Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Summary: Achieve optimum plant growth and provide excellent facilities and services in support of the research staff.

Essential Job Functions:

Daily watering of greenhouses and growth chambers, performing scheduled requested fertilization, observations of plant health, pests and disease.

Communicating with research staff allows for daily feedback on plant health, plant care, disposal, staking, tying, and flat/pot suggestions.

Communication among staff concerning work scheduling, changes within the facility and feedback on watering duties and observations.

Transition of tissue culture plants to Plant Growth Facility.

Monitoring of greenhouse and chamber daily environments.

Follow Integrated Pest Management practices:

Cultural Controls

Plant growth facility sanitation: Regular sanitation of the plant growth facility by pressure washing, use of Physan and Greenshield sanitizers and vacuuming. Cleaning all facility drains and the hallway drain trench.

Pest Control: Constant monitoring of pests with yellow sticky cards and UV traps, along with weekly scouting of all greenhouses and growth chambers for pests. Biological control organisms are released weekly in the growth facilities. Maintenance of screens in vents and windows along with weed control in the stone barrier outside the greenhouses.

Plant care for healthy, disease-resistant plants: Environmental controls including proper spacing between plants, supplemental lighting, fertilization, installation of support wires for large plants and occasional staking, tying, and pruning of plants.

Tri-sodium Phosphate and rinse station cleaning.

Divide watering between staff based on pest or disease potential.

Biological controls

Research economical pest-specific bio control options and release biological organisms weekly into specific greenhouses and growth chambers.

Understand pest and pathogen life cycles, pest identification, and natural enemy life cycles.

Control environmental conditions to favor plants and natural enemies.

Chemical Controls

Qualify for and obtain a NYS pesticide commercial applicators license and attend pesticide training to obtain credits for license renewal.

Research pesticides to determine legality in NYS, and what is labeled for greenhouse use, the intended crop and the specific pest.

In the IPM program, determining which pesticides are compatible with natural enemies, least toxic to humans, pest-specific and least phototoxic to plants.

Comply with DEC regulations following the Worker Protection Standard by maintaining the central posting area, record and document all pesticide applications, maintain proper air ventilation and proper posting during and after applications.

Soil preparation and mixing

Mixing of general soils and refilling bins as needed.

Process field soil, including sampling local soil sources for purchase, screening soil into barrels for storage and pasteurization of soil to kill weed seed and pathogens.

Research new alternatives for soil components and autoclaving soil on request.

Assisting research staff on selecting specific soil type for various planting situations.

Inventory and ordering

Take weekly inventory of supplies and obtain the best prices by shopping around and asking for quantity discounts.

Make and place purchase orders, keeping accurate records of associated information, receive orders and restock supplies.

Research special supply requests for labs, order supplies and distribute to labs.

Maintain bulb inventory for greenhouses and chambers: order bulbs as needed and collect expired fluorescent bulbs to be recycled.

Support greenhouse area and greenhouse research projects by gathering documentation, receiving project price quotes, coordinating projects with research staff, and providing information relevant to the success of the project.

Greenhouse and growth chamber maintenance

Weekly disinfecting of floors, benches, and glass with greenhouse cleaners.

Regular checks for mechanical issues, adjusting area lights to suit plants, monitoring heating/cooling system, hose/valve repair and bench adjustment.

Maintain proper lighting by checking bulbs and replacing according to bulb schedule or as needed, and check light levels as requested.

Programming Argus and Conviron systems including setting the photoperiod, day/night temperatures, humidity and shade/heat retention.

Maintain fertilizer systems

Daily system checks of fertilizer tank and electrical conductivity meter along with proper fertilizer mixing to achieve specific rates. Cleaning of fertilizer tank and EC probe to maintain accurate proportions.

Autoclave operation and maintenance

Operation of autoclave, composting autoclaved plant material into dumpster, scheduling pick-up of compost dumpster, stocking autoclave bags and cleaning the autoclave and surrounding area.

Pot and flat washing and recycling

Collection of dirty pots and keep stacked, maintain bleach water in wash bins, and wash pots during absence of greenhouse helper.

Accommodate special washing and steaming procedures for labs separate from general pot/flat washing.

Greenhouse area trash pick-up

Provide properly labeled trash cans for the greenhouse area, provide bags, routinely check for removal of trash to dumpster, disinfect cans regularly.

Transgenic compost bin maintenance

Herbicide selection sprays for labs

Assist labs with spraying specific plants with regulated herbicides, coordinate transfer of flats from growth space to spray room and back, and maintain accurate records of applications.

Atrium

Regular watering and fertilizing of the atrium, creating new plant designs, mulching, and maintaining atrium pond by cleaning filters and rocks.

Maintain and use forklift

Maintain colony of Aphidius Colemani

Weekly planting of cabbage to support Green Peach Aphid culture, and maintain two cages of A. colemani to provide constant supply of aphid parasitoids.

Release of parasitic wasps to control aphids, disinfect cages between cultures, cycle plants through cages and dispose of after use.

Education and Certification

Associates Degree from two-year college or technical school, or work experience at an equivalent level, with a background in Biology or Horticulture.

Experience and Knowledge

2 years of relevant experience in biology or horticulture are required.

Pesticide applicator license may be required.

Continual trainings to remain current and compliant are necessary, including respirator protection trainings, worker protection standards, and EH&S trainings.

Job Hours

24 hours per week. Schedule to be determined. Must be available for weekend and holiday rotation.

Communication Skills

Ability to write standardized reports and correspondence, write and report meeting minutes, to communicate through e-mail and an ability to complete regulatory reporting requirements are necessary. An ability to speak one-on-one or in small groups, to present information to groups of employees is also important. An ability to give and receive constructive feedback is crucial

Computer Skills

Ability with all Microsoft Office programs is required.

Travel

Travel is generally not required.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

Regular physical exertion is required, such as climbing, crouching, crawling, and lifting, up to 50 pounds. Regular physical exertion is required such as climbing, crouching, crawling and/or lifting.

Regular use of chemicals, heavy machinery or other equipment/materials that require use of personnel protective equipment and routine precautions.

Must be available to help cover watering 365 days a year, including holidays and weekends

*When applying, please include a cover letter indicating your interest, and why you think you are a good fit for this position. *

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