Agricultural Technician

Job Description

We are looking for wage personnel at Plant Pathology Lab 513 Latham Hall on main Virginia Tech campus. Join the dynamic fruit tree pathology research team at Virginia Tech as a wage Agricultural Technician. This position role is critical in supporting high end research in plant pathology through hands-on greenhouse field and laboratory work focusing on plant disease diagnostics plant pathogen characterization and plant disease management in greenhouse setting.
Key Responsibilities: Conduct work in the laboratory and manage oversee and collect data in greenhouse research setting collect plant disease samples in the field.
Engage in field and greenhouse work including traveling to apple orchards collecting disease samples ordering trees planting fertilizing and irrigating trees flagging treatments applying pesticide treatments in greenhouse counting diseased and healthy leaves shoots flowers and fruit and measuring disease severity conducting sample collection and processing creating plant pathogen inoculum and deploying it in the greenhouse.
Analyze infected plant organs collect raw data for each disease create document findings in Excel and Word files.
Collect and prepare plant tissues for plant pathogen identification or detection analyses conduct plant pathogen isolation and culturing maintain plant pathogen collection run fungicide efficacy assays in the lab including sample grinding with Geno grinder and analysis with microtome microscope and camera.
Assist in a broad range of greenhouse and lab experiments.
Ensure accurate and efficient data management maintaining comprehensive records of all experimental activities in lab notebook (date greenhouse bay cultivar/s) online and in print.
Assist and collaborate with graduate students postdocs and other lab personnel on their research tasks. This position will not exceed 1500 hours within the payment year.

Required Qualifications

Direct or related experience in running and organizing various laboratory and greenhouse tasks for manipulating microorganisms and plant management related to plant sciences or biology as a wage personnel or similar capacity; Computer literacy particularly with MS Word Excel email and internet applications; Valid drivers license and access to personal transportation. Driving state vehicles is expected.

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelors degree in plant sciences biology horticulture microbiology or related field; Practical experience in greenhouse and laboratory work is ideal; Experience in data management and supervision.

Pay Band

2

Overtime Status

Non-Exempt: Eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Restricted

Salary Information

15.00 - 17.00/hr. (commensurate with experience)

Hours per week

Avg. of 29 hours per week (not to exceed 1500 hours May 1 - April 30)

Review Date

05/03/2026

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its mottoUt 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 aninclusive communitydedicated to knowledge discovery and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36000 undergraduate graduate and professional students in eightundergraduate colleges aschool of medicine aveterinary medicinecollegeGraduate School andHonors College.The university has a significant presence across Virginia including Blacksburg the greater Washington D.C. area the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke sites in Newport News and Richmond and numerousExtension officesandresearch institutes.A leading global research institution Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

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