Part-Time Research Assistant- Fruit Research and Extension Center

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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.

POSITION SPECIFICS

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 2026 through August 2026 (maximum 16 weeks).

Some positions require 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 may be required in addition to standard background checks.

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:

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.

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.

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).

The Tree Fruit Production and Physiologyprogram focuses on apple, peach, and pear orchard management and production to address knowledge gaps and better serve the Pennsylvania tree fruit industry.

This position will assist with a variety of research tasks, including but not limited to:

• Collecting field and laboratory data
• Purchasing and organizing laboratory and field supplies
• Setting up and maintaining laboratory instruments
• Collecting, cataloging, and managing research samples
• Evaluating and grading fruit
• Conducting fruit quality analyses at harvest and during storage
• Entering and organizing data using standard software

The work will be conducted both outdoors and indoors at orchards and research laboratories. A substantial portion of the work will involve outdoor field activities in varying weather conditions.

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EEO IS THE LAW

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