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Career Development

Cal-CAB Career Development

A 2014 analysis, conducted by the San Diego County of Governments’ (SANDAG) economic bureau, reported that the direct, indirect, and induced economic impact of the algae biotechnology research and manufacturing industry generates a total of approximately 1,020 total jobs, $80 million in wages, and over $175 million of economic output to the San Diego regional economy. With increasing pressure on fossil fuels and the ability to use algae to create a wide range of photosynthetic-based bio-products, the algae biotechnology sector is set to grow at an impressive pace.  Already, direct employment in the algae biotechnology industry in the San Diego region has nearly doubled since 2009.

To help meet the anticipated growth, Cal-CAB has raised grant funding and industry partner support to develop certificate and summer research programs to provide training opportunities. Cal-CAB also supports career development in algae biotechnology through networking opportunities, scientific symposia, and advertising positions within Cal-CAB and affiliated labs, as well as providing information and protocols for others to use in setting up their own research.

Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars

Cal-CAB is a consortium of researchers in many departments across multiple California-based university campuses. Each department has its own protocol to apply for a Postdoc position or a Graduate Degree program.  If you are interested in a graduate or postdoc research position in a Cal-CAB lab, you will first need to research our faculty and identify which faculty are of interest to you.

For graduate programs, you can then identify their university and home department, and locate the application instructions for each department’s program. For UCSD and SIO graduate programs, information on the application process can be found on the UCSD Office of Graduate Studies website.

For Postdoctoral research positions at Cal-CAB, you will need to contact the faculty member directly to see if they have availability in their lab and would like to review your CV.  It is recommended that you try to organize a postdoc position about a year in advance. Postdoctoral positions may also be advertised below under the Employment tab, or on the UCSD Office of Postdoctoral & Visiting Scholar Affairs site.

Volunteer

Volunteering at Cal-CAB is a great way to get hands on experience, technical skills and new contacts. Many Cal-CAB labs offer volunteer positions in the lab. There are also volunteer opportunities outside of the lab, including administration, event support and graphics/marketing.

As Cal-CAB, faculty span many departments across multiple California-based university campuses. If you are interested in volunteering in a Cal-CAB lab, you will first need to research our faculty and identify which faculty are of interest to you.  You can then contact the faculty directly with your request.  It is recommended that you include a coverletter, resume and recent transcript, if relevant.  Some Cal-CAB faculty do take on volunteers who are not current students, but generally preference is given to current undergraduates at that institution.

Employment

Cal-CAB includes a range of professional and student employees, including undergraduate lab assistants, lab managers, research scientists, certificate course lecturers, faculty and administrators. Each affiliated university has a different advertising and recruitment process.

At UCSD and SIO, employment opportunities with Cal-CAB affiliated laboratories are posted through the following sites:


Current positions in Cal-CAB labs

There are currently no open positions. Please check back another time.

Cal-CAB Affiliate Employment Opportunities

Cal-CAB affiliates are welcome to email a link to employment opportunities to be posted below.

If you wish to get more information or apply for a job listed below, please click on the link and contact the advertising company directly.

Websites for algae jobs