Part-Time Research Assistant Positions – Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology
About The Position
Part-time research assistant positions (spring and fall semesters) are available in the Esker Lab, Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology. These roles support laboratory and field work for the plant disease epidemiology program, focusing on research in field crops like corn, soybean, and wheat. We are a dynamic lab that employs various methods to manage plant diseases, supported by federal grants and funding from commodity groups and industry partners. Our research is carried out using facilities at Buckhout Laboratory on the University Park campus. We also conduct field trials at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center in Rock Springs, the Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Manheim, and across Pennsylvania as part of the Soybean On-Farm Network. Opportunities are also available for independent research!
Responsibilities
- Fungal culture media preparation
- Microbiological culturing and isolation of soil and seed-borne fungal pathogens
- Enumeration of fungal colonies
- Selection of pure cultures of isolates for long-term preservation
- Microscopic evaluation and identification of fungal cultures
- Assist with laboratory assays, including pathogenicity tests and fungicide sensitivity studies
- Assist with DNA extraction and quality check of fungal isolates from different genomic projects
- Collect soil and plant samples from field and greenhouse experiments and provide necessary assistance with sample processing before analysis/evaluation
- Perform germination tests for corn, soybean, and wheat seed samples from field trials
- Assess plant diseases from research studies conducted in the field, as well as in greenhouse or growth chamber trials
- Data entry of field and laboratory experiments
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees
