NC STATE UNIVERSITY
North Carolina State University is a landgrant university and a constituent institution
of the University of North Carolina
Department of
Horticultural Science
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
RESEARCH SPECIALIST - LABORATORY (SPA-CONTRIBUTING LEVEL)
Sweetpotato and Potato Breeding and Genetics Program
Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7609
Appointment and Salary: This is a 12-month full-time position for one year with renewal for additional years,
contingent upon performance. Salary commensurate with experience, health insurance and retirement benefits provided.
Deadline for Applications/ Start Date: August 25, 2015 or until a suitable candidate is identified. This position is
available immediately.
Qualifications: BS degree in Horticultural Science, Crop Science, Genetics, Molecular Biology, or related field; with 3 years
of relevant work experience. MS degree in Plant Breeding and Genetics, with 2 or more years of experience preferred.
Position Overview: The candidate recruited for this position will have a strong desire to assist with the
development of a modern breeding program capable of integrating traditional, genomic and phenomic variety
development approaches. You will assist with the coordination of our laboratory and food science breeding efforts.
Primary duties will include: management and coordination of all aspects of the breeding program’s laboratory and
food science efforts; management of the sweetpotato and potato genomics laboratory in cooperation with a newlyrecruited Research Assistant Professor; compiling and updating our laboratory safety plans and maintaining
analytical equipment; scheduling and conducting all lab analyses in collaboration with collaborators, postdoctoral
scholars and graduate students; and coordinating the breeding program’s NIRS and chip and fry sensory evaluation
and screening activities. Additional laboratory-based activities will include assisting an existing research specialist
with pathology disease screening work. Occasional field activities will include assisting with planting and harvest,
and harvesting seed from breeding nurseries located off-campus.
Major Responsibilities: You will be proficient with molecular genetic laboratory techniques, including DNA/RNA
extraction, PCR and genotyping and sequencing instrumentation, and familiar with a wide range of computer
software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SAS, GeneMapper, R, etc) and hardware. Knowledge or a desire to learn NIRS
and analytical chemistry instruments (GC-MS, HPLC-MS. etc.) in support of NIRS, and assisting with the
coordination of our food science chip and french fry sensory evaluation procedures will also be required. Excellent
oral and written English communication skills are required as you will be collecting, analyzing and presenting data,
completing reports. An ability to work independently as well as constructively and synergistically in coordination
with a larger research team; ability to trouble-shoot problems with techniques and equipment, devising creative
solutions to problems as they arise; and a demonstrated ability to plan, carry out, and summarize research for grant
reports and publications are also required.
Application: Apply online at https://jobs.ncsu.edu under Position Number 00042161. Applicants should include
a cover letter detailing your experiences and qualifications relating to this position; resume, and names and contact
information for three references. For more information contact to: Dr. Craig Yencho, Department of Horticultural
Science, NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, Email: Craig_Yencho@ncsu.edu, Phone (919) 513-7417; Fax
(919) 515-2505.
Work Location: The work base is located on-campus, Monday-Friday, 40 hours/week. Occasional overnight travel
will be necessary.
Necessary Licenses or Certifications: Driver license needed. No other special licenses or certifications needed.
AA/EEO. NC State welcomes all persons without regard to sexual orientation. Final candidates for employment are subject to
criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. A previous criminal
conviction does not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration for employment. However, failure to provide
complete & accurate information will be considered "falsification" and applicants will be removed from consideration.