Classification Title:

Laboratory Technician II

Job Description:

Plant propagation, production and ecological restoration program:
Responsible for coordination and implementation of activities for the establishment and maintenance of greenhouse, field, and laboratory experiments both on and off the West Florida Research and Education Center. Coordination of off-site research activities throughout the Southeast. Main crops include, but are not limited to, landscape ornamental and plant species native to southeastern plant communities. The activities include, but are not limited to, plot preparation, study initiation, research plot maintenance, scouting for pests, proper pesticide application, supervision of temporary workers, and coordination with graduate students. Scheduling of personnel and field activities for PI, post-doc, and graduate student research plans. Identification of off-site research locations and implementation of off-site research as necessary. Incumbent will work independently and cooperatively with the Principal Investigator (PI) to achieve research objectives and follow and regional collaborators on experimental protocols for the maintenance and collection of data from experimental and demonstration plots.  Incumbent will also serve as liaison between landowners, industry, cooperators, and UF/IFAS PIs and maintain client-collaborator relations across multiple research locations. The incumbent will be responsible for technical training of personnel within and outside the research program. Travel throughout the SE region may be required to coordinate regional research objectives.

Collect, Record, and Summarize Research Data and Maintain Records:
Responsible for data collection, data entry, and basic statistical analysis for various studies.  Data include greenhouse, field, and laboratory data, samples received and sent, and other categories. Coordination of regional data collection, data collation, and ensuring data quality control across the Southeast. Incumbent collects and enters data into databases, prepares summary tables and research reports. Incumbent will understand and train others on various methodologies utilized in horticultural research to collect, process and record data associated with, but not limited to, soil chemical and physical properties, plant growth, yield and quality, seed collection, cleaning, viability, and germination, vegetative cutting propagation methods, and nursery plant production techniques.

Equipment Operation, Maintenance, Fabrication, and Creative Works:
Designs, constructs, operates, and maintains experimental equipment and keeps an inventory of supplies. Assists or independently troubleshoots, repairs and maintains equipment and facilities to include, but not limited to: plant production and landscape installation or maintenance equipment, greenhouse(s), laboratory, irrigation, soil and tissue sampling, etc. Assist with repair of the motor pool associated with this program. Vehicle maintenance and record-keeping also required.  Use of a state vehicle is necessary in the performance of job duties.

Teaching Assistance, Milton Gardens and lab equipment and materials records management:
Responsible for management of teaching plant collections and general maintenance of the Milton Teaching Garden to include weed management, mulching, irrigation systems and coordination of volunteers to assist with garden activities. Includes preparation and participation in laboratory classes of the PI, inventory management of teaching supplies and equipment, and propagation, container production, management, and planting of plant collections for teaching laboratory activities.

Complies with Chemical and Pesticide Safety Program:
Responsible for compliance with laboratory, greenhouse and field safety procedures, and maintenance of safe storage, use, disposal and appropriate documentation of chemicals & pesticides. Trains personnel on chemical safety programs and chemical hygiene plans and ensures compliance. This position requires a current pesticide applicators license.

Performs other tasks as necessary under the direction of the P.I.:
The incumbent must be capable of conducting all these activities independently, while maintaining a constant communication with the P.I

Expected Salary:

$16.75 - $18.44 per hour commensurate with education and experience

Minimum Requirements:

Associate’s degree in an appropriate area and four years of related experience; or a high school diploma or equivalent and six years of related experience. Appropriate college course work or vocational/technical training may substitute at an equivalent rate for the required experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

Knowledge of plant propagation, horticulture plant culture and environmental requirements for maintenance of plants utilized for teaching and research; knowledge of computer software for acquisition, analysis and presentation of scientific data; knowledge of analytical equipment used in environmental horticulture labs

Special Instructions to Applicants:

To be considered, you must upload your cover letter and resume’.

This position is eligible for veteran’s preference. If you are claiming veteran’s preference, please upload a copy of your DD-214 Member Copy 4 with your application for consideration. See our Veteran’s Preference page (https://jobs.ufl.edu/resources.html) for more specific information.

Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.

Health Assessment Required: No