Agricultural Technician I

Virginia Tech • Winchester, VA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Virginia Tech is seeking a wage personnel Agricultural Technician to support the horticulture research team at the AHS Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Winchester, Virginia. The position supports innovative research through hands-on field and laboratory work, with a focus on developing and managing fruit tree research plots.

The technician will prepare tissue-culture media, collect and culture plant tissues, assist with propagation and genetic transformation experiments, care for plants and plantlets, conduct basic molecular biology experiments, maintain detailed records, and contribute to field and laboratory studies. The position is limited to no more than 1,500 hours within the payment year, with approximately 29 hours per week. Overtime status is non-exempt and eligible for overtime.

Requirements

• Direct or related experience in general biology, plant science, tissue culture, molecular biology, or laboratory analyses in a wage or similar capacity.
• Computer literacy, particularly with MS Word, Excel, email, and internet applications.
• Valid driver’s license and access to personal transportation.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in plant biology or a related field, with practical experience in tissue culture, molecular biology, or relevant laboratory skills.
• Experience in data management and supervision.

Responsibilities

• Prepare media for tissue culture, in vitro propagation, and genetic transformation experiments.
• Collect, sterilize, and culture plant tissues under sterile conditions.
• Assist with experiments related to in vitro propagation, gene editing, and transformation.
• Provide full care for plants and plantlets grown in vitro or under greenhouse conditions.
• Assist with and independently perform basic molecular biology experiments, including PCR, qRT-PCR, gel documentation, and nucleic acid quantification.
• Maintain accurate and detailed records of experiments, plant materials, media preparation, autoclave logs, and experimental outputs.
• Assist with field and laboratory experiments as needed, including field sample collection and laboratory evaluation of fruit quality parameters.
• Collaborate with graduate students, field technicians, and other personnel on research initiatives.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed