Seed Lab - Lab Assistant

Oregon State University, United States

Updated: about 21 hours ago
Location: Corvallis, OREGON
Deadline: 01 Jun 2026

Position Details
Position Information


Job Title Seed Lab - Lab Assistant
Appointment Type Student Employee
Job Location Corvallis
Position Appointment Percent 100
Appointment Basis 12
Pay Method Hourly
Pay Period 16th - 15th of the following month
Pay Date Last working day of the month
Remote or Hybrid option?
Min Hourly Rate $15.05 (Standard); $14.05 (Non-Urban); $16.30 (Portland Metro)
Max Hourly Rate $17.50 (Standard); $17.00 (Non-Urban); $18.50 (Portland Metro)
Position Summary
This recruitment will be used to fill up to 10 part-time (a maximum of 40 hours per week during academic breaks, a maximum of 24 hours per week during academic terms and) in-person Lab Assistants for the Seed Lab, Crop and Soil Science department at Oregon State University (OSU) to assist the Seed Lab during the 2026 harvest season (estimated July through December).
The Seed Laboratory is a service seed testing lab, which exists to provide seed testing results to various growers, cleaners, dealers, regulatory agencies and researchers around the world. This position will also provide Lab support to the Sample Prep and Purity Units. This position may also provide administrative/clerical support to the Office Manager, Quality Manager, Lab Manager and the Administration Unit Team. This position requires close attention to detail, ability to maintain focus in a busy work environment, being organized and adherence to the OSU Seed Lab Quality Management System.
The work schedule is Monday through Friday.
Anticipated starting wage is $15.05-16/hour, depending on experience.
Transferable Skill Development
OSU is committed to ensuring students are prepared for success after graduation through intentional skill development as student employees. The competencies students develop while working at OSU are defined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) as the essential skills employers seek in their hires. In this position, students learn and build vital career-readiness skills in the primary areas below:
Communication, Teamwork, Professionalism, Equity & Inclusion
Position Duties
Administrative Unit:
  • Assisting with sample entry: Organizing seed samples, inspecting for damage, preparing test sample packets, scanning, and matching numbers.
  • Filing: Maintaining a filing system for test data using both manual and electronic systems.
  • Assists Administrative Unit staff, Office Manager, Quality Manager and Lab Manager with various duties, including but not limited to retrieving and organizing analysis records, basic data entry using spreadsheet and word processing programs (ie-Excel, MS Word, Google sheets, etc.), processing incoming mail and organizing client payment checks/deposits.
  • Other duties as assigned: Including answering phones, restocking supplies/organizing inventory, and helping to maintain the cleanliness of shared office spaces.


Purity Unit:
  • Preparing working samples using mechanical seed dividers.
  • Screening and other preparation of samples for purity analysis.
  • Filing samples into storage.
  • Weighing sample components.
  • Other duties as assigned, including cleaning.
Minimum Qualifications
Full Employment Eligibility Requirements can be found here: https://hr.oregonstate.edu/student-employment-manual/500-employment-eligibility-requirements

  • Must be academically enrolled in a high school, community college, or university and pursuing a program or course of study
  • Must meet Academic Standing Requirements; students on academic suspension are not eligible for employment
  • Must meet the applicable minimal enrollment standard
    • High School student: Regularly enrolled in a high school or participating in a home-schooling program
    • Undergraduate and post-baccalaureate student: 6 credit hours per term
    • Undergraduate international student: 12 credit hours per term*
    • Graduate student officially admitted to Graduate School: 5 credit hours per term
    • Graduate international student officially admitted to Graduate School: 9 credit hours per term*


*International students may be allowed to carry fewer hours than specified above and still be considered “full-time” by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). A reduced course load is approved by the Office of International Services (OIS), and must be provided to the Student Employment Center.
Additional Required Qualifications
  • Strong preference for applicants able to work part-time during academic terms and full-time during breaks including 2026 summer break.
  • Prior laboratory experience is desirable, but not required.
  • Prior office experience is desirable, but not required.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Good organizational skills.
Preferred (Special) Qualifications
  • Must be able to maintain a consistent, punctual, and dependable work schedule.
  • Ability to work well in a fast-paced team environment.
  • Must be detail-oriented, as all work must be done with a high level of accuracy. Experience with, or ability to work with sequential numbers and significant figures. Must be able to lift and carry trays of seeds up to 20 lbs. Must be able to perform repetitive motions.
  • A demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity.
  • Must be able to maintain strict confidentiality of all information.
  • Must be able to work during the summer break when most of grass species are harvested and tested at the OSU Seed Lab.
Working Conditions / Work Schedule
  • Students will spend the majority of their time either sitting, standing or walking.
  • Some work will be performed operating equipment to separate seeds and will require some sitting, standing and lifting/carrying up to 20lbs.
  • Will occasionally carry trays of seeds up and down stairs, will occasionally lift trays overhead.
  • Student will be expected to follow appropriate safety precautions.
  • This position occasionally involves working around dust and noise.

Posting Detail Information


Posting Number P12992SE
Number of Vacancies 10
Anticipated Appointment Begin Date 06/13/2026
Anticipated Appointment End Date
Posting Date 04/03/2026
Full Consideration Date 05/08/2026
Closing Date 06/01/2026
Indicate how you intend to recruit for this search Competitive / Student - open to ALL qualified/eligible students
Special Instructions to Applicants
When applying you will be required to attach the following electronic documents:
● A Resume
● A Cover Letter
● Two References.
For additional information please contact: Lorinda Hughes at lorinda.hughes@oregonstate.edu
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability, protected veteran, and other protected status.
Note: All job offers are contingent upon Human Resources final approval.
OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public website prior to hire.

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