Olive Oil Genetics - Graduate Research Assistant

Join Olivery Research Company, a leader in olive innovation, to transform the science of olive oil quality through cutting-edge genetics and breeding! 

Inspired by UC Davis Olive Research Scientists and expertise in lipid oxidation, you’ll develop olive cultivars that enhance oil quality, resist adulteration, and promote sustainability. 

Be part of California and Arizona thriving olive industry, amplified by mega site-driven economic growth.

About the Role: This role focuses on leveraging genomic tools to improve olive oil quality, building on insights.  You’ll collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to develop olive varieties with superior oxidative stability, reduced sensory defects (e.g., rancid, fusty), and enhanced agronomic traits. Your research will contribute to peer-reviewed publications and support the global olive industry.

Key Responsibilities: 
Genomic Modeling (50%): Develop and validate genomic prediction models for key olive traits, such as oil oxidative stability, polyphenol content, and resistance to diseases like Xylella fastidiosa, to ensure compliance with IOC/USDA extra virgin standards.

Breeding Simulations (20%): Design and simulate breeding schemes to optimize genomic selection strategies, enhancing olive cultivars for high-quality oil production and resilience to environmental stressors.

Genotype Imputation (20%): Implement advanced imputation algorithms to integrate historical olive genetic datasets, enabling comprehensive analysis of traits linked to oil quality and adulteration resistance.

Presentations & Reporting (10%): Collaborate with the Olivery Research Company team, industry stakeholders (e.g., California Olive Oil Council), and international partners to translate research into actionable breeding strategies. Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals, such as the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Qualifications:
Ph.D. in plant genetics, breeding, bioinformatics, or a related field (M.S. with extensive experience considered).
Expertise in genomic prediction, marker-assisted selection, and genotype imputation, with proficiency in tools like R, Python, or MATLAB.
Knowledge of lipid oxidation, polyphenol chemistry, or olive oil quality metrics (e.g., DAGs, PPP) is a strong plus.Experience with olive or perennial crop breeding preferred but not required.

Strong communication skills to engage with academic, industry, and regulatory audiences.

Passion for advancing sustainable olive production and combating oil adulteration.

Why Join Us? 
Global Impact: Build on pioneering research addressing adulteration and quality issues in the $1.5 billion U.S. olive oil market.
Innovative Environment: Collaborate with top-tier researchers 

Location: Arizona OR California (Hybrid role)

Competitive Compensation: A reasonable estimate for this position is $53,100 - $85,000.

How to Apply?
Submit your resume, cover letter, and a sample of relevant work (e.g., publication or genomic analysis) to [email protected]  

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis—apply today!