Scientific Assistant

　　Available Title(s):

　　1161-YN_ADMINPRO - Scientific Assistant

　　Business Title:

　　Scientific Assistant

　　Employee Type:

　　Admin. Professional (+) (Fixed Term)

　　Time Type:

　　Full time

　　Position Term:

　　12 Month

　　Position Details:

　　The WSU Extension Cereal Variety Testing Program is a keystone Extension program within the WSU System that disseminates science based, unbiased data on wheat and barley variety performance to dryland growers throughout Eastern Washington. The program operates out of Pullman, WA and conducts 42 trial sites across 13 counties and works closely with other programs within WSU, USDA-ARS, and other land-grant universities in the inland PNW to generate additional agronomic and disease resistance ratings for varieties. The program is looking for a highly motivated individual to serve in a technical role and as the lead technician in managing these trials to produce timely, reliable data for stakeholders.

　　Summary of Duties:

　　The Scientific Assistant position is responsible for conducting field evaluations of varieties of hard red and soft white winter wheat, hard red and soft white spring wheat, and barley in eastern Washington as part of an extension program providing variety performance information for Washington small grain growers. Field trials will be conducted annually and agronomic performance data will be collected, analyzed, summarized, and published in collaboration with project workers, other variety development persons at WSU, other universities, and the private sector. This position will train and manage the work schedules for other support personnel to support essential activities and maintain equipment and supplies while facilitating efficient operations.

　　Experiment Management | 60%

　　Conduct and manage the developing, planning, execution of work, and identification of needs for new techniques and procedures for all field work needed to successfully conduct cereal cultivar performance evaluations of experimental and commercial cereal cultivars. Design and interpret cereal cultivar performance evaluation experiments conducted across eastern Washington. Process all grain samples for yield, test weight, protein values, and plump/thin for barley. Subsamples are also provided for end-use quality analysis and Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) market class designations. Design and setup of post-harvest cereal processing operations and protocols. Conduct electronic data collection and reporting. Calibrate, maintain, and repair scientific measurement, field experiment, and sampling equipment. Develop work schedules and supervise staff in field plot work, data collection, and grain processing to support research projects. Confer with public and private cereal scientists in collaboration with the cereal variety evaluation project. Use, develop, and improve experimental methodology for equipment, facilities, and space with available resources. Conduct literature research for information about new experimental techniques and equipment. (Essential for project) Perform related experiment duties as required.

　　Research Assessment | 25%

　　Prepare project experiment design and cultural management publications. Present research results as summarized information at formal and informal events or to individual research scientists and other clientele. Provide input for grant details and budget. Conduct computer collection, input, and statistical analyses of data. Interpret results to assist in determining the direction of the project and research methods used. Attend seminars, technical meetings, extension