Laboratory Technician

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.Why join the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences?The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) is the historic heart of Harvard University. It is the home of Harvard’s undergraduate program (Harvard College, founded in 1636) as well as all of Harvard’s Ph.D. programs (the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, founded in 1872), Harvard Athletics and the Division of Continuing Education. The 40 academic departments and 30+ centers of the FAS support a community unparalleled in its academic excellence across the broadest range of liberal arts and sciences disciplines. Together, the FAS seeks to foster an environment of ambition, curiosity and shared commitment to knowledge and truth that elicits excellence from all members of our community and prepares the next generation of leaders through a transformative educational experience. Job Summary: The Cavender-Bares Lab research focuses on the physiological and evolutionary dimensions of plant ecology that influence community assembly and ecosystem function. Her team investigates the genetic and evolutionary basis of variation in plant phenotypes and spectral properties that can advance remote sensing of biodiversity, particularly detecting change through time and its consequences for ecosystems. Job-Specific Responsibilities: We seek a full-time lab and field technician to support plant ecophysiological research in the lab and in large-scale field experiments.Prepares matter for analysis and diagnosis.Assists with field work, including plant growth and ecophysiological measurements.Collects and enters data in various formats using Excel, FulcrumApp, R, GitHub, and other platforms. Analyzes data in open source platforms including in R.May use spectroscopy for lab experiments.Prepares and measures specimen for long-term herbarium records.Additional responsibilities include careful data entry, organization, and curation; preparation of metadata to support long-term data archiving; and contributing to basic data analysis and visualization in collaboration with the research team.Performs other related job duties as required. Working Conditions: Office setting, lab, and field site at the Harvard Forest.  Basic Qualifications (Required): College coursework in biology.One year of experience in laboratory work.Education may count towards experience. Additional Qualifications and Skills (preferred):The successful candidate will hold an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., plant biology, agronomy, ecology, environmental science).Experience and a strong interest in plant physiology and field work.Comfortable working in both outdoor and laboratory settings.Meticulous attention to det...