Job Title

Research Assistant

Agency

Texas A&M Agrilife Research

Department

Horticultural Sciences

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Position Overview:

The Research Assistant will be responsible for facilitating, conducting and overseeing research, managing laboratory operations, and ensuring adherence to safety and quality standards.

Qualifications

Required Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Plant Sciences, Horticultural Sciences, Crop Sciences or related discipline.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Plant Sciences, Horticultural Sciences, Crop Sciences or related discipline.

Preferred Experience:

Previous experience in a laboratory setting, particularly in plant biology.

Required Special Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Proficiency in laboratory techniques, equipment maintenance, and safety procedures. Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to oversee multiple projects and manage lab operations efficiently. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with a team of students, researchers and technicians. Ability to multi task and work cooperatively with others.

Job Responsibilities

• 30% Tree crop physiology research: Conduct research on plant biology according to established protocols and quality standards. This includes searching scientific literature to modify existing methods, improving experimental techniques, overseeing experiment execution, and assisting in data review and interpretation.

• 20% Lab Management: Assist in procuring supplies, reagents and managing laboratory teams to ensure efficient and effective lab operations.

• 10% Sample Collection: Cultivate and grow plants in growth chambers, greenhouses, and field settings for research purposes. Secure representative plant samples for analysis.

• 10% Specimen Analysis: Collect and dissect plant specimens. Examine specimens under a microscope to study changes in their anatomical traits.

• 10% Equipment Maintenance: Provide routine maintenance on laboratory equipment, ensuring all equipment is in working condition to maintain the accuracy and quality of experimental results.

• 10% Consultation and Problem-Solving: Work with researchers and students to conduct appropriate plant analyses, troubleshoot issues, and recommend solutions.

• 5% Safety and Compliance: Assist in maintaining laboratory safety programs, managing chemical inventories, and training personnel in laboratory safety techniques.

• 5% Other Duties as assigned

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.