Biological Science Laboratory Technician

The Molecular Ecology lab at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC), led by Dr. Melissa McCormick, is recruiting a full-time federal research technician. Our lab explores ecological questions (https://serc.si.edu/labs/molecular-ecology) involving symbiotic associations between plants and fungi, effects of anthropogenic changes on plants, and effects of invasive species on plant communities and ecosystems. Our research projects occur in field, lab, and greenhouse settings and include ecological genetics and genomics, fungal culturing, and field-based experiments. The technician will be based at SERC and will participate in collaborative projects investigating the impacts of symbioses on the functioning of plant, fungal, and bacterial communities. The technician will also be responsible for maintaining a multi-user genomics lab. SERC is a vibrant community of scientists set within a 1,027 hectare field-site, and located near the Annapolis, MD and Washington, DC metro areas.

Lab duties will include sample processing, culturing fungi and plants, routine molecular tasks (e.g., DNA extraction, PCR, DNA visualization, sequencing, genotyping), and next generation sequencing library prep. In addition, the technician will be responsible for day-to-day lab organization, maintenance, and safety under the direction of the PI, including supply inventory and ordering, maintaining lab records (hardcopy and digital), and working collaboratively with other lab members. Field and greenhouse duties will include plant population monitoring, root and soil collection, measurement of environmental parameters, seed preparation, experimental set-up and monitoring, and data entry. Occasional training of interns and other staff members in lab and field techniques is also expected.

Minimum qualifications include one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the federal service or comparable pay band system. For this position specialized experience is defined as: General academic training with a minimum of a baccalaureate in Ecology, Biology, Molecular Biology, Plant Ecology or equivalent with demonstrated professional experience in completing laboratory and field tasks as they relate to molecular and field ecology, data management, bacterial and/or fungal culturing, and ecological genetics.

The Smithsonian Institution is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a policy of non-discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, and disability. The SERC community recognizes the value of diversity in promoting innovative science and creative solutions, and we strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

Applications for this position will be accepted through the USAJobs portal from https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/579934400.