Crop & Field Research Scientist, Manager

Job location is at 441 Saxony Road, Encinitas, Ca 92024 and 10355 Science Center Dr, Suite 150
The Salk Institute’s Crop and Field Research Scientist Manager will be responsible for designing, executing, managing and analyzing select crop root diversity screens and all field trials within Salk’s Harnessing Plants Initiative (HPI). The CFRSM performs a lead role in facilitating the HPI Principal Investigators (PI) in identifying and proving concepts related to HPI objectives spanning agronomy, plant biology, genetics, epigenetics, biochemistry, genomics, soil science, associated greenhouse facilities, and multiple academic and commercial collaboration partner relationships. They serve as a vital piece in the discovery pipeline — from the lab to the greenhouse to the field. The CFSRS will be intimately involved in managing multiple field projects, budgeting, data storage, project milestones, and deliverables. They will also be responsible for design and execution of experimental procedures appropriate to the goals of multiple projects and work closely with other the PIs, postdocs, and other scientists in the lab to ensure progressive results in accord with scientific research strategies. Additional duties include analysis of data, oral presentations, and reports of scientific results and progress and project supervision of staff and/or postdocs in the field.
In particular, the CFRSM demonstrates experienced expertise in lab, greenhouse and field root phenotyping and agronomy across multiple species, trial design, statistics and other analytics, project management, soil coring, root washing, plant tissue preparation and analysis and soil sampling and analysis. This position is 20% travel.
Document, analyze, interpret, and present results within a multi-disciplinary team environment. Work closely with the research group, CRO’s and external collaborators.
Essential Functions

• Oversee and coordinate the work at multiple field research sites.
• Assists with study data acquisition.
• Documents, analyzes, interprets, and presents results within a multi-disciplinary team environment.
• Make innovative contributions pertaining to field experiments according to the goals of the research project.Design & execute experimental procedures, including new technologies, according to the research goals, with critical evaluation of research results.Multi-task, including the ability to manage multiple simultaneous long-term projects and the ability to time and perform multiple experiments to maximize efficiency.
• Ensures appropriate approvals and permits are in place for compliance.
• Prepare and give scientific presentations that clearly communicate research findings.
• Field trials management
• Literature research and protocol optimization for best root sampling and phenotyping methods.
• Assist in maintenance and creation of trial databases.
• Partners closely with HPI Program Manager, project managers, and the Leadership Team to develop project plans and ensure project team tasks and milestones are on track.
• Proactively ensures senior leadership and stakeholders are aware of all challenges and issues and makes recommendations for resolution.
• Contribute to the preparation of research grants related to work performed in the laboratory in the forms of preliminary data generation and/or writing aims, and sub aims.
• Participates in discussions regarding project progress and goal setting.
• Designs, executes, and analyzes select crop root diversity screens
• Works with multiple field sites to provide leadership, guidance and support within the CRoPS project.
• Initiate, plan, prepare, and assess field trials with a follow up of analyzing and sharing results.
• Independently assesses the needs of the program and makes operational recommendations and decisions to support the requirements for success.
• Determine experimental needs and purchase equipment.
• Science Communication
• Communicate with scientific and non-scientific audiences interested in laboratory research.
• Performs root washing and sample preparation from field as needed.
• Prepares and maintains reports.
• Personnel Supervision & Leadership
• Monitors and manages team performance metrics relative to project plans and budgets
• Field Site and Greenhouse Operations
• Serves as liaison between field sites, greenhouses, and labs.
• Develop new opportunities by planning and assessing trials in the field.
• Identifies issues and facilitates problem solving, contingency planning, and decision-making.
• Ensures compliance with sponsor requirements.
• Prepare original research manuscripts detailing research methods and procedures, findings of research efforts, and that meaningfully place the work in context with prior work done in the field.
• Provide editing assistance on grants and manuscripts.
• Partners closely with CRoPS multiple collaborators to provide leadership, guidance, and support within the CRoPS project.
• Supervise and assist with data management & sample tracking.
• Performs greenhouse experiments as needed.
• Assist with manuscripts and grants being prepared within the laboratory.
• Facilitate and manage external collaborations with academic and industry collaborators
• Lead projects and supervise junior team members
• Assists with relevant conference event planning and external visits.

Experience
Required:

• Excellent technical molecular biology skills including PCR, cloning, DNA purification and sequence analysis.
• Excellent field experiment skills including risk identification and experimental design.
• Minimum 3 years of related post PhD research experience or equivalent related experience

Preferred

• Supervisory experience

EDUCATION
Required

• PhD in biology or related science.

Required
SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Ability to manage and track large numbers of samples meticulously without mixup or cross contamination.
• Highly organized, effective at multitasking, adept at juggling changing priorities.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written. Ability to communicate and act as a liaison with a diverse audience of professionals. Strong presentation and critical thinking skills.
• Knowledge of standard laboratory management and safety procedures.
• Theoretical knowledge of biological sciences; genetic association and linkage analysis methods; Mendelian genetics and molecular biological techniques, including the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
• Ability to anticipate risks and proactively create contingency plans in collaboration with project teams.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with PC operating system, standard business office equipment and commonly used software and tools, such as Microsoft Office, electronic mail, and the internet in addition to experience working within shared work environments.
• Strong project management skills
• Strong interpersonal skills, including tact, diplomacy, and flexibility. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships; interact with all levels of management and employees across multiple departments.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to identify problems and develop innovative solutions.
• Ability to make independent decisions, analyze situations, and solve problems.
• Skill in the operation and maintenance of various lab equipment.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise and train students and other technicians.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in researching information and analyzing data to arrive at valid conclusions, recommendations, and plans of action.
• Proven ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with field phenotyping methods such as root washing, crown root phenotyping, minirhizotrons.

The salary range for the position is $67,500 to $80,800 annually
SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Must be willing to sign a confidentiality agreement.
• Must be willing to work in an animal-related research environment.
• Successful completion of the Institute’s background investigation.
• Must be willing to work an adjusted schedule to support research needs.

Physical Requirements/Mental Activities/Environmental Conditions
This position will be constantly seeing, sitting, analyzing, calculating, communicating, reading, reasoning, and writing.