Full Time Temporary Position
Title: Student Research Assistant
Date Posted: April 27, 2015
Dates of Employment: June 12 to August 31, 2015
Salary: $12.00/hour, benefits not available
Hours: 40 hours/week. Work schedule flexible with project needs.
Location: Washington State University, Puyallup Research and Extension Center, 2606 W. Pioneer. Puyallup WA.
Appointment: The appointment for this position will be Technical Assistant I
Line of Responsibility: Reports directly to the project manager, and to the Principal Investigator; assists technical staff in completion of daily experiments, data collection and entry, and maintenance duties.
Project description and goals: Hybrid poplar is a rapidly growing hardwood tree that is being developed as a short rotation crop for cellulosic biofuels feedstock. Resistance to insect herbivory is a desirable but multifactorial trait comprised of an interplay of volatile organic compounds, defensive secondary compounds, nutrients, and plant structural components. We are developing a genotype selection method for hybrid poplar breeders, based on a modelled association of small variations in the near infrared spectrum of leaf tissue with measured preference and consumption of host plants by cottonwood leaf beetle. The desired outcome is to deploy regression models that predict insect herbivory by holistically accounting for all foliar chemical compounds that impact beetle decisions.
General position description and responsibilities: The student assistant will function as a team member, contributing to experiments to measure the behavioral responses of cottonwood leaf beetle adults to naturally occurring volatile compounds emitted by foliage of various hybrid poplar genotypes, as well as measuring the growth performance of beetle larvae reared on those genotypes. The assistant will also participate in maintaining hybrid poplar plants in greenhouse and field settings, and maintaining breeding colonies of leaf beetles.
Primary duties:
* Maintenance of plants in greenhouse and field settings
* Maintenance of cottonwood leaf beetle colony
* Manipulation of beetles and plants in experiments
* Collecting leaf samples for image analysis, dry weight, and NIR spectroscopy
* Collection and entry of experimental data
* Cleaning and preparation of laboratory equipment
Position specific minimum qualifications:
1) Completion of at least one year of undergraduate college education with courses taken in the physical, biological, and chemical sciences.
2) Demonstrated proficiency in the use of personal computers and software for data file management, spreadsheets, and word processing.
3) Ability to work cooperatively, communicating effectively, and also to work independently on assigned projects.
4) Must be able to work outdoors occasionally, walking over uneven terrain, and capable of lifting 50 pounds.
5) Good vision and the ability to focus in-close on small objects and distinguish colors.
6) Must be comfortable with handling beetles.
7) Be able to work flexible hours that may include some evenings, and weekend days traded for work-week days, but no more than 40 hours per week.
8) Possess a valid Washington driver’s license.
Preferred qualifications:
1) Junior or senior level college student with career interests in biology, botany, biochemistry, entomology, forestry, environmental science, or animal behavior.
2) Experience collecting and working with insects
3) Possesses working knowledge of scientific methodology and statistics
Job expectations:
* As a team member, begin work on time and interact with others appropriately.
* Keep accurate and detailed records, enter data as needed, and communicate regularly with the project manager.
* Ability to complete assigned tasks without direct supervision.
* Flexibility and willingness to readily adjust to rapid and unexpected changes in tasks.
* Occasionally operate University motor pool vehicles for travel to field sites for sample collection
Application:
Apply by submitting a brief letter describing your experience and training that support the responsibility and qualifications for the position. Include a resume and two references. Screening applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position has been filled.
Send application materials (email preferred) to Jeffery C. Kallestad, Department of Entomology, Washington State University-Puyallup Research and Extension Center, 2606 W. Pioneer, Puyallup WA 98371. Email: jkallestad@wsu.edu, phone (253)-445-4559
Title: Student Research Assistant
Date Posted: April 27, 2015
Dates of Employment: June 12 to August 31, 2015
Salary: $12.00/hour, benefits not available
Hours: 40 hours/week. Work schedule flexible with project needs.
Location: Washington State University, Puyallup Research and Extension Center, 2606 W. Pioneer. Puyallup WA.
Appointment: The appointment for this position will be Technical Assistant I
Line of Responsibility: Reports directly to the project manager, and to the Principal Investigator; assists technical staff in completion of daily experiments, data collection and entry, and maintenance duties.
Project description and goals: Hybrid poplar is a rapidly growing hardwood tree that is being developed as a short rotation crop for cellulosic biofuels feedstock. Resistance to insect herbivory is a desirable but multifactorial trait comprised of an interplay of volatile organic compounds, defensive secondary compounds, nutrients, and plant structural components. We are developing a genotype selection method for hybrid poplar breeders, based on a modelled association of small variations in the near infrared spectrum of leaf tissue with measured preference and consumption of host plants by cottonwood leaf beetle. The desired outcome is to deploy regression models that predict insect herbivory by holistically accounting for all foliar chemical compounds that impact beetle decisions.
General position description and responsibilities: The student assistant will function as a team member, contributing to experiments to measure the behavioral responses of cottonwood leaf beetle adults to naturally occurring volatile compounds emitted by foliage of various hybrid poplar genotypes, as well as measuring the growth performance of beetle larvae reared on those genotypes. The assistant will also participate in maintaining hybrid poplar plants in greenhouse and field settings, and maintaining breeding colonies of leaf beetles.
Primary duties:
* Maintenance of plants in greenhouse and field settings
* Maintenance of cottonwood leaf beetle colony
* Manipulation of beetles and plants in experiments
* Collecting leaf samples for image analysis, dry weight, and NIR spectroscopy
* Collection and entry of experimental data
* Cleaning and preparation of laboratory equipment
Position specific minimum qualifications:
1) Completion of at least one year of undergraduate college education with courses taken in the physical, biological, and chemical sciences.
2) Demonstrated proficiency in the use of personal computers and software for data file management, spreadsheets, and word processing.
3) Ability to work cooperatively, communicating effectively, and also to work independently on assigned projects.
4) Must be able to work outdoors occasionally, walking over uneven terrain, and capable of lifting 50 pounds.
5) Good vision and the ability to focus in-close on small objects and distinguish colors.
6) Must be comfortable with handling beetles.
7) Be able to work flexible hours that may include some evenings, and weekend days traded for work-week days, but no more than 40 hours per week.
8) Possess a valid Washington driver’s license.
Preferred qualifications:
1) Junior or senior level college student with career interests in biology, botany, biochemistry, entomology, forestry, environmental science, or animal behavior.
2) Experience collecting and working with insects
3) Possesses working knowledge of scientific methodology and statistics
Job expectations:
* As a team member, begin work on time and interact with others appropriately.
* Keep accurate and detailed records, enter data as needed, and communicate regularly with the project manager.
* Ability to complete assigned tasks without direct supervision.
* Flexibility and willingness to readily adjust to rapid and unexpected changes in tasks.
* Occasionally operate University motor pool vehicles for travel to field sites for sample collection
Application:
Apply by submitting a brief letter describing your experience and training that support the responsibility and qualifications for the position. Include a resume and two references. Screening applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position has been filled.
Send application materials (email preferred) to Jeffery C. Kallestad, Department of Entomology, Washington State University-Puyallup Research and Extension Center, 2606 W. Pioneer, Puyallup WA 98371. Email: jkallestad@wsu.edu, phone (253)-445-4559
