Student Researcher - Pest Management

Oregon State University, United States

Updated: 3 days ago
Location: Corvallis, OREGON
Deadline: 28 Jun 2024

Position Details
Position Information


Job Title Student Researcher - Pest Management
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 three Student Research opportunities for the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University (OSU).
Be part of a research team developing sustainable pest management.
  • Spotted-wing drosophila (SWD) is eating blueberries and cherries. We are releasing parasitic wasps at multiple farms, testing pathogenic nematodes and sterile male SWD to control SWD.
  • We are surveying plant habitats that benefit pollinators on farms, and checking which predators and parasitic wasps (good bugs) and pests are on these plants.
  • Brown marmorated stink bug eats many crops, and we work with a parasitic wasp that attacks the pest’s eggs for biological control.


Additional information, see publications at: http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jana_Lee/publications
Position Duties
30% – Conduct experiments in the lab and field which includes collecting live or dead insect and plant samples in the field
30% – Sorting insects and plant material in the laboratory, and frequent use of a microscope
25% - Assist with rearing of insect colonies and plant care
10% - Maintain laboratory, greenhouse and field areas by organizing, cleaning, watering and weeding
5% - Enter data into spreadsheets and labelling (5%).  
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
  • Drivers license
  • 16 years or older
  • Walk 2 miles, lift/carry 40 lbs., kneel or squat for ground experiments, work at microscope for ~4 h/d.  
  • Ability to focus on repetitive tasks. 
  • Work will be done in USDA Federal building, and fingerprinting and background check will be 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.
Preferred (Special) Qualifications
Working Conditions / Work Schedule

Posting Detail Information


Posting Number P10805SE
Number of Vacancies 3
Anticipated Appointment Begin Date 05/31/2024
Anticipated Appointment End Date 09/02/2024
Posting Date 03/01/2024
Full Consideration Date
Closing Date 06/28/2024
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 brief cover letter describing your interests, start and end dates, planned vacation time, and whether you want full/part-time or part-time in school year and full-time in summer
For additional information please contact: Dalila Rendon at [email protected] or Jana Lee 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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