OPS Biological Sciences Technician; Plant Pathology

OPS Biological Sciences Technician (Plant Pathology)

Job No: 540426 |
Work Type: Part Time |
Location: St. Lucie |
Categories: Biology/Life Science, Grant or Research Administration |
Department:  - AG-GCREC-PLANT PATHOLOGY

Located in UF / Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County. We have a part-time position for a qualified individual to assist with support activities for research staff conducting experiments related to insect-transmitted viruses and other diseases, and associated field and laboratory experiments. This OPS technician will support plant pathology research projects targeting vegetable systems and other regional crops. The role focuses on monitoring insect disease vectors, processing field samples, evaluating plant disease severity, and maintaining research plots, including planting and establishment onward.

• Vector Monitoring and Insect Scouting:
  Conduct field insect population surveys across diverse vegetable crops, inspect host plants, collect data from sticky traps, perform accurate counts and digitally log vector population levels.
• Vegetable Plot Maintenance, Planting, and Cultivation:
  Establish and help maintain experimental vegetable plots, plant seeds, transplant seedlings, perform hand‑weeding, apply fertilizer, and install row covers or stakes.
• Disease Evaluation & Field Sample Processing:
  Organize botanical, soil, or insect samples at field sites, screen diverse crops for visual disease symptoms, and log sample data and metadata onto physical sheets or mobile field applications.
• Regional Travel & Collaborative Sampling:
  Participate in occasional day trips to external research locations or commercial fields to collect collaborative data sets and monitor regional disease outbreaks.

Part‑time, 3 days per week (typically 24 hours per week). Core field hours generally run 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM to account for heat mitigation. Specific days of the week determined upon hire.

• Comfortable executing field data collection and tool sanitation protocols without constant direct oversight.
• Comfortable working outdoors in Florida.

Preferred:
Ability to work a part‑time schedule and experience with plant pathology field work.

$21.00 per hour

15 July 2026

The University of Florida is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Hiring is contingent on eligibility to work in the U.S.