To apply and for more information, visit https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/153681

Position Summary:

This recruitment will be used to fill 2-3 temporary Student Technical Assistant positions for the Mid-Columbia Ag Research & Extension Center (MCAREC) at Oregon State University (OSU).
This position will be located in Hood River, Oregon.

This position will provide assistance to the Horticulture department at the Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research and Extension Center. They will work with a small team or individually to collect, analyze and organize data, while working primarily with pear and cherry trees.

Position Duties:

50% – Collection of vegetative and floral/fruit samples from field plots on the MCAREC farm and potentially other regional farms; Processing these samples in a laboratory or outdoor environment; Dissecting flower buds and weekly counts and/or measurements of different plant organs; Field counting of flowers, thinning of fruits and subsequent harvesting, as well as other tasks as needed.

40% – Laboratory, greenhouse, and field site maintenance. Washing and disinfecting of glassware, planting containers and/or fruit containers. Weeding, painting tree trunks, setting up trunk protectors, potting, pruning and watering.

10% – Management of data sets, to include collecting, collating, and entering data into computers using spreadsheets and word processing technology.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Must be actively enrolled in high school or college.
• Willingness to learn new skills, work well with others, ability to work independently, excellent attention to detail.
• This position will require assisting with collection of field data so candidate should be comfortable working outdoors as needed, potentially in adverse weather conditions.

Preferred (Special) Qualifications:

• Biology or science background, work experience, or classes.