Posted: 22-May-25
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Type: Full Time
Salary: $55,806 minimum
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Job Summary
The Arnold Arboretum is Harvard University's museum of trees, with one of the world's most biodiverse collections of temperate woody plants, combined with world-class scientific resources and a commitment to diverse programming. As part of the Boston Parks system, free and open to all daily, we host three to four million visitors each year and were one of the few botanical gardens or arboreta in the world not to close during the height of the pandemic. We view ourselves as a key public health resource to the City of Boston and beyond.
Position Summary: The Research Assistant II position reports to William (Ned) Friedman, Director of the Arnold Arboretum and Arnold Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (70% of the time) and to Faye Rosin, Director of Research Facilitation (30% of the time). The Friedman lab covers a broad range of projects (e.g., origin and evolution of flowering plants, plant evo-devo, plant fertilization biology, and embryology) and methods (histology and various types of microscopy, molecular biology, greenhouse studies).
Please note: This is a two-year term appointment, with an end date two years from the date of hire.
Position Description
Job Responsibilities
The research assistant will work closely with the Principal Investigator and Friedman Lab graduate students on various research projects while supporting the Director of Research Facilitation by performing various training and lab maintenance duties. This position allows an early-career individual to improve their research and technical skills while studying organismic and evolutionary biology among the Arnold Arboretum's renowned collection of woody plants. Additionally, the research assistant will interact with undergraduates, researchers, and visiting scholars working across a broad range of plant biology-related disciplines at the Weld Hill research facilities.
Basic Qualifications
Candidates MUST meet the following basic qualifications to be considered for this role:
- College background in Biology or equivalent work experience required.
- Demonstrated basic abilities in laboratory techniques required.
Additional Qualifications and Skills
- One to two years of related work experience (relevant coursework may count towards experience).
- Histology and microscopy skills.
- Skills in applicable computer technologies, including Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, and Illustrator.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.