Job Description

Molecular Ecology Lab Manager

The Rogers Lab in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation at Virginia Tech is hiring a Molecular Ecology Lab Manager. Based in Blacksburg, VA, this full-time position is ideal for someone with strong molecular and project management skills who wants to support conservation-focused ecological research. We study how invasive species and vertebrate loss reshape ecological communities. Our molecular ecology research uses DNA metabarcoding and environmental DNA (eDNA) to track food webs, seed dispersal, and pollination networks in the Mariana Islands. The lab manager will play a central role in generating high-quality molecular data and supporting a busy, multi-project lab.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor's or Master's degree in biology, ecology, environmental science, or related field

Experience with DNA extraction and PCR in a molecular biology research lab

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience preparing libraries for high-throughput sequencing (e.g., Illumina)

Experience analyzing environmental DNA (eDNA) or metabarcoding data

Experience mentoring or supervising undergraduate researchers

Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

Pay Band: 4

Overtime Status: Non-Exempt: Eligible for overtime

Appointment Type: Restricted

Hours per week: 40

Review Date: 9/22/25

Additional Information: The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech: Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Jennifer Phillips at jewolfor@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

Each agency within the Commonwealth of Virginia is dedicated to recruiting, supporting, and maintaining a competent and diverse work force. Equal Opportunity Employer.

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