Job Description

Research Technician IV (Extended Temporary) Posting Number
req26644 Department
School of Plant Sciences-Res Department Website Link School of Plant Sciences Location
Tucson Campus Address
1145 E 4th Street, Tucson, AZ 85719 USA Position Highlights

The University of Arizona School of Plant Sciences is looking for a Research Technician IV. The successful candidate for this position conducts and supports microbiology and plant-microbe interaction research by developing protocols to address challenging research questions about how plants and microbes interact, and whether these interactions can be engineered to develop new agricultural technologies. Duties will include leading and performing experiments, summarizing and interpreting experiment data, and submitting research reports in laboratory setting. We are looking for a research technician with background and experience in bacteriology specifically plant bacteriology (plant pathology or host-microbe interactions) who will develop, facilitate, and implement the scientific protocols needed to reach our biological research aims. We seek a candidate who with knowledge and technical skills related to culturing and working with bacteria. The research technician should be capable of evaluating data independently. They will develop, adapt, and build equipment, procedures, and techniques to fit specific experiment requirements. Duties will include performing necessary research and support related tasks in the laboratory. They will also manage daily laboratory maintenance and tasks.

This is an Extended Temporary Employment (ETE) position.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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Duties & Responsibilities

• Leads in the
  planning, design, set-up and disassembly of complex experimental systems.
• Selects, adapts, and implements procedures, and standards to ensure the
  efficiency, effectiveness, and quality control of the laboratory operation and
  supports compliance activities with federal, state, and university regulations
  and standards.
• Designs
  primers, plasmids, and chimeric receptors in silico by selecting and optimizing
  appropriate molecular designs.
• Independently follows, evaluates, and adapts
  detailed protocols for PCR, and other molecular biology techniques to construct
  plasmids and bacterial strains, resolving complex technical issues with
  experimental design and execution.
• Develops
  detailed protocols for the fluorescent, and luminescent reporting of bacterial
  signaling by independently designing and adapting current laboratory protocols
  for high throughput screening and developing advanced controls and standards
  for the generation and analysis of largescale, complex data.
• Works collaboratively with plant scientists and
  computational scientists to lead interpretation of complex data, analyze
  results, and interpret protein structure data, providing technical input to
  experimental design decisions.
• Maintains and organizes comprehensive records,
  observations, data analysis and interpretations of experimental results for
  effective team science.
• Prepares detailed technical reports, summaries, and
  protocols that document methods, performance, and reliability of experimental
  systems.
• Oversees and
  performs critical aspects of laboratory maintenance, including cleaning and
  sterilization of labware used for research, preparation of sterile media,
  buffers, and laboratory stock reagents, and the setup, monitoring,
  troubleshooting, and long-term optimization of bacterial cultures.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of
  bacterial physiology.
• Skills
  culturing bacteria and with sterile technique.
• Knowledge
  fluorescent and luminescent assays.
• Skills with
  bacterial genetics (e.g. PCR, analyzing sequence and genome data).
• Skills in
  detail-oriented notetaking.
• Ability to
  communicate scientific concepts clearly and promptly with team members and
  supervisors.
• Ability to
  perform experiments and analyze experimental data independently.

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or high school diploma equivalency is required.
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• 1 to 2 years of relevant work experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in plant microbiology, plant pathology or related field.
• Prior experience in plant microbiology (plant pathology, plant-microbe interactions).

FLSA
Non-Exempt Full Time/Part Time
Full Time Number of Hours Worked per Week
40 Job FTE
1.0 Work Calendar
Fiscal Job Category
Research Benefits Eligible
Yes - Full Benefits Rate of Pay
$20.33 - $25.41 Compensation Type
hourly rate Grade
5 Compensation Guidance
The Rate of Pay Field represents the University of Arizona’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. The University considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, and internal equity.

The Grade Range represent a full range of career compensation growth over time. The university offers compensation growth opportunities within its career architecture. To learn more about compensation, please review our Applicant Compensation Guide and our Total Rewards Calculator Career Stream and Level
OC4 Job Family
Research & Lab Job Function
Research Type of criminal background check required:
Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive) Number of Vacancies
1 Target Hire Date
8/17/2026 Expected End Date
6/30/2027 Contact Information for Candidates
Rebecca Schomer, Assistant Professor, Plant Sciences
rschomer@arizona.edu Open Date
7/28/2026 Open Until Filled
Yes Documents Needed to Apply
Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Cover Letter Special Instructions to Applicant
Notice of Availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report
In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act), each year the University of Arizona releases an Annual Security Report (ASR) for each of the University’s campuses. These reports disclose information including Clery crime statistics for the previous three calendar years and policies, procedures, and programs the University uses to keep students and employees safe, including how to report crimes or other emergencies and resources for crime victims. As a campus with residential housing facilities, the Main Campus ASR also includes a combined Annual Fire Safety report with information on fire statistics and fire safety systems, policies, and procedures.
Paper copies of the Reports can be obtained by contacting the University Compliance Office at cleryact@arizona.edu.