Part-Time E-Waste Research Assistant

The Pennsylvania State University; State College (Centre County); On-site; USD 24,797,000 - 28,930,000; Part time

Job summary

The Pennsylvania State University’s Energy Institute in State College, PA is seeking a part-time Research Assistant to support electronic waste processing and metal recovery experiments. Duties include dismantling and sorting electronics, preparing samples, and recording data for project documentation.

Ideal candidates are undergraduate students in engineering or science, with no required prior experience and the ability to continue through December 2026, contingent on performance.

Qualifications

• No prior experience required.
• Undergraduate students in engineering or science disciplines are encouraged to apply.
• Prior hands-on or research experience is preferred.
• Preference will be given to candidates who can continue working on the project through December 2026, contingent on satisfactory performance

Responsibilities

• Assist with dismantling and sorting electronic waste (e.g., PCBs, HDDs, solar panels)
• Support laboratory experiments related to metal recovery and separation
• Prepare samples and assist with basic material characterization
• Work with mechanical processing equipment (e.g., shredding, separation) and chemical processes
• Record data and assist with research documentation

Education

Undergraduate student in engineering or science

Job description

The Pennsylvania State University’s Energy Institute in State College, PA is seeking a part-time Research Assistant to support electronic waste processing and metal recovery experiments. Duties include dismantling and sorting electronics, preparing samples, and recording data for project documentation.

Ideal candidates are undergraduate students in engineering or science, with no required prior experience and the ability to continue through December 2026, contingent on performance.