Work Study Only: Undergraduate Ecology Research Assistant

Oregon State University; Corvallis (OR); On-site; USD 17,000 - 25,000; Part time

Job summary

Oregon State University’s Halliday Lab in Botany and Plant Pathology seeks an undergraduate Ecology Research Assistant to support an ecology literature synthesis and meta-analysis. You will organize and summarize scientific literature on priority effects in host-associated systems, contributing to a broader systematic review and cross-study comparisons.

The role is part-time (up to 24 hours/week) and on-site in Cordley Hall, with start around late September 2026.

Qualifications

• Current undergraduate student in Ecology, Biology, Botany, or a related field.
• Strong reading comprehension of scientific literature.
• Attention to detail and ability to follow research protocols.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.
• Must qualify for federal Work Study funds.

Responsibilities

• Extract and research covariates from selected papers (70%).
• Maintain structured spreadsheets of reviewed studies (15%).
• Participate in periodic meetings with supervisor to discuss progress and challenges (10%).
• Support preparation of figures, tables, or summary documents for reports or manuscripts (5%).

Skills

Reading comprehension

Attention to detail

Time management

Independent working

Work Study eligible

Education

Undergraduate in Ecology/Biology/Botany or related

Tools

Excel

Google Sheets

R

Job description

Department:

Botany and Plant Pathology

Special Instructions to Applicants:

When applying you will be required to attach the following electronic documents:

• Transcripts
• A brief cover letter detailing your experience in any of the qualification of the position and interest in the position (1-3 paragraphs).

For additional information please contact: Bella Stiver at [e-mail]

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability, protected veteran, and other protected status.

OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public website prior to hire.

Note: All job offers are contingent upon Human Resources final approval

Job Description:

This recruitment will be used to fill one Undergraduate Ecology Research Assistant part-time (a maximum of 24 hours per week) approx. 12 hours for the Dept of Botany and Plant Pathology (BPP) at Oregon State University (OSU).

The Halliday Lab in the Botany and Plant Pathology department at Oregon State University is seeking an undergraduate research assistant to support an ecology literature synthesis and meta-analysis. The assistant will help organize and summarize scientific literature related to priority effects in host-associated systems.

This project examines how the order in which organisms colonize a host can influence which species successfully establish and how host-associated communities develop. Using published ecological studies, we are conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis to understand how these "priority effects" shape interactions among microbes, parasites, and other host-symbiont systems. The goal is to synthesize existing evidence to identify general patterns across different host-symbiont systems and ecological contexts.

Position Duties:

• Extract and research covariates from selected papers (70%)
• Maintain structured spreadsheets of reviewed studies (15%)
• Participate in periodic meetings with supervisor to discuss progress and challenges (10%)
• Support preparation of figures, tables, or summary documents for reports or manuscripts (5%)

Transferable Skill Development

OSU is committed to ensuring students are prepared for success after graduation through intentional skill development as student employees. The competencies students develop while working at OSU are defined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) as the essential skills employers seek in their hires. In this position, students learn and build vital career-readiness skills in the primary areas below:

Critical Thinking, Teamwork, Technology, Professionalism

Qualifications:

Full Employment Eligibility Requirements can be found here: https://hr.oregonstate.edu/student-employment-manual/500-employment-eligibility-requirements

• Must be academically enrolled in a high school, community college, or university and pursuing a program or course of study
• Must meet Academic Standing Requirements; students on academic suspension are not eligible for employment
• Must meet the applicable minimal enrollment standard High School student: Regularly enrolled in a high school or participating in a home-schooling program
• Undergraduate and post-baccalaureate student: 6 credit hours per term
• Undergraduate international student: 12 credit hours per term*
• Graduate student officially admitted to Graduate School: 5 credit hours per term
• Graduate international student officially admitted to Graduate School: 9 credit hours per term*

*International students may be allowed to carry fewer hours than specified above and still be considered "full-time" by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). A reduced course load is approved by the Office of International Services (OIS), and must be provided to the Student Employment Center.

Required Qualifications:

• Current undergraduate student in Ecology, Biology, Botany, or a related field
• Strong reading comprehension of scientific literature
• Attention to detail and ability to follow research protocols
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines
• Must qualify for federal Work Study funds

Preferred Qualifications:

• Basic data management or spreadsheet skills (Excel, Google Sheets, or R)
• Coursework in ecology, botany/mycology, parasitology, or plant pathology
• Familiarity with scientific literature databases

Working Conditions/Schedule:

• Work will be done in Cordley Hall.
• Work will be between 6-12 hours a week depending on availability of student and supervisor.
• This position is open to work-study students only.

Anticipated Start Date: 2026-09-30