacking a relevant baccalaureate degree should have experience with the appropriate specialized research methods. In general, it is inappropriate to appoint an individual with a Master's or doctoral degree in the relevant discipline or a baccalaureate degree plus three or more years of experience with the specialized methods as a Junior Specialist.

Division : https : / / marinescience.ucdavis.edu / bml / about

Qualifications

Basic qualifications

(required at time of application)

Preferred qualifications

(other preferred, but not required, qualifications for the position)

Application Requirements

Document requirements

Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

Cover Letter

Statement of Research (Optional)

Statement of Teaching (Optional)

Authorization to Release Information Form - This form is required for all applicants applying to academic recruitments. Please see the Employment Disclosure Requirements webpage for more information. Download, complete, sign, and upload the form .

Reference requirements

Apply link :

https : / / recruit.ucdavis.edu / JPF07397

Help contact : almrodriguez@ucdavis.edu

About UC Davis

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

To implement this process, UC Davis requires all applicants for any open search to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled, "Authorization to Release Information" into UC RECRUIT as part of their application. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration.

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus (http : / / breathefree.ucdavis.edu / ).

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state for federal law.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. More information is available at : http : / / www.uscis.gov / e-verify

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all employees and students. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service are embodied by members of our academic community who share our commitment to these values. A variety of resources and programs are available to academics, staff, and students that reflect the core values reflected in our strategic plan : "To Boldly Go," our Principles of Community, the Office of Academic Affairs' Mission Statement , and the UC Board of Regents Policy 4400 .

UC Davis also is making important progress towards our goal of achieving federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) . There are numerous links available on the About Us webpage where you can learn more about our administration, campus rankings, locations, campus safety, sustainability, visiting UC Davis and UC Davis Health.

The university is consistently ranked among the top institutions in the world for campus sustainability practices by the UI Green Metric World University Rankings . UC Davis is focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and repeatedly shown its commitment to preserving a healthy and sustainable environment for generations to come .

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and / or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Job location

Bodega Bay, California