Agricultural Technician

-We are looking for a wage personnel at Virginia Tech’s AHS Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension Center, located in Winchester, Virginia. Join the dynamic horticulture research team at Virginia Tech's AHS Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension Center as a wage personnel Agricultural Technician. This role is crucial in supporting groundbreaking research through hands-on field and laboratory work, focusing on the development and management of fruit-tree research plots.
Key Responsibilities:

- Manage and oversee fruit-tree research plots.
- Engage in rigorous fieldwork including flagging trees, counting flowers and fruits, and harvesting.
- Analyze fruits for physical and chemical characteristics, and document findings in Excel.
- Prepare plant tissues for molecular and biochemical analysis, including sample grinding with liquid nitrogen.
- Assist in a broad range of field and lab experiments.
- Ensure accurate and efficient data management, maintaining comprehensive records of all experimental activities.
- Collaborate with graduate students, field technicians, and other personnel on research initiatives.

This position will not exceed 1,500 hours within the payment year.

**Required Qualifications**
- Direct or related experience in plant science or biology as a wage personnel or similar capacity.
- A valid driver's license and access to personal transportation

**Preferred Qualifications**
- Bachelor’s degree in plant biology or related field; practical experience in orchard and laboratory work is ideal.
- Experience in data management and supervision.

**Pay Band**

2

**Appointment Type**

Restricted

**Salary Information**

$15.00 - $17.00 per hour; commensurate with experience.

**Review Date**

May 27, 2024

**Additional Information**

Applicants are required to provide a CV.

**About Virginia Tech**

Dedicated to its motto, _Ut Prosim_ (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Each agency within the Commonwealth of Virginia is dedicated to recruiting, supporting, and maintaining a competent and diverse work force. **Equal Opportunity Employer