Hop Farm Field Assistant

Oregon State University, United States

Updated: 9 days ago
Location: Corvallis, OREGON
Deadline: 17 May 2024

Position Details
Position Information


Job Title Hop Farm Field Assistant
Appointment Type Student Employee
Job Location Corvallis
Position Appointment Percent 100
Appointment Basis 12
Pay Method Hourly
Pay Period 16th - 15th of the following month
Pay Date Last working day of the month
Remote or Hybrid option?
Min Hourly Rate $14.20 (Standard); $13.20 (Non-Urban); $15.45 (Portland Metro)
Max Hourly Rate $21.00 (Standard); $18.50 (Non-Urban); $21.50 (Portland Metro)
Position Summary
This recruitment will be used to fill two Student Technical Assistant position in the Department of Crop and Soil Science at Oregon State University (OSU). This position will be between 8-20 hrs a week during the September – June academic year (a maximum of 20 hours per week during the academic term) and between 30-40 hours per week during the summer term.
The student position will assist the USDA-ARS Hop Breeding and Genetics program with field and greenhouse related projects, general farm work, and basic field upkeep. We are looking for a student interested in agricultural practices, plant breeding, or similar field of study. This student will also participate in the process of evaluating and developing of new hop varieties for the craft brewing industry.
Position Duties
80% Farm and Field Operations
  • Primary duties include general field and plot maintenance, such as planting new nurseries, transplanting, propagation, fertilizing, irrigating, weeding (hand and mechanical), mowing, cultivating and other basic farm and plant upkeep tasks.
  • Students will also help with performing hop crosses, evaluating nurseries for disease, collecting plant tissue, and assisting with other various tasks necessary to support the direction of the research facility.
  • Other duties consist of general farm labor, such as organizing, cleaning, assisting with building simple products/equipment/structures, and washing equipment and machinery.


Harvest Season:
  • Summer work consists of assessing and collecting experimental hops for harvest, operating hop picker machinery, discarding plant waste, collecting and weighing cones, gathering aroma and phenotypic data, loading samples in/out of dryers, baling, vacuum sealing cone samples, and aiding in sensory analyses of experimental hop samples.

10% Greenhouse Operations
  • Duties include propagating, planting and transplanting, fertilizing, trimming, labeling, maintaining inventory, and reporting observations of disease and pests to supervisor.

10% Data Collection and Data Entry
  • Assists in sampling plots, collecting and recording data, taking inventory, and inputting data into spreadsheets.
Minimum Qualifications
Full Employment Eligibility Requirements can be found here: http://fa.oregonstate.edu/stu-manual/500-employment-eligibility-requirements

  • Must be academically enrolled in a high school, community college, or university and pursuing a program or course of study
  • Must meet Academic Standing Requirements; students on academic suspension are not eligible for employment
  • Must meet the applicable minimal enrollment standard
    • High School student: Regularly enrolled in a high school or participating in a home-schooling program
    • Undergraduate and post-baccalaureate student: 6 credit hours per term
    • Undergraduate international student: 12 credit hours per term*
    • Graduate student officially admitted to Graduate School: 5 credit hours per term
    • Graduate international student officially admitted to Graduate School: 9 credit hours per term*


*International students may be allowed to carry fewer hours than specified above and still be considered “full-time” by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). A reduced course load is approved by the Office of International Services (OIS), and must be provided to the Student Employment Center.
Additional Required Qualifications
  • Ability to lift 40 lbs, bend, squat, be on feet for multiple hours in the field.
  • Attention to detail, good observation and communication skills are necessary.
  • Some travel to off-station research plots is required.


This position requires driving a University vehicle or a personal vehicle on behalf of the University; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a Motor Vehicle History Check, possess and maintain a current, valid driver’s license in their state of residence, be determined to be position qualified and self-report convictions (as per Voluntary and Compulsory Driver Standards OSU Standard 125-155-0200) as per OSU Standard 576-056-0000 et seq. Offers of employment are contingent upon meeting all minimum qualifications including the Motor Vehicle Check Requirement.
Preferred (Special) Qualifications
  • Background in agricultural or biological science discipline preferred but not required.
  • Field work experience a plus.
  • Strong work ethic and ability to work as a team in the great outdoors!
Working Conditions / Work Schedule

Posting Detail Information


Posting Number P10911SE
Number of Vacancies 2
Anticipated Appointment Begin Date 04/29/2024
Anticipated Appointment End Date
Posting Date 04/02/2024
Full Consideration Date
Closing Date 05/17/2024
Indicate how you intend to recruit for this search Competitive / Student - open to ALL qualified/eligible students
Special Instructions to Applicants
When applying you will be required to attach the following electronic documents:
1. A Resume/Vita
2. A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position
For additional information please contact: Jolene Bunce at [email protected].

OSU commits to inclusive excellence by advancing equity and diversity in all that we do. We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.
This position requires driving a University vehicle or a personal vehicle on behalf of the University; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a Motor Vehicle History Check, possess and maintain a current, valid driver’s license in their state of residence, be determined to be position qualified and self-report convictions (as per Voluntary and Compulsory Driver Standards OSU Standard 125-155-0200) as per OSU Standard 576-056-0000 et seq.
OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public website prior to hire.
Note: All job offers are contingent upon Human Resources final approval.

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