MSU Dept of Plant, Soil & Microbial Sciences Hausbeck Lab

Hiring Organization: MSU Dept of Plant, Soil & Microbial Sciences Hausbeck Lab
Employment type: Seasonal
Job Location: East Lansing, MI
Application Due Date: May 30, 2022

Undergraduate Research Assistant

The Hausbeck Lab is seeking undergraduate students to assist with field and greenhouse research on vegetables and ornamentals

Start Date: May 2022 after final exams

End Date: September 2022 with the possibility of extending into the fall

Type: Full time (40 hours/week) Monday through Friday with the possibility of longer hours as projects require. Do not apply if you are taking summer classes during this period.

Job Description: The Hausbeck lab focuses on the study of plant diseases of vegetable crops, greenhouse transplants and ornamentals. The goals of the lab include the development of integrated pest management strategies and the understanding of pathogen etiology and epidemiology.

Field Program: Each undergraduate student will partner with a graduate student to assist with field research. They will have the opportunity to follow the process of field research from start to finish. Activities will include assisting with set-up and planting of trials as well as in-season maintenance such as weeding. This will include both mechanical and hand weeding. Students will also have the opportunity to assist a graduate student with the spraying of fungicide trials. For this purpose, a Commercial Pesticide Applicator’s License (or the desire to acquire one) is required. At the conclusion of each trial, assistance with harvest may be needed.

While this position will focus on the activities described above, there is potential for overlap of responsibilities with other lab/greenhouse activities or for positions to migrate focus throughout the season as projects require. The position is based on MSU campus in East Lansing, MI but work will also take place at the Michigan State University Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center in Benton Harbor, MI and at various locations throughout the state with grower collaborators. Transportation will be provided to sites of field research off campus.

Qualifications: The ability to show up to work consistently and work outside in a variety of conditions while having a good work ethic. Applicants don’t need previous research experience but attention to detail is important. As stated above, a Commercial Pesticide Applicators License (or the desire to acquire one) is required as well as a valid driver’s license. Additionally, experience driving farm equipment is preferred, mainly for cultivation of field plots.

If you are interested, send Matthew Uebbing an email at uebbingm@msu.edu with a copy of your resume.