Scientific Assistant

Title:

1161-NN - Scientific Assistant

Business Title:

Scientific Assistant

Location:

Employee Type:

Admin. Professional (+) (Fixed Term)

Job Family:

Administrative Professional - Not OT Eligible

Position Details:

COVID-19 Vaccine Information:

In accordance with Washington State Governor's Proclamation 21.14.2, as a condition of employment, you must be fully vaccinated or have an approved medical/religious accommodation by time of hire. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their last shot in a vaccine series. Full vaccination status or an approved accommodation will be verified prior to your first day of work. Should you not be fully vaccinated or have an approved medical/religious accommodation you will not be able to start employment with WSU. Information regarding vaccine verification and/or requesting a medical/religious accommodation is available at https://hrs.wsu.edu/covid-19/vax-verification/. Please contact HRS at [email protected] or 509-335-4521 if you have questions.

Summary of Duties: This position collaborates with faculty and staff operating the WSU wheat and barley breeding programs, CAHNRS farm manager(s) and staff and the Washington State Crop Improvement Association (WSCIA) to: 1) optimize production conditions in field based research and development plots, 2) conduct field-based research observation to establish and maintain germplasm purity and 3) expand field-based experimental observation/characterization of experimental wheat cultivars/genetic stocks.  This effort is essential to support commercial release of WSU breeding materials, conduct field-based research to assist in establishing intellectual property protection, and contribute to disseminating field-based research information through scholarly publications.  

Job Duties:

50% Seed Production Management :

• Negotiates with Othello farm manager along with relevant faculty in Horticulture, Crop and Soil Sciences and USDA to choose sites for research plots each year.
• Examines Othello field sites across the whole farm to observe irrigation, weed pressure, weed seed production, previous crops and herbicide use to guide decisions on which plot sites are most suitable for spring and winter cereal production. 
• Directs/assists Othello farm management team in land preparation before planting each spring and fall.
• Assists WSCIA in planting and fertilizing germplasm lines each Spring and Fall at Othello and other suitable production sites on grower-cooperators’ farms.
• Identifies weed species emerging after planting and makes decisions on herbicide applications throughout the growing season to control weeds, including timely supervision of rogueing and other weed control methods.  
• Checks plots regularly through the growing season to make sure the farm management team is irrigating appropriately.
• Checks plots and individual accessions for diseases and insect pests and treats accordingly.
• Evaluates production practices and their effects on seed yield and seed quality and adjusts accordingly to maximize seed yield and quality. 
• Records production practices, various inputs and timing, cropping systems and rotation histories and gives regular written reports throughout the season.   
• Keeps abreast of safety and compliance requirements.
• Maintains WA Pesticide Applicator License.

25% Genetic Evaluation of Stocks:

• Evaluates genetic stocks for purity and homozygosity and eliminates lines that deviate from the desired phenotype in consultation with the assigned breeder.  
• Evaluates and records the phenotype of the desired lines for morphological and physiological traits for making release decisions and to obtain the necessary data for variety protection purposes (PVP).  

10% Seed Cleaning and Preparation for Planting:

• Assists WSCIA and WSU in breeder through Foundation seed harvest and cleaning
• Assists in seed preparation for planting, especially when timing between harvest and planting is a short duration

10% Supervision:

• Assigns work to temporary employees and farm staff and work with them to coordinate work tasks.
• Advises and instructs employees on safety issues in the workplace and the safe use of all equipment used

5% Other:

• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate related scientific or engineering discipline and three (3) years of progressively responsible related professional research experience. Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis. A Master’s degree in an appropriate related scientific or engineering discipline may be substituted for up to one year of the required work experience.

Additional Requirements:

• WA Pesticide Applicator License.
• Must have, or able to obtain, a valid driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in working with a plant breeding program. 
• A basic understanding of genetics. 
• Experience in cereal production.
• An understanding of the cereal industry in the Pacific Northwest and the different classes of cereal varieties. 

Additional Information:

Area/College:

College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences

Department Name:

Crop and Soil Sciences

Department Link:

css.wsu.edu

City, State, Zip:

Pullman, WA 99164-6420
Monthly Salary:

Commensurate with Qualifications and Experience

FTE:

100%

Position Type:

Temporary

Temporary End Date:

This is a temporary position expected to end 12 months after date of hire. Renewal is dependent on the need for extension and/or if additional funding is secured to extend employment.

Posting Close Date:

Applicants must submit their completed application by December 13, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.

Background Check:

This position has been designated by the department to require a background check.
 

Application Instructions:

Applicants must attach the following documents to their online application: 1) resume and 2) cover letter. Applicants are required to include contact information professional references within the application. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements.

Required Documents:

1) Resume

2) Cover Letter

Time Type:

Full time

Position Term:

12 Month

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EDUCATOR AND EMPLOYER. Members of ethnic minorities, women, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam-era, recently separated veterans, and other protected veteran, persons of disability and/or persons age 40 and over are encouraged to apply.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or [email protected] .

Title:

1161-NN - Scientific Assistant

Business Title:

Scientific Assistant

Location:

Employee Type:

Admin. Professional (+) (Fixed Term)

Job Family:

Administrative Professional - Not OT Eligible

Position Details:

COVID-19 Vaccine Information:

In accordance with Washington State Governor's Proclamation 21.14.2, as a condition of employment, you must be fully vaccinated or have an approved medical/religious accommodation by time of hire. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their last shot in a vaccine series. Full vaccination status or an approved accommodation will be verified prior to your first day of work. Should you not be fully vaccinated or have an approved medical/religious accommodation you will not be able to start employment with WSU. Information regarding vaccine verification and/or requesting a medical/religious accommodation is available at https://hrs.wsu.edu/covid-19/vax-verification/. Please contact HRS at [email protected] or 509-335-4521 if you have questions.

Summary of Duties: This position collaborates with faculty and staff operating the WSU wheat and barley breeding programs, CAHNRS farm manager(s) and staff and the Washington State Crop Improvement Association (WSCIA) to: 1) optimize production conditions in field based research and development plots, 2) conduct field-based research observation to establish and maintain germplasm purity and 3) expand field-based experimental observation/characterization of experimental wheat cultivars/genetic stocks.  This effort is essential to support commercial release of WSU breeding materials, conduct field-based research to assist in establishing intellectual property protection, and contribute to disseminating field-based research information through scholarly publications.  

Job Duties:

50% Seed Production Management :

• Negotiates with Othello farm manager along with relevant faculty in Horticulture, Crop and Soil Sciences and USDA to choose sites for research plots each year.
• Examines Othello field sites across the whole farm to observe irrigation, weed pressure, weed seed production, previous crops and herbicide use to guide decisions on which plot sites are most suitable for spring and winter cereal production. 
• Directs/assists Othello farm management team in land preparation before planting each spring and fall.
• Assists WSCIA in planting and fertilizing germplasm lines each Spring and Fall at Othello and other suitable production sites on grower-cooperators’ farms.
• Identifies weed species emerging after planting and makes decisions on herbicide applications throughout the growing season to control weeds, including timely supervision of rogueing and other weed control methods.  
• Checks plots regularly through the growing season to make sure the farm management team is irrigating appropriately.
• Checks plots and individual accessions for diseases and insect pests and treats accordingly.
• Evaluates production practices and their effects on seed yield and seed quality and adjusts accordingly to maximize seed yield and quality. 
• Records production practices, various inputs and timing, cropping systems and rotation histories and gives regular written reports throughout the season.   
• Keeps abreast of safety and compliance requirements.
• Maintains WA Pesticide Applicator License.

25% Genetic Evaluation of Stocks:

• Evaluates genetic stocks for purity and homozygosity and eliminates lines that deviate from the desired phenotype in consultation with the assigned breeder.  
• Evaluates and records the phenotype of the desired lines for morphological and physiological traits for making release decisions and to obtain the necessary data for variety protection purposes (PVP).  

10% Seed Cleaning and Preparation for Planting:

• Assists WSCIA and WSU in breeder through Foundation seed harvest and cleaning
• Assists in seed preparation for planting, especially when timing between harvest and planting is a short duration

10% Supervision:

• Assigns work to temporary employees and farm staff and work with them to coordinate work tasks.
• Advises and instructs employees on safety issues in the workplace and the safe use of all equipment used

5% Other:

• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate related scientific or engineering discipline and three (3) years of progressively responsible related professional research experience. Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis. A Master’s degree in an appropriate related scientific or engineering discipline may be substituted for up to one year of the required work experience.

Additional Requirements:

• WA Pesticide Applicator License.
• Must have, or able to obtain, a valid driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in working with a plant breeding program. 
• A basic understanding of genetics. 
• Experience in cereal production.
• An understanding of the cereal industry in the Pacific Northwest and the different classes of cereal varieties. 

Additional Information:

Area/College:

College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences

Department Name:

Crop and Soil Sciences

Department Link:

css.wsu.edu

City, State, Zip:

Pullman, WA 99164-6420
Monthly Salary:

Commensurate with Qualifications and Experience

FTE:

100%

Position Type:

Temporary

Temporary End Date:

This is a temporary position expected to end 12 months after date of hire. Renewal is dependent on the need for extension and/or if additional funding is secured to extend employment.

Posting Close Date:

Applicants must submit their completed application by December 13, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.

Background Check:

This position has been designated by the department to require a background check.
 

Application Instructions:

Applicants must attach the following documents to their online application: 1) resume and 2) cover letter. Applicants are required to include contact information professional references within the application. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements.

Required Documents:

1) Resume

2) Cover Letter

Time Type:

Full time

Position Term:

12 Month

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EDUCATOR AND EMPLOYER. Members of ethnic minorities, women, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam-era, recently separated veterans, and other protected veteran, persons of disability and/or persons age 40 and over are encouraged to apply.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or [email protected] .