Scientific Assistant Senior
Washington State University, Mount Vernon, WA, United States
**Online applications must be received before 11:59pm on:**May 14, 2026If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.**Available Title(s):**1160-NN\_ADMINPRO - Scientific Assistant Senior, 1160-YN\_ADMINPRO - Scientific Assistant Senior**Business Title:**Scientific Assistant Senior**Employee Type:**Admin. Professional (+) (Fixed Term)**Position Details:****The Opportunity:**As the **Scientific Assistant Senior**, you will perform senior‐level field, greenhouse, and laboratory research in support of the Berry and Potato Pathology (BPP) Program and the Vegetable Seed Pathology (VSP) Program at Washington State University’s Mount Vernon Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center (NWREC). In this role, you will help identify and define research problems, design experimental approaches and methods, and apply appropriate plant pathology research techniques, including plant pathogen inoculations and disease evaluations. You will accurately record and compile data, conduct robust statistical analyses, interpret results, and summarize findings in tables, graphs, reports, and publishable formats. You will work both independently and collaboratively as part of the BPP and VSP programs, perform molecular plant pathology laboratory techniques (including molecular identification of plant pathogens), supervise time‐slip employees and undergraduate and graduate interns, advise other program staff, mentor graduate students and technical staff, assist Postdoctoral Research Associates, and interact constructively with stakeholders and the WSU Mount Vernon NWREC community.Due to the environments in which you will work, you must be willing to perform duties outdoors in a range of weather conditions and with a diversity of crops, plant pathogens, arthropod pests, and natural enemies. You must be willing to travel to field trial sites throughout Washington, including central Washington, and occasionally to other states, which may include overnight stays. You must also be willing to work in both conventional and organic agricultural production systems and to work with or in the vicinity of laboratory and agricultural chemicals, for which appropriate safety measures, equipment, and training will be provided.**Percentage Breakdown of Job Functions:*** 30% Research Experiment Design, Implementation, and Program Oversight* 25% Experiment Documentation, Statistical Analyses, Research Publications, and Presentations* 25% Laboratory, Greenhouse, and Field Equipment Operation* 15%
Supervision* 5% Other Duties**Additional Information:**This is a **full time** (**100%** FTE), **temporary** position. Overtime eligibility will be determined based on final salary placement. **Temporary End Date:** This is a temporary position that is renewed on an annual basis. Renewal is dependent on the need for extension and/or if additional funding is secured to extend employment.
**Monthly Salary:** $5,139.79 - $7,872.33 | *Commensurate with experience and qualifications*
In accordance with , the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate’s current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.
**Benefits:** WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts; training and development; and employee tuition waiver. For additional information, please review the
and .
**Required Qualifications:*** A Master’s degree in an appropriate related scientific or engineering discipline and four (4) years of progressively responsible related professional research experience. A PhD in a scientific or engineering field may be substituted for up to two (2) years of the required work experience. Any combination of relevant education and professional experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year‐for‐year basis.* Experience with field, laboratory, and greenhouse research experiments in plant pathology and experience operating plant pathology laboratory and greenhouse instrumentation.* Experience in molecular laboratory techniques (including ELISA, DNA/RNA extraction, regular and real-time PCR assays, DNA or RNA sequencing for microbial identification, including multilocus sequence analysis and phylogenetic analysis).* Experience with effective use of dissecting and compound microscopes.* Knowledge of fundamental plant pathology principles, and experience applying those principles in a research environment.* Experience carrying out research projects using appropriate experimental designs and techniques, within established protocols.* Must have, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid driver’s license and meet requirements in accordance with
and departmental driving standards.* A valid Washington State Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator’s license or willing and able to obtain within three months of hire.* Ability to communicate effectively in written and spoken English.* Effective communication (written and oral) and interpersonal skills (written and oral), including demonstrated collaboration with coworkers and the public.* Ability to listen and effectively handle employee questions, concerns, and problems.* Evidence of quality research publications in peer-reviewed journals.**Preferred Qualifications:*** Experience with plant pathology methods and research in small fruit, potato or vegetable seed crops, including seed quality assays and seed health testing.* Experience operating various types of farm machinery used in research, particularly plant pathology research.* Experience in diagnosis of plant diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, and nematodes.* Experience with microscope photography.**Position Sponsorship Eligibility:** Not eligible for work visa sponsorship
**Area/College:****Department Name:** Plant Pathology**Location:** Mount Vernon, WA
**Application Instructions:** Applicants must upload the following required documents to their online application. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements.
1) Resume
2) Cover Letter
**External candidates**, upload all documents in the “Application Document” section of your application.**Current WSU Employees (internal candidates)**, before starting your Workday application, . Internal candidates, upload all documents in the “Resume/Cover Letter” section of your application.
Documents may be submitted as one file or separate files. Applicants are encouraged to upload as a PDF, if possible.
Reference contact information will be requested later in the recruitment process through Workday.
**Background Check:** This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by , engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.**Time Type:**Full time**Position Term:**12 MonthWashington State University encourages all qualified candidates to apply, including members of the military and veterans, and persons with disabilities.WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.WSU #J-18808-Ljbffr
Supervision* 5% Other Duties**Additional Information:**This is a **full time** (**100%** FTE), **temporary** position. Overtime eligibility will be determined based on final salary placement. **Temporary End Date:** This is a temporary position that is renewed on an annual basis. Renewal is dependent on the need for extension and/or if additional funding is secured to extend employment.
**Monthly Salary:** $5,139.79 - $7,872.33 | *Commensurate with experience and qualifications*
In accordance with , the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate’s current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.
**Benefits:** WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts; training and development; and employee tuition waiver. For additional information, please review the
and .
**Required Qualifications:*** A Master’s degree in an appropriate related scientific or engineering discipline and four (4) years of progressively responsible related professional research experience. A PhD in a scientific or engineering field may be substituted for up to two (2) years of the required work experience. Any combination of relevant education and professional experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year‐for‐year basis.* Experience with field, laboratory, and greenhouse research experiments in plant pathology and experience operating plant pathology laboratory and greenhouse instrumentation.* Experience in molecular laboratory techniques (including ELISA, DNA/RNA extraction, regular and real-time PCR assays, DNA or RNA sequencing for microbial identification, including multilocus sequence analysis and phylogenetic analysis).* Experience with effective use of dissecting and compound microscopes.* Knowledge of fundamental plant pathology principles, and experience applying those principles in a research environment.* Experience carrying out research projects using appropriate experimental designs and techniques, within established protocols.* Must have, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid driver’s license and meet requirements in accordance with
and departmental driving standards.* A valid Washington State Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator’s license or willing and able to obtain within three months of hire.* Ability to communicate effectively in written and spoken English.* Effective communication (written and oral) and interpersonal skills (written and oral), including demonstrated collaboration with coworkers and the public.* Ability to listen and effectively handle employee questions, concerns, and problems.* Evidence of quality research publications in peer-reviewed journals.**Preferred Qualifications:*** Experience with plant pathology methods and research in small fruit, potato or vegetable seed crops, including seed quality assays and seed health testing.* Experience operating various types of farm machinery used in research, particularly plant pathology research.* Experience in diagnosis of plant diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, and nematodes.* Experience with microscope photography.**Position Sponsorship Eligibility:** Not eligible for work visa sponsorship
**Area/College:****Department Name:** Plant Pathology**Location:** Mount Vernon, WA
**Application Instructions:** Applicants must upload the following required documents to their online application. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements.
1) Resume
2) Cover Letter
**External candidates**, upload all documents in the “Application Document” section of your application.**Current WSU Employees (internal candidates)**, before starting your Workday application, . Internal candidates, upload all documents in the “Resume/Cover Letter” section of your application.
Documents may be submitted as one file or separate files. Applicants are encouraged to upload as a PDF, if possible.
Reference contact information will be requested later in the recruitment process through Workday.
**Background Check:** This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by , engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.**Time Type:**Full time**Position Term:**12 MonthWashington State University encourages all qualified candidates to apply, including members of the military and veterans, and persons with disabilities.WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.WSU #J-18808-Ljbffr