Laboratory and Research Specialist II

Job Description

This position is located at the Alson H. Smith Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension Center, in Winchester, Virginia. Position requires knowledge of a wide range of field operation and somelaboratory analytical methods to support viticulture and grapepathology programs. Primary responsibilities include providing technical support for viticulture and grape pathology research andextension programs. Specific duties may include, but are not limited to, seasonal maintenance such as dormant pruning, summergrowth management, crop load management and pest, disease, and weedmanagement of grapevines.

Responsibilities may also extend to otherfaculty labs, including, enology, entomology, horticulture, andtree fruit pathology crops related to ongoing projects. Additional duties include selecting experimental units, establishing fieldplots, initiating experiments, applying registered and experimentalpesticides and growth regulators, collecting, recording,tabulating, and analyzing data, and compiling MS Word and Excelfiles. Some work will be done at remote locations. The employee will be responsible to coordinate labor, time, and tasks with supervisors, students, and other staff members to meet the needs oftime-sensitive tasks such as, canopy management, treatmentapplications, and data collection for experiments.

The employee will occasionally assist with other disciplines’ projects and contribute to Center maintenance. The employee will supervise wageemployees in the above tasks or work in tandem with wage employees,other classified staff, and graduate students in a team environment.

Virginia Tech is unable to sponsor applicants for work visas forthis vacancy.

BS/BA degree in horticulture, plant science, or a related sciencefield, or practical training and experience in fruit production ora similar horticultural field. Familiarity with common viticulturalfield and laboratory techniques, knowledge of the safe use of laboratory and field equipment, and a valid motor vehicleoperator's license. Require pesticide certification as a registeredtechnician or commercial applicator and Category 10 completed within 6 months of hiring.

Competency with or willing to learn farm machinery, including safe operation of up to 75hp tractors,airblast sprayers, pesticide application, and brush chopper/mowers.

Safe driving and acceptable conviction checks are required of the successful candidate. Verbal and writing skills, which enablecompetent communication, reporting, and supervision to foster aprofessional and academic atmosphere. Demonstrated ability tomanage and supervise oneself, other staff, and physical resources,especially in vineyards or field research settings. Demonstratedability to work independently. Commercial pesticide applicatortraining and certification, as well as additional safety training,will be required within the first year of employment.

Must bewilling, on occasion, to work on weekends or beyond regular workhours.

Have a VA commercial pesticide license and obtain Cat. 10 within 6months of hire. Working knowledge of and hands-on experience withapple, peach, cherry, grape, and other fruit and ornamental cropproduction practices from the relevant growing regions, including the underlying principles of dormant pruning, nutrition, canopymanagement goals (summer pruning), crop load management techniques,and effective pest, disease, and weed management. Experience with plant physiology measurements (e.g., water potential, canopydensity, yield estimation, and harvest parameter) and familiarity with field research settings.

Minimum computer competency includesfamiliarity with the PC/Windows operating system and the MS Office suite (Word and Excel), as well as entering experimental data,documenting trial progress, and presenting basic summary statistics in tabular form. Willingness to learn and adopt new technologies and skills for research and daily task management. MS degree inhorticulture or a related plant science field (or 2 years related field/lab experience). Experience with common laboratory equipment,such as electronic scales, pH meters, and pipets, and safe…