Interested in joining?
email: asegarra@ucdavis.edu
Open positions:
– Volunteers/Student Assistant (all year)
– Junior Specialist (first review March 31, 2025). Make sure to apply through this link https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07012
Position description: Research conducted in the Segarra Lab focuses on environmental tolerance to anthropogenic change. This involves utilizing numerous fish species upon which the effect of thermal and salinity stress, contaminant exposure and disease are evaluated using molecular and physiological performance endpoints. The research also incorporates environmental DNA analyses for pathogens associated with fish. The candidate would be willing to assist in all aspects of research, predominantly assisting with molecular approaches; RNA/DNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, quantitative PCR, as well as helping with field and lab-based fish exposures, fish care and maintenance, dissections, sample processing, and data analyses, as required. The candidate will discuss results upon completion and plan appropriate follow up experiments with PI and Post-doctoral researchers. Candidates will assist our research team in 1) understanding the sublethal effects of stressors on fish, with direct implications for the conservation of these species, and 2) monitoring fish pathogens in the San-Francisco Bay-Delta. The applicant will preferably have experience working with fish species.
General responsibilities include the care of sensitive fish species and Zebrafish, coordinating and assisting with exposures using chemicals (e.g., insecticides) and behavioral assays in a wet laboratory. Candidates will also be expected to assist with fish euthanization and dissection. They will occasionally be working in Quonset Hut-type laboratories where temperatures can vary and in temperature-controlled offices and laboratories. Because research involves animals, candidates should be available to work weekends and evenings as required. Must be willing conduct field work to collect environmental samples during various weather conditions. They will have the opportunity of presenting research findings at local technical meetings and professional societies. Travel will be required as part of the work (e.g., fish transport, sample collections), thus a California state driver license will be preferred.
The ideal candidate will have strong problem-solving, interpersonal, and communication skills, as well as the ability to work independently and as part of a team. They will also have demonstrated the attention to detail required to successfully collect, organize and store data.
In the Segarra Lab, we want to ensure everyone experiences a positive, engaging, hostility-free, challenging, and rewarding lab environment. If you join us, you’ll learn a lot about structural biology, biochemistry, and biological signaling pathways in cells, develop new skills (from molecular biology, eco-toxicology, cell biology, pathology, physiology, animal behavior, data analysis, writing, giving talks), make new friends, and have a great deal of fun throughout the whole process.
