Agricultural Technician I

Virginia Tech•Winchester, VA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Virginia Tech’s AHS Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Winchester, Virginia, is seeking a wage personnel Agricultural Technician to support horticulture research through hands-on field and laboratory work, with a focus on developing and managing fruit tree research plots. The position involves tissue culture, in vitro propagation, genetic transformation, plant care, molecular biology experiments, recordkeeping, and assistance with other field and laboratory research. The position is limited to 1,500 hours within the payment year and is approximately 29 hours per week. Overtime is permitted; the position is non-exempt and eligible for overtime. Salary is commensurate with experience. Virginia Tech is a comprehensive land-grant institution with more than 36,000 students and more than 280 majors. It conducts more than $650 million in research annually and encourages professional development and participation in university shared governance. Virginia Tech is an inclusive, non-discriminatory employer. Applicants must provide a resume/CV and references. The university cannot sponsor work visas for this vacancy, and the successful candidate must complete a criminal conviction check.

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.
A valid driver’s license and access to personal transportation.
Provide a resume/CV and references for consideration.
The successful candidate must complete a criminal conviction check.

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 in 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.