Job Description

Job Posting Details

Position Number(s): 41063313/ 41156376/ 41156379/ 41156386/ 41156681



Payroll Title: LAB AST 1



Job Code: 009605



Job Open Date: 03/05/25



Application Review Begins: 03/20/25



Department Code (Name): MSII (MARINE SCIENCE INSTITUTE)



Percentage of Time: 100



Union Code (Name): TX



Employee Class (Appointment Type): Staff: Limited



FLSA Status: Non-Exempt



Classified Indicator Description (Personnel Program): PSS



Salary Grade: STEPS



Pay Rate/Range: The budgeted salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $20.16 to $22.94/hr. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience; the budget for the position; and the application of fair, equitable, and consistent pay practices at the University. The full salary range for this position is $19.78 to $22.94/hr.



Work Location: Blue Oaks Ranch Reserve, San Jose CA



Working Days and Hours : M-F 9 AM- 5PM



Benefits Eligibility: Mid-Level Benefits

Type of Remote or Hybrid Work Arrangement, if applicable: N/A



Special Instructions:

For full consideration, please include a resume and a cover letter as part of your application.



Department Marketing Statement:

The Marine Science Institute ranks internationally as a leader in marine and environmental research. Its researchers stand at the forefront of their fields, regularly redefining our current knowledge of marine science and policy. Over 300 research projects funded by more than 80 awarding agencies with a value over $100 million in extramural and intramural funding are administered by MSI each year. Research at MSI spans 14 disciplines supporting research projects involving faculty, professional researchers, technical staff, graduate and undergraduate students. MSI provides educational outreach activities through the REEF (Research Experience and Education Facility) with 20,000 visitors annually.

Benefits of Belonging

Working at UC means being part of this vibrant institution that shines a light on what is possible. People make UC great, and UC recognizes your contributions by making this a great place to work. Excellent retirement and health are just one of the rewards. Learn more about the benefits of working at UC

Brief Summary of Job Duties:

The primary responsibilities of the individual will work in a team of 4-5 members performing in-depth aquatic field sampling protocol focusing on amphibians, fish and invertebrates within freshwater pond ecosystems. Individual(s) will perform the following duties (1) macro and micro identification of amphibians, fish, invertebrates, and parasites (2) performing field sampling techniques such as but not limited to: dipnet, seine, visual survey, pathogen swabbing, and transects, (3) necropsy of freshwater aquatic snails for parasite isolation, and (4) data entry. In addition, individual(s) will aid in the collection of SD cards, processing of images from these cameras and assist in the offloading of previously deployed Hobo Loggers. Team members will be expected to communicate regularly with PI and senior researcher assistant. We require competitive candidates will have prior aquatic field research experience which ideally includes necropsy of snails, isolation of trematode parasites, proficient excel and data entry skills, and experience with field aquatic sampling techniques (e.g. seine, dipnet, transects, water chemistry).

Required Qualifications:

• Ability to hike, work outdoors and lift heavy objects (30lbs or more)
• Ability to work long hours in extreme temperatures within the elements (rain or shine) and in team environment
• Ability to use GPS and other instruments to locate remote pond locations

Preferred Qualifications:

• Completed some or all Bachelor’s degree in ecology, biology, or related field.
• 1-3 years Field experience, lab experience, or outdoor work experience.
• Driver’s license with experience driving off road/ 4 wheel vehicle
• Working knowledge of aquatic environments including aquatic macro invertebrates and amphibians
• Experience working with data management/ collection, Excel skills

Special Conditions of Employment:

• Required to hold a valid driver's license, have a driving record that is in accordance with local policies and procedures, and/or enroll in the California Employer Pull Notice Program.
• Satisfactory criminal history background check
• UCSB is a Tobacco-Free environment

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement:


As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegation or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.


“Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC’s policies addressing some forms of misconduct:


UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
Abusive Conduct in the Workplace



Job Functions and Percentages of Time:

• 30% Specimen Identification - Perform basic macro and micro identification of amphibians, fish, invertebrates, and parasites using key provided
• 40% Implementation of field sampling - Implement field sampling techniques such as but not limited to: dipnet, seine, visual survey, pathogen swabbing, and transects
• 20% Testing - Use microscope to help identify parasites.
• 5% Data Entry - Data entry typically in the form of Excel and paper data sheets
• 5% Process Data - Process and collect SD cards from wildlife cameras and offload data from Hobo Loggers

UC Vaccination Programs Policy:


As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccinations Programs.

As a condition of Physical Presence at a Location or in a University Program, all Covered Individuals* must participate in any applicable Vaccination Program by providing proof that they are Up-to-Date with any required Vaccines or submitting a request for Exception in a Mandate Program or properly declining vaccination in an Opt-Out Program no later than the Compliance Date (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.). Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.


For more information, please visit:

• UC Santa Barbara COVID-19 Information -
• University of California Policy on Vaccinations –

• Covered Individuals: A Covered Individual includes anyone designated as Personnel or Students under this Policy who physically access a University Facility or Program in connection with their employment, appointment, or education/training. A person accessing a Healthcare Location as a patient, or an art, athletics, entertainment, or other publicly accessible venue at a Location as a member of the public, is not a Covered Individual.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Statement:


UC Santa Barbara is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status.
For the University of California's Affirmative Action Policy, please visit:
For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit:



Reasonable Accommodations:


The University of California endeavors to make accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Katherine Abad in Human Resources at 805-893-4664 or email katherine.abad@hr.ucsb.edu. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.



Privacy Notification Statement


Privacy Notification Statement and Notice of Availability of the UCSB Annual Security Report Disclosures



Application Status: If you would like to check the status of your application, please log into the Candidate Gateway where you applied and click on 'my activities'.

Job Tags

Remote job, Full time, Work experience placement, Local area, Outdoor,

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