Student Research Assistant - Agricultural Research Institute #688310088

Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises Employment Services

ANNOUNCEMENT OF POSITION VACANCY

SUMMARY: The Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises is currently seeking two student research assistants to join the laboratory of Dr. David Still within the CSU Agricultural Research Institute (ARI). Working alongside lab technicians, postdocs, and research scientists, assistants will support well-established projects aligned with the research objectives of current grants.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WILL GET TO DO (this is just a small sampling of work variety):

• Research Support: Assist in lettuce plant breeding research focused on improving water and nitrogen use efficiency.
• Laboratory Operations: Set up experiments and maintain detailed, accurate laboratory notebooks.
• Fieldwork: Assist with field plot layout, plant and seed harvesting, and seed cleaning.
• Greenhouse Care: Maintain plant health through consistent watering, fertilizing, and proactive disease/insect scouting.
• Data Collection: Assist in the collection and analysis of phenotypic data from mapping populations.
• Genetic Analysis: Support the creation of genetic maps, QTL mapping, and bioinformatic procedures to identify causative genes and develop DNA-based markers for breeding.
• General Support: Perform other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Enrollment: Must be currently enrolled for the Spring 2026 or Fall 2026 semester.
• Core Competencies: No prior experience with plants is required; however, candidates must demonstrate strong critical thinking skills, high attention to detail, and a genuine eagerness to learn.

PREFERRED:

• Academic Standing: A cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher.
• Academic Level: Currently enrolled in graduate school, intending to enroll as a graduate student in Fall 2026, or a recent recipient of a graduate-level degree (MS, PhD).
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Excel, database management, or statistical analysis (R, SAS).
• Programming: Experience with computer programming languages (e.g., Python, Perl) is highly encouraged.

CSU along with Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises strongly recommend faculty, staff, and students who are accessing campus facilities to be immunized against COVID-19 or declare an exemption from doing so. The systemwide policy can be found at COVID-19 Vaccination Interim Policy and any questions may be sent to fdnhr@cpp.edu.

Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises, Inc. may provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodation with the employer.