Assistant / Associate Specialist - Gradziel Lab

Position overview

Salary range :

The salary range for this position is $63,500 - $88,000 if exempt. The salary range for this position is $30.42 - $42.15 per hour if nonexempt. "Off-scale salaries", i.e., a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions, qualifications, and experience.

Application Window

Open date : November 24, 2025

Next review date : Tuesday, Dec 9, 2025 at 11 : 59pm (Pacific Time)

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

Final date : Tuesday, Nov 24, 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

The Department of Plant Sciences is seeking an Assistant or Associate Specialist (commensurate with experience and qualifications), 50% variable position, for the Almond and Peach Genetic Improvement Program, under the supervision of Professor Thomas Gradziel. This is a multi-year position based at the Pomology Field Headquarters, Building B located at UC Davis campus. Duties include conducting field and laboratory research focused on characterizing the productive, horticultural and physiological performance of different almond and peach genotypes and rootstock-scion combinations under different management (irrigation level, planting density etc.) and environmental condition (low chill, soil salinity, high temperature). A greater level of independence when completing job responsibilities is expected for the Associate Specialist position. The Assistant / Associate Specialist will work directly with the PIs and is expected to coordinate and interact with project collaborators at UC Davis campus, and at various UC ANR and commercial sites.

NATURE AND PURPOSE

The position of Specialist has a narrow focus in a specialized area and provides technical or specialized expertise (e.g., with instrumentation and research equipment or with social science research methods) in the planning and execution of a research project. The Specialist stays apprised of emerging issues and problems and maintains technical competence in the designated area(s) of specialization. Within this defined area and when appropriate, the Specialist is expected to provide leadership, facilitate teamwork and develop collaborative relationships with colleagues and to supply input into the planning of research and educational programs. Normally, Specialists do not have Principal Investigator (PI) status but may obtain permission by exception and / or collaborate with a PI in preparing research proposals for extramural funding. The Specialist is evaluated for merit and promotion using three basic criteria outlined below.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESIGNATED AREAS OF EXPERTISE

A. Collaborate with other research and extension personnel affiliated with research activities involving the genetic improvement of almond and peach cultivars and rootstocks. Additionally, innovativeness, particularly in the areas of reducing the multiyear breeding cycle while increasing efficiency of phenotyping and elite candidate selection, is expected, since these will be required to sustain the breeding program within the realities of increasing labor and field costs. Evaluation of performance in research activities or in outreach activities as deemed applicable to the individual project in specialized areas, as documented by any of the following :

1) Publications that acknowledge the Specialist's significant and meaningful contribution to the work

2) Publications on which the Specialist is an author, such as authorship in peer-reviewed journals that document successful development of improved breeding tools

3) Other evidence (e.g., letters from collaborators or principal investigators) that work done by the Specialist contributed to publishable research.

4) Active dissemination of information (beyond the boundaries of the campus) through informal instruction, presentations, or other means stemming from the Specialist's research accomplishments, such as horticultural reports to stakeholders

5) Other evidence of recognized expertise may include formal documentation of intellectual effort and participation in publishable research activities, first authorship on publications / patents, presentation of research at regional / national / international meetings, invitations to review grant proposals and / or journal articles, invitations to participate in state, national and international research projects, and / or service on advisory panels.

B. Serve as a research coordinator for almond and peach genetic evaluation projects conducted by PIs in the department, as resources permit. Responsible for ensuring uninterrupted communication between individual laboratories, data management and preparation of reports tailored to meet the needs of the requesting individual(s).

1) Coordination with the University of California at Davis Field Facilities Manager and staff for day-to-day and long term research orchard management.

2) Responsible for the day-to-day management of the UC Davis, Plant Sciences breeding program for almonds and peach, including overall responsibility for irrigation, fertilization, insect and disease control, and plant propagation including both seed and vegetative propagation.

3) Act as the liaison with collaborating labs in the areas of orchard production, developmental biology, plant pathology, molecular biology, and genetics / genomics.

4) Maintain thorough knowledge of reproductive biology and developmental physiology for peach and almond, including controlled hybridization strategies required for breeding improved varieties and rootstocks.

5) Maintain knowledge of the proper handling of resultant seed including the successful harvest, stratification, germination and greenhouse planting, leading eventually to field transplanting and multiyear tree and fruit evaluations.

II. PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (10% EFFORT)

A. Participate in appropriate professional / technical societies or groups and other educational and research organizations, such as American Pomological Society, American Society of Horticultural Science and International Society of Horticultural Science.

B. Review research proposals, journal manuscripts, and publications related to area of expertise.

III. UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE (10% EFFORT)

A. Maintain liaison and respond to the needs of various industry organizations, state and federal agencies, and other external groups, such as Almond Board of California, Cling Peach Advisory Board, and Foundation Plant Services, on issues related to area of expertise.

B. Participate in activities of committees within the department, college, campus and other University entities, as appropriate, such as Department of Plant Sciences Field Facilities Committee and Plant Patent Release Committee.

The Department will not offer visa sponsorship for this position. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate that they are legally authorized to work in the United States

Qualifications

Basic qualifications

(required at time of application)

A. For Assistant Specialist, Master's degree in Plant Sciences or closely related field (degree must be obtained at time of appointment).

B. For Associate Specialist, Master's degree in Plant Sciences or closely related field plus two to five years of research experience in the appropriate specialization (degree must be obtained at time of appointment)

C. Experience conducting fieldwork and laboratory-based evaluations of peach and almond fruit quality, tree and rootstock salinity tolerance, and the genetic analysis of their heritability.

D. Expertise in seed propagation, including the overcoming seed dormancy in peach and almond, as well as vegetative propagation including T- bud, chip-bud, cleft grafting and high throughput mechanized tongue and groove grafting.

Preferred qualifications

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

E. Demonstrated ability to do fieldwork under the often harsh Central Valley agricultural environments including the ability to collect and load field harvest bins weighing up to 50 pounds.

F. Mentoring experience, particularly with undergraduate researchers or research assistants.

G. Computer skills to input spreadsheets, graphing, image analysis, and develop presentation materials.

H. Experience with postharvest evaluation techniques (e.g., fruit firmness, soluble solids, texture analysis, image analysis).

I. Competence in acting as the liaison with collaborating labs in the areas of developmental biology, plant pathology, molecular biology, and genetics / genomics.

J. Experience with peach and almond orchard management including irrigation, fertilization and basic insect and disease identification and control.

K. Fluency in Spanish including agricultural and horticultural terminology.

L. For Associate Specialist, established record of service and demonstrated contributions to publishable research.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

Cover Letter

Statement of Research

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

• 3 letters of reference required

The three professional references should not be from UC Davis.

Apply link :

https : / / recruit.ucdavis.edu / JPF07389

Help contact : ismartinez@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

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Job location

Davis, CA