Job Information
Washington State University Scientific Assistant OR Scientific Assistant Senior in Pullman, Washington
Scientific Assistant OR Scientific Assistant Senior
Online applications must be received before 12:00am on:
October 2, 2024
If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.
Available Title(s):
1160-YNADMINPRO - Scientific Assistant Senior, 1161-YNADMINPRO - Scientific Assistant
Business Title:
Scientific Assistant OR Scientific Assistant Senior
Employee Type:
Admin. Professional (+) (Fixed Term)
Position Details:
The Opportunity:
Come join one of the most impactful dryland agriculture Extension programs in the Pacific Northwest! The Washington State University Extension Cereal Variety Testing Program disseminates science based, unbiased data on wheat and barley variety performance to dryland growers throughout Eastern Washington. Data from this program is highly utilized by the small grains industry and helps to generate approximately $178 million in additional revenue for small grains growers annually. The program operates out of Pullman, WA and works closely with growers and other research programs within WSU, USDA-ARS, and other land-grant universities in the inland PNW to generate yield comparisons and other additional varietal comparisons. The program is looking for a highly motivated individual to serve in a technical role to manage these trials to produce timely, reliable data for stakeholders.
Summary of Duties:
The Scientific Assistant OR Scientific Assistant Senior position is responsible for conducting field evaluations of varieties of hard red and soft white winter wheat, hard red and soft white spring wheat, and spring barley in eastern Washington as part of an extension program providing variety performance information for Washington small grain growers. Annually about 80 field trials will be conducted and agronomic performance data will be collected, analyzed, summarized, and published in collaboration with project workers, other variety development persons at WSU, other universities, and the private sector. This position will train and manage the work schedules for other support personnel to support essential activities and maintain equipment and supplies while facilitating efficient operations.
Job Duties:
Experiment Management | 60%
Conduct and manage the developing, planning, execution of work, and identification of needs for new techniques and procedures for all field work needed to successfully conduct cereal cultivar performance evaluations of experimental and commercial cereal cultivars. Design and interpret cereal cultivar performance evaluation experiments conducted across eastern Washington. Process all grain samples for yield, test weight, protein values, and plump/thin for barley. Subsamples are also provided for end-use quality analysis and Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) market class designations. Design and setup of post-harvest cereal processing operations and protocols. Conduct electronic data collection and reporting. Calibrate, maintain, and repair scientific measurement, field experiment, and sampling equipment. Develop work schedules and supervise staff in field plot work, data collection, and grain processing to support research projects. Confer with public and private cereal scientists in collaboration with the cereal variety evaluation project. Use, develop, and improve experimental methodology for equipment, facilities, and space with available resources. Conduct literature research for information about new experimental techniques and equipment. (Essential for project) Perform related experiment duties as required