Genomics Training Specialist, Internships & Mentorships Program

The Center for Comparative Genomics (CCG) is the Academys hub for cuttingedge research in museum genomics with a mission to advance biodiversity conservation and regeneration. Specializing in historical DNA from natural history specimens we combine stateoftheart resources including a genomics lab frozen DNA CryoCollection and highperformance computing systems with expertise in genomics and computational analysis.

Our research spans the tree of life and the globefrom Caribbean coral reefs and Galpagos birds to California native plants Cameroons frogs and bioluminescent fish microbiomes in the IndoPacific. Beyond research the CCG is committed to training the next generation of scientists by offering workshops mentoring programs and fostering collaborations to drive advancements in museum genomics.

The Genomics CCG Training Specialist Internships and Mentorships Program (I&M) will play a critical role in supporting these efforts by developing and delivering handson training mentoring researchers and refining educational programs. This position will ensure alignment with cuttingedge genomic technologies address the challenges of working with historical DNA and meet the diverse professional needs of researchers ultimately contributing to the CCGs mission of biodiversity preservation and advancement.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the supervision of the Director for the Center for Comparative Genomics (CCG) the CCG Training Specialist will support CCG lab user training experiences for mentorshipfocused research programs across the Academy. This role will collaborate with the Internships and Mentorships Program (I&M) staff to support crossdivisional mentorship and training efforts. This is in partnerships with Academy programs such as Careers in Science (CiS) the Summer Systematics Institute (SSI) the Lakeside Fellowship Graduate Student research projects and other science education and training opportunities at the Academy. This position will work directly with the CCG team I&M program leads educators and PIs to develop and implement genomics and sequencing training for the early career research community at the Academy. The CCG Training Specialist will support researchers in molecular work on a variety of diverse taxa develop new lab protocols and support the training of students visitors and staff in molecular techniques and downstream analyses.

POSITION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

In this role you will be required to collaborate with and assist research staff at the Academy with lab work in a manner consistent with our health and safety standards. General expectations and outline of duties are listed below.

• Collaborate with the CCG Director Lab Manager and Associate Manager I&M in the development and delivery of training experiences to interns students visitors and staff on DNA/RNA extraction and sequencing (Sanger NGS long read sequencing HiC etc.) and other genomics techniques as needed
• Deliver and develop new user orientations
• Provide oversight and guidance on lab protocols and procedures for all CCG users
• Partner with the I&M Manager and I&M team CCG team and other I&M program leads to identify CCG engagements and develop a comprehensive CCG program user calendar.
• Coordinate I&M program engagements and balance with the CCG workflow and user interactions and program goals
• Train I&M program mentees in laboratory techniques and workflows by scheduling and supporting workshops developing regular training schedules organizing lectures as needed and supporting other lab user engagements etc.
• Communicate CCG training opportunities and connect with key stakeholders in partnership with the CCG and I&M teams
• Flexibility to work evening hours as needed. For example from 47 PM to mentor high school students participating in the CiS program as they engage in genomics research and skillbuilding activities
• Contribute to CCG lab maintenance such as prepare aliquots of reagents and stock solutions stock and maintain lab consumables and physical inventories when needed.
• Adhere to and enforce all Academy safety regulations and maintain a safe and organized laboratory environment.
• Perform other jobrelated duties as assigned

EXPERIENCE:

• Masters degree preferred or equivalent independent research experience in biodiversity genomics biological sciences or a related field.
• Minimum of two years of handson experience in molecular genetics and proficiency in foundational molecular biology technique
• Experience and familiarity in nextgeneration sequencing (NGS) workflows.
• Proven ability to troubleshoot and optimize lab protocols with a strong problemsolving approach.
• Demonstrated experience in developing engaging educational materials and training modules tailored to individuals with varying expertise levels.
• Proven success in mentoring and teaching particularly with diverse trainee groups
• Familiarity with downstream bioinformatic analysis and data interpretation is preferred
• Prior experience working in a museum setting particularly with historical DNA and extracting DNA from museum specimens is strongly preferred.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Strong interest and passion in biodiversity research with a focus on genomics techniques
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills in English with a demonstrated ability to effectively convey scientific concepts to diverse audiences.
• Ability to take a leadership role in guiding early career research
• Works as a part of multidisciplinary teams and diverse stakeholder groups
• Committed to working on a team that is striving to be antiracist in work interactions systems and tools
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and as a member of interdisciplinary teams on crosscutting issues
• Demonstrated ability to successfully collaborate with scientists and nonscientists alike
• Flexible and creative
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence
• Ability to lift 10 lbs.
• Ability to perform repetitive motions 50% of the time

We encourage interested candidates to apply even if you do not meet every listed requirement. We value diverse experiences and backgrounds and we are committed to providing opportunities for growth and development. If you are passionate about biodiversity research and genomics and have a strong interest in learning and contributing to our mission we would love to hear from you.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT: To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential job duty. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Compensation and Benefits:
The salary for this position is $30.63$31.86 / Hour. Actual compensation will be commensurate with experience skills/knowledge set and internal equity. We believe in fair and equitable compensation practices and are committed to providing competitive salaries within the industry and market standards. The Academy offers a total compensation package that emphasizes both base salary and comprehensive benefits based on the hours per week worked. Further details regarding compensation and benefits will be discussed during the interview process.

Schedule: FullTime 40 hours per week

APPLICATION PROCESS:
Please upload your resume and cover letter and complete the brief online application

The California Academy of Sciences will give full consideration for employment to all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance(SF Police Code Article 49).

We are committed to ensuring that all employees and applicants shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment including but not limited to recruitment hiring placements transfers promotions compensation benefits terminations training and social and recreational programs will be on the basis of qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled. The Academy does not discriminate against qualified applicants or employees with respect to any terms or conditions of employment on account of any characteristic protected by state or federal law or local ordinance. Read our full Equal Opportunity Statement here.