Job Posting Title:

Research Engineering/Scientist Associate I

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Hiring Department:

Department of Integrative Biology

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Feb 01, 2025

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue Until Jan 31, 2026

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Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

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Job Details:

General Notes

Initial assignment is for one year from initial hire date, renewable for additional one-year periods. This position will include a full-time benefits package (https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits).

Security sensitive; criminal background check conducted on selected candidate. Hiring decision is contingent upon clearing background check requirement.

Review of applications will start February 1, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled. Start date is March 2025, but negotiable. Inquiries about the position can be directed to Kelly Zamudio (kelly.zamudio@austin.utexas.edu).

Purpose

The Zamudio Lab (zamudiolab.org) in the Department of Integrative Biology at UT Austin seeks a highly motivated and detail-oriented laboratory technician to play a key role in supporting the research operations of our lab. Our research focuses on understanding evolutionary processes driving phenotypic and genetic diversity in vertebrate systems, with a focus on reptiles and amphibians. The lab uses comparative and population genomics to investigate the genomic architecture of local adaptation, immune resistance to wildlife diseases, and other phenotypes. We also have projects studying sexual selection and mating systems, and conservation genomics of endangered species.

This position offers a unique opportunity to be involved in many research projects in the lab, contributing to cutting-edge research program that integrates ecological, evolutionary, and molecular approaches.

This position will involve standard molecular biology techniques, culture techniques, experiments with animals in the lab and field, and general lab management. The work will also include data analysis, and there will be opportunities for publishing research.

Responsibilities

Establish/maintain operational protocols to ensure the lab is fully functional and equipped to conduct high-quality research. Place orders for equipment and consumables; reorder common-use consumables when they are running low; keep track of equipment maintenance schedules and arrange maintenance in timely fashion; organize repair/replacement of malfunctioning equipment; arrange proper waste disposal and pickup; defrost freezers as necessary; keep a catalog of orders; keep a catalog of items in freezers; ensure lab's compliance with biosafety and fire codes

Use advanced molecular techniques to preserve and analyze samples, including RNA and DNA extraction to assess and compare gene regulation and sequences, library preps, and basic bioinformatic analyses. Collection of molecular lab data for lab projects. Prepare libraries for next-generation sequencing. Manage data submission, retrieval, storage. Train and supervise undergraduate assistants tasked with nucleic acids isolation; provide lab safety training for new lab members. Train and assist graduate students and post-docs with data protocols and collections.

Assist in data analysis for research publication and related assignments

Assist with animal room maintenance and experimentation

Required Qualifications

The applicant should have a B.S. degree in a related field. Experience in general molecular biology lab techniques (e.g., RNA/DNA work) and basic computer literacy are required. Related education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

One year of experience working in a DNA/RNA lab. Experience with preparing libraries for next-generation sequencing for any of these methods: WGS, RAD (any flavor), RNA-seq, Tag-seq, Quantseq, MBD-seq, ME-dip, CHIP-seq, Nanopore. Demonstrated ability to carry out research, troubleshoot new protocols. Good communication skills for interaction with lab members and documentation functions. Familiarity with Excel and Google sheets.

Salary Range

$38,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

Uniforms and/or personal protection equipment (furnished)

May work in all weather conditions

May work around chemical fumes

May work around standard office conditions

May work around biohazards

May work around chemicals

Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation

Use of manual dexterity

Climbing of stairs

Climbing of ladders

Lifting and moving

Work Shift

Flexible: 40 hours/week is required, and most of this time should be during normal business hours (e.g., 9:00am-5:00pm), although numbers of hours/day and days/week can be negotiated and may change depending on what projects are being pursued.

Required Materials

Resume/CV

Three work references with their contact information (including email address); at least one reference should be from a supervisor

Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

E-Verify Poster (English) [PDF]E-Verify Poster (Spanish) [PDF]Right To Work Poster (English) [PDF]Right To Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.