Undergraduate Research Assistant — Plant Pathology Lab

Penn State University; United States; On-site; USD 17,000 - 24,000; Part time

Job summary

Penn State University is seeking two part-time Undergraduate Research Assistants for the Global Change Pathology Laboratory in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology. The role supports research on plant-associated and plant-pathogenic bacteria, with duties ranging from media prep to inoculations and data organization.

Training will cover lab safety, aseptic technique, bacterial culture, plant pathology methods, and basic experiments.

Qualifications

• The successful candidates should be dependable, organized, attentive to detail, and willing to learn laboratory techniques.
• Previous laboratory or research experience is preferred but not required.
• Candidates must be able to follow written protocols and maintain accurate records.

Responsibilities

• Prepare microbiological media and materials for experiments.
• Bacterial culturing and maintenance, inoculum preparation.
• Plant inoculations and disease assessment in growth chambers.
• Conduct basic molecular biology procedures as trained.
• Organize experimental samples and data for analysis.
• Work with graduate researchers and follow safety procedures.
• Learn plant pathology methods and laboratory techniques.
• Communicate effectively with the research team.

Skills

Dependable

Organized

Attention to detail

Willing to learn

Education

Undergraduate student

Job description

Penn State University is seeking two part-time Undergraduate Research Assistants for the Global Change Pathology Laboratory in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology. The role supports research on plant-associated and plant-pathogenic bacteria, with duties ranging from media prep to inoculations and data organization.

Training will cover lab safety, aseptic technique, bacterial culture, plant pathology methods, and basic experiments.