Research Assistant

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

The College of Agricultural Sciences, Fruit Research and Extension Center located in Biglerville, PA seeks to hire numerous individuals to fill part-time positions. Positions are 40 hours per week positions, beginning May 2025 through August 2025 (maximum 16 weeks).

Duties will be determined based on the specific position the candidate is chosen for and could include tasks related to but not limited to collecting research samples, data entry, and cataloging samples. Most positions will require most of the work to be performed outdoors in Biglerville, PA and surrounding areas. Applications will be received on an ongoing basis. Applying to this job posting will result in your application being considered for all departments but we welcome you to provide us your area of interest. Hiring departments include:                

Ag-Bio Engineering:

Department focuses on agricultural machinery and robotics and sensing based precision agriculture technologies and applications (mainly for tree fruit orchards). The research tasks mainly include laboratory and field data collection with ground robotic systems and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), data processing and analysis.

Entomology:

Department performs field and laboratory-based activities including sample collection and evaluation, colony rearing, and data analysis for the purpose of evaluating new options in monitoring and management of various insect pests.                                     

Plant Pathology:

Department work focuses on a mix of field and lab work to study the most important fungal and bacterial diseases affecting tree fruit in Pennsylvania. In the field, we evaluate the efficacy of conventional and organic disease management programs in research apple and peach orchards. In the lab, we isolate fungi and bacteria from infected fruit and plant tissues to study further using microbiological and molecular tools (such as, aseptic technique, single spore isolation, microscopy, DNA isolation, PCR, fungicide resistance assays, in vivo assays).

Plant Sciences:

Department focuses on horticulture production research for the purpose of exemplifying best practices. Research tasks include collecting research samples, evaluating research samples, grading fruit and other tasks required to meet research goals.

This job requires that you operate a motor vehicle as a part of your job duties. A valid US driver's license and successful completion of a motor vehicle records check will be required in addition to standard background checks.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability in all of its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusion that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity in society and nature, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusion as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS: