OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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The OSU Seed Lab has several employment opportunities that become available throughout the year, including full-time, part-time, temporary and student positions. The lab employs approximately 25 permanent analysts and staff, and during our busy season we hire between 15-30 additional staff.
Please check below for a short description of our current open positions and direct links to the full posting and application. A complete list of OSU job postings can be found on the OSU Employment website, along with additional resources, information about benefits, and information for applicants requiring disability accommodations. If requested, OSU will provide reasonable accommodation to applicants in order to provide access to the application, interview and selection process.
This position is responsible for independently conducting the final analysis of the purity subsample on the most common grass species, tall fescue, ryegrass, orchardgrass, fine fescues, and other less complex species. This involves visually examining the sample, which may have been separated by the entry-level employee, making corrections as needed, recording purity results based on pure seed, other seeds, inert matter, noxious and prohibited weed seeds.
This position is to function as part of a team designated to train new student, temporary and classified employees to conduct the initial separation on the easiest species in preparation for purity or germination testing. This recruitment will be used to fill future full-time Seed Analyst 1 positions at Oregon State University (OSU). (Link: Posting P03417CT)
This position is responsible for independently performing complex purity examinations on all samples submitted for testing. Employee will determine and record purity results based on pure seed, other seeds, inert matter, identify and report noxious and prohibited weed seeds, undesirable weed seeds, sod quality contaminants, or other contaminants based existing seed testing rules, international import requirements and customer requests.
This position functions as part of a team to advance the training of junior analysts on more complex and advanced purity tests. When necessary, this position assists with training of student, temporary and classified employees to conduct the initial separation on the most common species in preparation for purity or germination testing. This recruitment will be used to fill future full-time Seed Analyst 2 positions at Oregon State University (OSU). (Link: Posting P03418CT)
This position provides assistance to the Purity Unit during peak sample season. Employees in this position will prepare samples for senior analysts by separating contaminants from pure seed, as well as occasionally using a mechanical microthresher to separate inert from pure seed. This position also performs purity separation on seeds in preparation for germination and special testing exams.
Returning entry-level analysts, or those whose employment is extended beyond the peak season will be trained to perform more complex examinations and may assist in training other entry level analysts. (Link: Posting 136601)
The Seed Lab is looking to fill up to 25 student assistant positions for Summer and part-time in Fall. This position will assist the purity unit staff by preparing samples using mechanical seed dividers, screening samples for purity analysis, filing samples into storage, weighing sample components, and performing other duties as assigned, including cleaning the sample preparation area. This position requires close attention to detail, the ability to maintain focus in a busy work environment, and flexibility when being asked to work in different areas of the lab as needed. Upon completion of training, some students may be re-assigned to work as assistants for other units in the lab, including germination, special testing, and administration.
Position is full-time (up to 40 hours per week) in the Summer and will continue part-time (up to 20 hours per week) into the Fall term depending on workload. Preference in hiring will be given to those applicants who can work full-time in the Summer, but those available only for part-time are encouraged to apply and will be considered. (Link: Posting 136826)
OSU commits to inclusive excellence by advancing equity and diversity in all that we do. We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.
OSU is committed to the health of our local and global community. All employees and students are required to comply with the university’s COVID-19 Vaccination Program. Please visit https://covid.oregonstate.edu/ for additional information about OSU’s plans for safety and success, as well as options for compliance with the vaccination program.