Research Technician

Job Title

Job Description Summary

Job Description

Haverford Offers Great Benefits: The College offers a comprehensive benefits program that includes possible work-from-home opportunities, automatic 10% retirement contribution to your retirement account upon eligibility (no match required), a 50% tuition benefit for dependent children upon eligibility, 14 paid holidays (including the week before New Year’s Day off), Health Savings Account contribution of $700 for individuals and$1400 for families (no match required), affordable medical plans, and a beautiful arboretum campus with walking trail and easy public transportation access. Please visit the Benefits page (https://www.haverford.edu/human-resources/benefits) for more information.

About Biology Department

The Biology Department at Haverford College houses eight full-time tenure-track faculty and is a research active department which holds federal grants and awards from NIH, NSF, Dreyfus, and the Kaufman Foundation. Haverford’s expectations for excellence in research are aligned with the internal resources offered to faculty, including a full-time instrument specialist, media prep/autoclave specialist, a machinist that specializes in scientific

instrument fabrication, a purchasing agent, a science librarian, and an administrative assistant. Modern biology has seen tremendous growth in our ability to understand and compare the structure and function of living organisms at the cellular, molecular and genetic levels, and what were traditionally regarded as many different areas of biology have become integrated, particularly in the research laboratory. We involve students in the process of discovery in a research-focused curriculum that stresses the experimental method as a teaching tool. Students at all levels of the curriculum frame their own experimental questions

and use current research techniques to search for answers. Our curricular approach allows students to develop the conceptual tools to both follow and contribute to the rapid advance of knowledge and understanding.

The Peng lab is interested in the developmental basis of floral traits important in pollinator attraction, such as flower color, scent, and shape, etc. The lab has a molecular biology lab, a recently constructed research greenhouse, and a behavioral experiment room. There are usually 3-5 undergraduate students actively conducting research throughout the year in the lab.

About the Position
The NSF-supported Research Technician will work closely with Dr. Foen Peng. The main task for this position is to sequence the transcriptomes at various flowering stages in Mimulus plants, and to perform gene expression analysis to infer the gene regulatory network underpinning floral development. The Technician also will have opportunities to participate in other related projects in the lab, or to develop their own project. The initial contract is for one-year and is renewable for another year, contingent upon satisfactory performance.

Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct research agenda outlined in the NSF grant (80%)
• Perform Greenhouse maintenance (10%)
• Train undergraduate researcher (10%)

Line of Report: The Research Technician reports to Assistant Professor of Biology, Dr. Foen Peng

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology or related discipline (natural science)

Professional Competencies

• Background that indicates familiarity with scientific concepts and principles, or a

willingness to learn scientific concepts and principles

• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Ability to build relationships with individuals from different backgrounds with diverse

life experiences

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in plant genetics or plant development research
• Prior experience working with genomic data

We are aware that some people are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet qualifications as described in the job advertisement. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and recognize that a successful candidate may come from a less traditional career trajectory, and have skills and abilities gained outside a classroom context, or an equivalent skill set. We encourage you to apply and share how you meet the position’s qualifications.

To Apply: Interested applicants are invited to submit an application, to include a cover letter and resume. The application deadline is July 31, 2025. Application review will begin after the deadline has passed. Please email recruiting@haverford.edu with questions about submitting your materials. Should the search committee be interested in pursuing your candidacy, you will hear from them directly. Finalists will be asked to provide three professional references.

Haverford College is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice, and providing equal opportunities and access to all individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, age, marital status, disability, or veteran status. Women, non-binary and transgender individuals, people of color, Indigenous people, and those with other or multiple historically marginalized and/or underrepresented identities are especially encouraged to apply.

We at Haverford College recognize that we live and work on Lenape land and pay respect and honor to the caretakers of this land, from the time of its first human inhabitants until now, and into the future. We seek to maintain and build upon our current and ever-evolving connections with members of Lenape tribes and communities, in recognition of our intertwined histories and with a goal of moving toward right relationship between the Haverford of today and Lenape peoples.