Department Contact: Kathy Hanley, (575) 646-3611, khanley@nmsu.edu

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

Advertising Summary: The Department of Biology is seeking applicants for a Research Assistant III.

Position Details

Position Title: Research Assistant Senior

College/Division: Arts and Sciences College

Department: 330350-BIOLOGY

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (if applicable):

Target Hourly/Salary Rate: Commensurate with qualifications.

Appointment Full-time Equivalency: 1.0

FLSA Status: Exempt

Bargaining Unit Announcement: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Contingent Upon Funding: Contingent upon external funding

Standard Work Schedule: Standard (M-F, 8-5)

If Not a Standard Work Schedule: 

Job Duties and Responsibilities: • Conducts statewide field surveillance for mosquitoes and other arthropod vectors of medical and veterinary importance using established collection methods and surveillance protocols.
• Deploys, operates, retrieves, cleans, and maintains mosquito traps and other vector surveillance equipment at designated field sites throughout New Mexico.
• Collects, labels, preserves, transports, and processes mosquito and other arthropod specimens in accordance with established protocols and chain-of-custody procedures.
• Records accurate field data, including collection location, date, trapping method, environmental conditions, specimen information, and other relevant surveillance variables.
• Identifies mosquitoes and other arthropod vectors to appropriate taxonomic levels using morphological identification keys, microscopy, and established identification procedures.
• Sorts, counts, and prepares mosquito specimens and pools for laboratory testing and long-term storage.
• Performs routine laboratory procedures for detection of vector-borne viruses and other pathogens, including specimen homogenization, nucleic acid extraction, PCR and RT-PCR, and related molecular diagnostic techniques.
• Prepares laboratory reagents, solutions, controls, specimens, and other materials required for vector and pathogen testing.
• Operates, calibrates, cleans, and performs routine maintenance of laboratory and field equipment according to established procedures and manufacturer specifications.
• Follows established quality-assurance and quality-control procedures to ensure the accuracy and reliability of field, laboratory, and surveillance data.
• Maintains complete and accurate records of specimens, laboratory procedures, test results, equipment use, and other research and surveillance activities.
• Enters, reviews, validates, and maintains vector surveillance and laboratory testing data in electronic databases and other data-management systems.
• Assists with organization, analysis, interpretation, and visualization of surveillance data, including preparation of tables, figures, maps, and summaries of vector abundance, distribution, seasonality, and pathogen detection.
• Compiles field and laboratory results and assists with preparation of surveillance reports, technical reports, research presentations, manuscripts, posters, and other scientific communications.
• Communicates surveillance findings, unusual observations, positive pathogen detections, data-quality concerns, and technical problems to supervisory research personnel.
• Maintains inventories of field and laboratory supplies and assists with ordering, receiving, organizing, and maintaining materials required for surveillance activities.
• Follows established laboratory safety, biosafety, chemical safety, biological waste disposal, and field safety procedures and maintains required safety documentation.
• Assists with implementation of standardized surveillance protocols across multiple collection locations to promote consistency and comparability of statewide surveillance data.
• Coordinates field schedules, specimen processing, laboratory testing, and data entry activities to support timely completion of surveillance objectives.
• Provides technical assistance and instruction to student employees, temporary personnel, collaborators, and other individuals participating in established vector surveillance activities, as assigned.
• Travels to surveillance locations throughout New Mexico and performs fieldwork under variable environmental and weather conditions, including activities that may occur outside normal working hours when required by surveillance protocols.
• Maintains current knowledge of established methods and procedures relevant to mosquito surveillance, vector identification, molecular diagnostics, vector biology, and vector-borne disease surveillance.
• Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned in support of research and statewide vector and vector-borne virus surveillance activities.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience: 
Associate's Degree + 2 years of relevant experience or a Bachelor's degree.

Equivalent Qualifications: 

Preferred Qualifications: 
MS in a biology-related field with experience in vector identification and surveillance, academic knowledge of virology and research ethics, and facility in molecular biology and statistical analysis

Special Certification/Licensure: 

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work involves moderate exposure to unusual elements, such as extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant odors, and/or loud noises.

Physical Effort: Moderate physical activity.

Lifting Requirements: Requires heavy physical work; heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling required of objects up to 50 pounds.

Risk: Work environment involves exposure to potentially dangerous materials and situations that require following extensive safety precautions and may include the use of protective equipment.