Part-Time Laboratory Technician

The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Part time

Job summary

The Pennsylvania State University’s Hockett Laboratory is seeking a part-time Undergraduate Laboratory Technician to support research on plant-associated microbial communities and disease suppression.

You will assist with routine lab maintenance, media preparation, waste decontamination, glassware washing, greenhouse work, data entry, and support for graduate students and researchers. Training will be provided; prior lab experience is beneficial but not required.

Qualifications

• Must be an undergraduate student and able to commit part-time hours.
• Detail-oriented with ability to follow protocols carefully.
• Reliable and capable of working independently or in a team.
• Willingness to perform routine lab maintenance tasks.
• Training provided; prior lab experience beneficial but not required.

Responsibilities

• Assist with routine lab maintenance and organization.
• Decontaminate biological waste and prepare media and reagents.
• Wash laboratory glassware and equipment; clean greenhouse pots and soil.
• Support graduate students and researchers with ongoing projects.
• Data entry and general lab tasks as needed.

Skills

Detail-oriented

Reliable

Follow protocols

Independent work

Teamwork

Organizational skills

Technical aptitude

Job description

**JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS**The Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology seeks a part-time Undergraduate Laboratory Technician to support research activities in the Hockett Laboratory. The Hockett Lab studies plant-associated microbial communities and their roles in disease suppression, plant health, and sustainable agriculture.The individual will assist with routine laboratory maintenance and organization, including decontaminating biological waste, preparing microbiological media and reagents, washing laboratory glassware and equipment, cleaning greenhouse pots and soil, maintaining laboratory supplies, and helping to ensure a safe and efficient research environment. In addition, the technician will support graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and research technicians with ongoing research projects investigating disease-suppressive microbial communities associated with plants. Research assistance may include sample processing, basic microbiological techniques, data entry, greenhouse work, and other laboratory tasks, as needed.The successful candidate must possess the technical aptitude and organizational skills required for maintaining a productive laboratory environment. Applicants should be detail-oriented, reliable, able to follow protocols carefully, and capable of working both independently and as part of a research team. Prior laboratory experience is beneficial but not required, as training will be provided.This position provides an excellent opportunity for students interested in gaining hands-on experience in microbiology, plant-microbe interactions, and agricultural research while contributing to projects aimed at understanding and harnessing beneficial microbial communities to improve plant health.Preferred Qualifications:* Interest in microbiology, plant pathology, ecology, or related disciplines* Ability to maintain accurate records and follow laboratory protocols* Strong attention to detail and organizational skills* Ability to lift and move laboratory and greenhouse materials as needed* Willingness to perform routine laboratory maintenance tasksHours: Flexible, part-time (typically ~6-10 hours per week during the academic year, depending on availability and laboratory needs).Location: Hockett Lab, Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park.