What are the responsibilities and job description for the RESEARCH SCIENTIST/ENGINEER 1 position at University of Washington (UW) Medicine?
Req #: 243865 Department: BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT Appointing Department Web Address: https://brosilab.org/ Job Location: Seattle Campus Job Location Detail: 75% lab work on campus, 25% fieldwork in the montane Western US Posting Date: 03/03/2025 Closing Info: Closes On 03/17/2025 Salary: $4,276 - $7,765 per month Other Compensation: Union Position: Yes Shift: First Shift Benefits: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here.
As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills, and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.
UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty.
The Department of Biology has an outstanding opportunity for a Research Scientist/Engineer 1 - Brosi Lab to join their team.
POSITION PURPOSE
Contribute to data collection for the Brosi lab; manage and coordinate research activities in the Brosi lab.
POSITION COMPLEXITIES AND IMPACT
The successful applicant will contribute to ensuring that the Brosi lab is able to collect, analyze, and publish scientific data in an efficient and productive manner. Complexities involve contributing to designing data collection for intricate studies; contributing to complex data management and analysis problems; supervision and mentorship of undergraduate researchers; coordination with graduate students, post-docs, PI, and other lab members; coordinating a long-term citizen-science program (MeadoWatch). More detail under “responsibilities”.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
RESEARCH / PRIMARY DATA COLLECTION (50%)
Research activities include field data collection on plants, pollinators, and plant-pollinator interactions; identification and curation of insect and plant specimens; molecular biology techniques including DNA extraction, amplification, and preparation for sequencing; data and database management, cleaning, and wrangling; participation in laboratory meetings.
Potential research activities include maintaining live pollinators (including occasionally during non-standard hours); carrying out behavioral experiments with live pollinators; maintaining computer-controlled foraging chamber; potential for data analysis; potential for scientific literature searching / synthesizing; conducting molecular biology work (e.g. DNA Metabarcoding) and bioinformatics; potential for scientific editing and writing; potential for development and presentation of scientific posters and / or talks; potential for creation, maintenance, and / or extension of computational and/or mathematical models; potential to take part in learning and/or training activities related to research.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT (30%)
Management activities include helping develop and managing project timelines and deliverables; managing lab calendar; managing laboratory safety / EHSO compliance including ensuring compliance of lab members with regulations; managing and contributing to the laboratory website and social media accounts; ordering supplies; organizing laboratory meetings; organizing and executing laboratory communications; interacting with research collaborators; scheduling research related meetings; planning and executing logistics related to field work including securing and / or reserving permits / field station / lodging / field vehicles / travel authorizations; scientific paper submission; managing laboratory GitHub projects and data in data repositories; contributing to activities related to grant proposal development and submission (e.g. development of conflict-of-interest lists; filling out and uploading grant-related forms); contributing to budget / spending management including reimbursements; contributing to reporting to granting agencies; maintaining inventories of equipment, supplies, and samples; contributing to planning and allocating laboratory space for projects; organizing and maintaining tidiness of laboratory and other research spaces; maintenance of laboratory and field equipment.
UNDERGRADUATE SUPERVISION & MENTORSHIP (15%)
Undergraduate supervision activities include instructing and supervising undergraduates in data collection and data processing efforts; scheduling undergraduate research student time in the lab; keeping track of undergraduate contact information and personal / academic schedules; developing and carrying out undergraduate professional development activities (e.g. academic paper discussions and career development activities); maintaining positive professional relationships and open lines of communication with laboratory undergraduates.
RESEARCH OUTREACH (5%)
Maintain and contribute to ongoing development of a portfolio of outreach materials and activities; coordinate outreach activities with lab members; contribute to outreach activities (typically off-site and including occasionally during non-standard hours).
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor’s degree in a environmental science, biology, or a related field and one year of relevant experience, OR Equivalent combination of education/experience.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
RELEVANT SKILLS
Experience conducting ecological field/lab research; experience entering, managing, and analyzing ecological data; some experience with managing others (particularly undergraduates); background knowledge necessary to quickly learn and understand basic molecular biology techniques used in DNA barcoding / metabarcoding.
Ability to comfortably hike 3 miles at 9,000 ft elevation carrying loads of up to 40 pounds.
TECHNICAL SKILLS
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Basic proficiency with spreadsheet software (e.g. Microsoft Excel) and the R programming language.
POSITION DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Field ecological data collection experience in the montane Western US; plant and insect identification experience in the montane Western US; direct experience collecting plant-pollinator network data in the field; Hands-on experience with plant reproductive biology; experience with plant-pollinator network data collection; identification of plants and pollinating insects; experience with basic molecular biology techniques; scientific manuscript and poster development; experience with GitHub; advanced programming skills with R and/or other programming languages.
Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are access ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.
As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills, and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.
UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty.
The Department of Biology has an outstanding opportunity for a Research Scientist/Engineer 1 - Brosi Lab to join their team.
POSITION PURPOSE
Contribute to data collection for the Brosi lab; manage and coordinate research activities in the Brosi lab.
POSITION COMPLEXITIES AND IMPACT
The successful applicant will contribute to ensuring that the Brosi lab is able to collect, analyze, and publish scientific data in an efficient and productive manner. Complexities involve contributing to designing data collection for intricate studies; contributing to complex data management and analysis problems; supervision and mentorship of undergraduate researchers; coordination with graduate students, post-docs, PI, and other lab members; coordinating a long-term citizen-science program (MeadoWatch). More detail under “responsibilities”.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
RESEARCH / PRIMARY DATA COLLECTION (50%)
PROJECT MANAGEMENT (30%)
UNDERGRADUATE SUPERVISION & MENTORSHIP (15%)
RESEARCH OUTREACH (5%)
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
RELEVANT SKILLS
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are access ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.
Salary : $4,276 - $7,765
