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Assistant/Associate Project Scientist - Gene Editing - Innovative Genomics Institute

Position overview

Position title: Assistant or Associate Project Scientist
Salary range: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See the following table(s) for the current salary scale(s) for this position:https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2025-26/represented-july-2025-scales/t37-b.pdf. A reasonable estimate for this position is $76,700 - $102,500.

Percent time: 100%

Anticipated start: Spring 2026

Position duration: One year with the possibility of extension based on performance and availability of funding.

Application Window
Open date: September 25, 2025

Next review date: Thursday, Oct 9, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Saturday, Oct 25, 2025 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 Innovative Genomics Institute at the University of California, Berkeley seeks applications for an Assistant or Associate Project Scientist in the Staskawicz Lab, in the area of gene editing in rice and potentially other crops for disease resistance and environment resilience.

Position Summary/Responsibilities
The IGI is presently seeking a highly motivated Assistant or Associate Project Scientist to perform research on understanding the molecular basis of plant-pathogen interactions and immunity, expanding CRISPR-Cas genome editing technology in crops. The successful candidate will be using various CRISPR technologies to engineer agronomically favorable traits such as disease-resistant and drought-tolerant crops for agricultural sustainability. This interdisciplinary work will be performed as part of a team at UC Berkeley and UC Davis, centered in the laboratory of Brian Staskawicz, IGI Scientific Director of Agricultural Sustainability. The Project Scientist will also collaborate with IGI investigators at UCB, UC Davis in the effort to advance the delivery of genome editing for gene editing in plants. In addition to their own efforts, this Asst./Assoc. Project Scientist will guide genome editing efforts of one or more undergraduate technicians. The position will report directly to Brian Staskawicz.

Specific research activities will employ computational skills to design guide RNAs and construct plasmids to target genes that include; disease resistance, drought tolerance, and plant architecture in rice and wheat.

Major tasks will include assembling plasmid constructs for prime editing in rice and wheat that target traits that control disease resistance, drought tolerance and plant architecture.

Duties for this position include:

• Designing and executing experiments to employ prime editing for various host targets


• Design and execute in vitro assays to validate guide RNAs.


• Obtain consistent and reliable data, maintaining electronic lab notebook (ELN) records.


• Manage multiple projects and tasks in parallel in order to meet program-based milestones.


• Train one or more postdoctoral researchers and/or one or more technicians.


• Collaborate with principal investigators, postdocs, and students at partner universities and provide input to their research teams.


• Design and develop useful and practical intellectual property.


• Contribute to high-quality, high-impact publications in peer-reviewed journals.


• Attend scientific and technical conferences to discuss accomplishments at the IGI and establish relationships with other leaders in the field.

Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
PhD or equivalent international degree

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)
At least 2 years of post-PhD research experience

Preferred qualifications

• Ph.D in plant biology, genetics, plant immunity or related discipline.


• Experience with employing computational skills to design guide RNAs to target genes that include; disease resistance, drought tolerance, and plant architecture in rice and wheat..


• Experience assembling plasmid constructs for prime editing in rice and wheat that target traits that control disease resistance, drought tolerance and plant architecture.


• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and tasks in parallel in order to meet program-based research objectives.


• Genotype edited plants by Sanger and NGS nucleotide sequencing.


• Demonstrated ability to carry out independent experiments to obtain consistent and reliable data, maintaining electronic lab notebook records


• Experience mentoring undergraduate researchers and/or technicians.


• High-quality, high-impact publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.


• Cover Letter

Reference requirements

• 3 required (contact information only)

Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05153

Help contact: stask@berkeley.edu

About UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our public mission of research, teaching, and service, consistent with UC Regents Policy 4400 and University of California Academic Personnel policy (APM 210 1-d). These values are embedded in our Principles of Community, which reflect our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation, and our deep commitment to contributing to a better world. Every member of the UC Berkeley community has a role in sustaining a safe, caring and humane environment in which these values can thrive.

The University of California, Berkeley 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, or protected veteran status.

For more information, please refer to the University of California's Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy and the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy.

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

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.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.


• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy


• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy


• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Job location
Berkeley, CA


To apply, visit https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05153