Internship Program/Undergraduate Student Technical Assistant

Internship Program/Undergraduate Student Technical Assistant

This recruitment will be used to fill two part-time (a maximum of 24 hours per week) technical assistant for the Central Oregon Agricultural Research and Extension Center Plant Pathology Laboratory at Oregon State University (OSU). This position assists the laboratory to conduct laboratory and field based research projects focused on plant diseases impacting agricultural crops in central Oregon (Jefferson, Crook, and Deschutes Counties). The incumbent will be needed 20-40 hours/week during the summer and, depending on project needs, may also have opportunity to work up to 20 hours/week during the spring, fall, and/or winter terms of the academic calendar year. The paid position provides an opportunity for the incumbent to acquire laboratory, greenhouse, and field research experience and also fulfill undergraduate internship requirements as needed.

Performs routine to complex technical tasks in the laboratory (e.g., general laboratory maintenance, preparation of media, reagents, and solutions for experiments, maintenance of fungal and bacterial cultures, DNA extraction, and PCR/qPCR), greenhouse (e.g., establishing trials, watering and fertilizing plants), and/or field (e.g., plot establishment and maintenance) in support of research projects involving plant disease epidemiology and integrated pest management (IPM). The position may also assist in the development and delivery of research outcomes (e.g., data collection, entry, and presentation for scientific and Extension presentations) as appropriate. Current research activities include: developing in-field diagnostic assays for bacterial blight of carrot grown for seed; evaluating fungicide resistance in fungal pathogens of grasses grown for seed; epidemiology of powdery mildew in carrot seed crops; integrated management of Verticillium wilt in peppermint; and disease/insect pest monitoring in irrigated cropping systems.

Must be academically enrolled in a high school, community college, or university and pursuing a program or course of study. Must meet Academic Standing Requirements; students on academic suspension are not eligible for employment. Must meet the applicable minimal enrollment standard. High level of responsibility, organization and motivation. Undergraduate students pursuing a degree in Biology, Botany, Horticulture, Agronomy, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Environmental Science or a related field and/or those who seek to fulfill internship requirements for related discipline areas. Previous experience working in a research laboratory or conducting field-based research. Experience working with plants.