Agricultural Research Technologist 3

at  Washington State University

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s Degree in the applied, biological, chemical, physical OR agricultural sciences AND two years of experience as an Agricultural Research Technologist 2; OR equivalent education/experience.

• For past education or work experience to be considered equivalent, the duties or course work must relate to plant pathology, horticulture, plant and soil sciences, and/or analytical chemistry or biology laboratory utilizing techniques relating to the isolation and identification of fungal and bacterial plant pathogens, DNA extractions, standard PCR assays and quantitative PCR assays, and sequencing for identifications.
• Must have a valid Washington State Pesticide Applicator’s License or be willing to obtain one within 3 months of hire.
• Must have a valid driver’s license at time of hire and at least 2 years of driving experience.
• Ability to travel on multi-day (overnight) trips away from the primary work location.
• Ability to plan, develop, and execute multiple research projects.
• Strong computer skills including proficiency in Microsoft Office and other equipment and statistical analysis software packages.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience relating to effective employee supervision.
• Experience with effective operation of laboratory and molecular equipment.
• Ability to communicate effectively with supervisor, collaborators, and workers.
• Ability to work well in a cooperative lab environment.
• Prior experience with field, laboratory, and greenhouse research experiments in plant pathology.
• Experience operating laboratory instrumentation.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Plant Pathology or related discipline.
• Experience in plant pathology research in field, greenhouse, and lab environments. Competent understanding of plant pathology, plant disease management, and plant pathology research methods.
• Five years of experience in a plant pathology laboratory utilizing standard isolation and standard/molecular identification techniques such as morphometric measurement of spores, DNA extractions, standard PCR assays, and quantitative PCR assays.
• Evidence of publication in peer-reviewed journals.
• Experience in horticulture, botany, agriculture, and chemistry relating to etiology, epidemiology and control of plant diseases, preferably vegetable diseases.
• Experience in seed pathology methods and research, including seed quality and seed health testing.
• Experience in diagnosis of plant diseases (preferably vegetable pathogens).
• Experience operating farm machinery.

SUMMARY OF DUTIES:

Assist with the design, set-up, maintenance, and completion of field, laboratory, and greenhouse research and extension trials, both at the NWREC and off-station, for the Vegetable Seed Pathology Program at the WSU Mount Vernon NWREC. Due to the environment in which the person in this position will be working, the person must be willing to work outdoors under a range of weather conditions, and with a diversity of crops, plant pathogens, arthropod pests, and natural enemies. The person must be willing to travel to field trial sites in Washington, including in central Washington, and occasionally in cooperative sites in other states, with overnight stays. The person must be willing to work in conventional and organic agricultural production systems. The person must be willing to work with or in the vicinity of lab and agricultural chemicals for which appropriate safety measures, equipment, and training are provided.

LABORATORY DUTIES | 30%

• Operate, calibrate, and maintain plant pathology laboratory equipment and instruments (including autoclaves, balances, centrifuges, electrophoresis units, incubators, laminar flow hoods, biological safety cabinets, dissecting and compound microscopes, pH meters, water baths, regular and real-time PCR thermal cyclers, and various other molecular and classical plant pathology lab equipment).
• Work with diverse bacterial, fungal, viral, and nematode pathogens of vegetable and vegetable seed crops grown in the Pacific Northwest. Use relevant techniques for isolation, culture, and inoculation of plants.
• Follow all Standard Operating Procedures and policies to maintain relevant laboratory permits (e.g., USDA APHIS PPQ 526 permits for receiving specific domestic and international shipments of plant pathogen cultures/plant samples).
• Perform microscope-based identification of fungal plant pathogens, characterization of biological and physical attributes of fungal and bacterial plant pathogens, and perform molecular procedures, such as PCR and quantitative PCR assays, genotyping using microsatellite markers, analyzing DNA sequence data, and performing DNA and RNA extractions in a research setting.
• Maintain culture collections and regulatory permits related to the culture collections.
• Maintain cleanliness and safety of laboratories.
• Follow established safe handling procedures when working with chemicals and equipment.

GREENHOUSE AND FIELD DUTIES | 25%

• Apply pesticides (fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides) in field and greenhouse environments, and calibrate and maintain sprayers. Drive tractor and operate general farm and greenhouse research equipment; calibrate seeders and drills, irrigation equipment, and fertilizer injection systems.
• Install, use, and maintain dataloggers and spore traps for monitoring micro-environmental conditions and dispersal of plant pathogens, respectively, in relation to development of diseases affecting vegetable/seed crops.
• Use relevant horticultural and plant pathology techniques for effective maintenance of plants/trials, inoculation of plant pathogens, monitoring and assessment of plant diseases, and data collection.
• Follow established safe handling procedures when working with chemicals and equipment.

MISCELLANEOUS DUTIES | 15%

• Perform senior level research and investigative duties in plant pathology under the general direction of the Vegetable Seed Pathology program leader.
• Supervise and train interns and timeslip employees, and train graduate students, postdoctoral research associates, and visiting scholars in the program.
• Coordinate work with other employees, and maintain good relations with employees, other research and extension programs, the agricultural community, and the public.
• Maintain inventory of lab, greenhouse, and field supplies for the Vegetable Seed Pathology program; order supplies in a timely manner.