2025 Branch Experiment Station Projects

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lloyd Nackley ([email protected])

Project Term Availability: Summer 2025, Spring 2026

Project Description:

Gain hands-on experience in climate-smart horticulture research while supporting a team of scientists at the North Willamette Research and Extension Center (NWREC) near Wilsonville, OR. This internship is ideal for students looking to develop practical skills in plant production, irrigation management, and environmental monitoring. The intern will assist with drought stress studies, CO₂ emissions research, and general plant care, playing a crucial role in maintaining research plots, checking irrigation systems, fertilizing, and monitoring plant health.  This position provides an excellent opportunity to learn about sustainable nursery production, climate-resilient agriculture, and environmental data collection while gaining experience in fieldwork, greenhouse management, and research support. 

Student Responsibilities:

Position Duties:

• Field Maintenance & Research Support (60%)
• Regularly check plant health in research plots and assist in monitoring irrigation systems.
• Perform routine tasks such as fertilizing, weeding, mowing, and general site upkeep.
• Assist with maintaining research equipment, greenhouse spaces, and irrigation systems. Data Collection & Study Assistance (20%)
• Support researchers by assisting in measuring soil moisture, plant transpiration, and CO₂ flux. 
• Help with recording plant growth, environmental conditions, and water use data following study protocols.
• Assist in downloading and organizing data from environmental sensors. Field Day & Outreach Assistance (10%)
• Help prepare for field days, workshops, and research demonstrations.
• Assist in setting up demonstrations showcasing climate-smart horticulture techniques. 

Preferred Skills/Experiences:

• Competence in Microsoft Office programs including Excel, Word and PowerPoint Experience working on a farm.
• Two years of college-level courses in Horticulture/Crop Science/Agronomy/Soil Science/Botany or other Biology/Natural Resources discipline. 

Student Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this internship, the student will:

• Gain hands-on skills in horticultural research, including plant health monitoring, irrigation system management, and field maintenance.
• Develop practical experience in measuring soil moisture, plant transpiration, and CO₂ flux, as well as collecting and organizing environmental data.
• Improve their ability to follow research protocols, troubleshoot irrigation and sensor systems, and apply basic agronomic principles.
• Gain teamwork and communication skills through participation in field days and outreach events.

For the past two years, students from this program have been recruited for full-time positions in Oregon’s horticulture industry.

Student Hourly Salary: $18/hr

Expected Hours/Week: 15 - 30 hrs  a week. 

Housing Benefit: None, student responsible for own housing

Will the student have interaction with minors or access to hazardous chemicals, as student will need to complete a criminal background check? No

Will the student be operating vehicles or farm equipment /machinery, as they will need to submit driving record? Yes

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Nik Wiman ([email protected])

Project Term Availability: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026, Spring 2026

Project Description:

The hazelnut production research and extension program conducts applied research to support Oregon's hazelnut industry. Projects include irrigation, phenology, canopy management, nutrient management, cover crops, and pest and disease issues. Students get exposure to field and lab research including establishing experiments and taking data. Students also experience orchard farm work in maintaining research plots. 

Student Responsibilities:

Students learn valuable skills in field and lab research including experimental design, sampling techniques, data collection, data curation, and other skills.

Field research takes place on private farms and in experimental orchards. Students are exposed to farm work in research orchards.

There are also multiple opportunities for students to gain experience with extension and community outreach (summer only).

Independent research projects are possible.

Preferred Skills/Experiences:

Experience with agriculture is desired.

• Willingness to perform difficult tasks in adverse weather conditions.
• Familiarity and experience with the scientific method.
• Positive and cooperative attitude.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Develop farming skills.
• Develop an understanding of applied field and lab agricultural science research.
• Gain a better understanding of the Land-Grant Mission.
• Experience field research and contribute to research that addresses farmer priorities.

Student Hourly Salary: $14.50/hr + (DOE)

Expected Hours/Week:Normal full time or part time working hours. Work is not normally expected outside of normal working hours, though sometimes field work begins early in the morning to avoid excessive heat.

Housing Benefit: None, student responsible for own housing

Will the student have interaction with minors or access to hazardous chemicals, as student will need to complete a criminal background check? No

Will the student be operating vehicles or farm equipment /machinery, as they will need to submit driving record? Yes

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Achala KC ([email protected])

Project Term Availability: Summer 2025, Fall 2025

Project Description:

This internship is available in the Plant Pathology lab at Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center (SOREC) located at Central Point, OR. The region is a major producer of tree fruits, specifically pears, and wine grapes. The plant pathology program at SOREC is focused on developing applied research programs on integrated disease management of these crops in Southern Oregon. This includes research on basic and applied plant pathology such as isolation and culture of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, and viruses; identification of pathogenic microorganisms by using basic morphological and/or advanced molecular techniques; research on the management of identified plant diseases using chemical, biological, or cultural control practices, etc.  

From our previous research activities, we have isolated several microorganisms from both pear and wine grapes. Some of these organisms are new to these hosts, and we do not know their pathogenicity. The BES intern will assist the graduate students and biological science technician to characterize these species and understand their pathogenicity.   

Student Responsibilities:

• The student will prepare artificial media to culture and grow fungal species.
• Monitor the culture and record their morphological development.
• Extract DNA and assist in running PCR and gel electrophoresis for the molecular identification of the species.

Once the species are identified, the student will assist in understanding their pathogenicity by artificially inoculating pear and grape tissues, collecting data, and comparing the aggressiveness of these fungal species. 

Preferred Skills/Experiences:

Previous experience with laboratory equipment and working knowledge of biology, microbiology, and/or molecular biology are expected but not required.

The intern is expected to work as a part of a team or be able to handle independent projects, have strong organizational and management skills, and effectively communicate with other lab members.

Student Learning Outcomes:

With this experiential learning, the intern is expected to learn:

• Basic plant pathology, microbiology, and/or molecular biology research skills, including sterilization and isolation techniques
• Basic research and data collection skills
• Analysis, summarize, and interpret results

The intern will have opportunities to interact with local growers, attend growers meetings, and learn about commercial agriculture production systems.

Student Hourly Salary: $16/hr

Expected Hours/Week: 30-40 hours.  Depending on the nature and stage of a research project, the student is expected to work on weekends or outside of 8 am-5 pm. These are not as frequent but sometimes it may be necessary. 

Housing Benefit: None, student responsible for own housing.

Will the student have interaction with minors or access to hazardous chemicals, as student will need to complete a criminal background check? Yes

Will the student be operating vehicles or farm equipment /machinery, as they will need to submit driving record? Yes

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alexander Levin ([email protected])

Project Term Availability: Summer 2025, Fall 2025

Specific Duration of Project: June 3 - August 30

Project Description:

This internship experience will expose the incoming student to several related projects in the field of applied horticultural research. Projects span perennial and annual cropping systems – including pear, grape, and hemp. Work will encompass supporting experiments focusing on drought stress and irrigation management, plant physiological responses to wildfire smoke, and variety evaluation in the context of climate change. Work will occur both in the field and laboratory setting, as well as on-station and off-site in grower fields.

In collaboration with the principal investigator, the student will be able to select which research project to focus on for their poster presentation upon completion of the internship. The broad exposure to field and lab research procedures, techniques and tools, and collaboration with other academic and industry stakeholders will provide an enriching learning experience.

Student Responsibilities:

Student will support one graduate research assistant and other laboratory staff in the collection of field data including but not limited to:

• Assessments of plant growth and development,
• Drought stress and physiological performance
• Crop yield and quality.

Student will learn to:

• Identify specific grapevine growth stages,
• Use tools associated with environmental plant physiology research,
• Use laboratory techniques for processing field data

Preferred Skills/Experiences:

• Strong organizational skills
• Attention to detail and quality assurance
• Meticulousness are strongly preferred

In addition, student should have:

• Ability to work outside in hot/dry/dusty conditions
• Ability to perform field work as a part of research team
• Ability to take direction from senior research team leaders

Experience using MS Office suite (particularly Excel and PowerPoint) is preferred.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Student will learn the research process as it pertains to applied field research in agricultural science, which includes a mixture of field and laboratory work.

Student will learn about the seasonal crop cycle and related general agricultural operations.

Deliverables include significant contributions to production of a research poster that will be shared with industry and academic stakeholders at various research conferences.

Student Hourly Salary: $15/hr

Expected Hours/Week: Typically 24-40 hours per week depending on time of season. There may be times when student is expected to work outside of regular business hours.

Housing Benefit: None, student responsible for own housing

Will the student have interaction with minors or access to hazardous chemicals, as student will need to complete a criminal background check? Yes.

Will the student be operating vehicles or farm equipment /machinery, as they will need to submit driving record? Yes

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Josephine Antwi ([email protected])

Project Term Availability: Summer 2025

Project Description:

Potato is a host to a wide range of insect pests that cause crop damage and yield loss. Every summer we monitor these insects to help potato growers make important pest control decisions. The student intern will support our potato insect monitoring project. In this internship, the student will gain hands-on experience with surveying insects in potato fields and insect identification techniques. The student will also engage with our summer outreach program where we teach middle school summer campers about bugs! However, this outreach experience is optional.   The project objectives are to provide the student with:

1.    hands-on experience with insect pest monitoring,

2.    insect identification techniques

3.    outreach experiences 

Student Responsibilities:

• Travel in state vehicle to check and replace insect traps in potato fields in Eastern Oregon. Field workdays that may last hours.
• Getting training on insect identification.
• Counting insects under a microscope.
• Keeping legible lab notes.
• Entering data into MS Excel.
• Comfortable working alone in the field on some days.
• Optional: assist with our summer outreach event. 

Preferred Skills/Experiences:

The student should have a driver's license.

No prior experience is required for this internship, though it will be a plus if the student has some experience working on insect ecology and biology. 

Student Learning Outcomes:

The student will learn gain hands-on experience with insect sampling and identification. The student will also become familiar with the potato cropping system. Additionally, the student gain experience with organizing outreach events.

Student Hourly Salary:  $17/hr

Expected Hours/Week: 30-40 hours per week. On rare occasions, student may be expected to check on live insects in the lab.

Housing Benefit: HAREC has shared on-site student housing. Faculty will provide ~$150 in housing benefits per month, which is enough to cover the full cost of on-site housing for the duration of this internship.

Will the student have interaction with minors or access to hazardous chemicals, as student will need to complete a criminal background check? Yes

Will the student be operating vehicles or farm equipment /machinery, as they will need to submit driving record? Yes

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sandy DeBano ([email protected])

Project Term Availability: Summer 2025

Project Description:

Eastern Oregon is home to diverse grasslands, shrub-steppe, forests, and riparian areas. These systems provide key ecosystem services for humans, including wildlife habitat, hunting and recreational opportunities, and timber.  These areas also provide critical habitat for pollinators, including native bees. Native bees are not only significant crop pollinators (estimated to pollinate over $3 billion of crops in the US annually), but they also pollinate plants that are culturally important to indigenous people. Increasing our understanding of insects that visit culturally significant plants and how management, including watershed restoration, may influence them is a high priority.  

The intern involved with this project will work on two projects focused on native bees in eastern Oregon. The first project focuses on process-based restoration projects (e.g., beaver dam analogs) and how they affect native bee communities in riparian areas and floodplains. The second project involves documenting native bee communities and insect visitors to culturally significant plants that are considered to be “First Foods” by our tribal partners. 

Student Responsibilities:

The intern will work in the field and laboratory. Field work may last all day and involve physical activities such as extensive walking to and among field sites carrying up to 25 pounds, collecting bees using nets, and sampling plants.

Approximately 30% of the intern’s time will be spent in the field and 70% in the laboratory. Most field work will take place at remote locations and may involve staying in field station housing or camping for up to a week at a time.

Laboratory work consists of preparing insect specimens, organizing insect collections, cataloging plant specimens, and entering data. 

Preferred Skills/Experiences:

 Students must be physically capable of doing strenuous field work. Although helpful, no previous experience with insects or plants is necessary.

Student Learning Outcomes:

The intern can expect to learn or further develop existing skills in:

• Vegetation sampling
• Bee sampling methods
• Laboratory techniques (including bee and plant preparation and preservation)
• Data entry and analysis
• Presentation skills in the development of their final project.

Student Hourly Salary: $15/hr

Expected Hours/Week: The intern is expected to work 40 hours per week. During field sampling, the intern may work longer days (e.g., 10-12 hour days), but no more than 40 hours in a week. 

Housing Benefit: Housing at HAREC is provided, which involves sharing a room with another intern.

Will the student have interaction with minors or access to hazardous chemicals, as student will need to complete a criminal background check? No

Will the student be operating vehicles or farm equipment /machinery, as they will need to submit driving record? No

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jeremiah Dung ([email protected])

Project Term Availability: Summer 2025

Project Description:

High value specialty crops are a major component of agriculture in central Oregon. The area is a major producer of carrot seed, supplying between 40 and 60% of the hybrid carrot seed planted in the U.S. and globally. Central Oregon also produces Kentucky bluegrass seed, peppermint for oil and tea leaf, garlic and onion seed, seed potatoes, as well as wheat, alfalfa and timothy hay. Pests and diseases present a significant challenge to crop production by reducing yields, increasing costs of production, and limiting production acres and market acceptability.  

The Plant Pathology Lab at the Central Oregon Agricultural Research and Extension Center is focused on the study and control of plant diseases affecting the high-value specialty crops of the region. We use both traditional and molecular techniques to answer applied and basic questions related to the biology and epidemiology of fungal and bacterial plant pathogens, with the goal of developing integrated disease management programs that contributes to long-term, sustainable production of agronomic commodities. Specific research focuses on pathogen detection and quantification, population biology of plant pathogens, spatial and temporal dynamics of plant disease, and identifying environmental factors that contribute to plant disease epidemics.  Research projects planned for Summer 2025 include, but are not limited to, developing in-field diagnostic isothermal assays for bacterial blight of carrot grown for seed, evaluating fungicide resistance in Claviceps purpurea, detection and epidemiology of powdery mildew in carrot seed crops, and the integrated management of Verticillium wilt in peppermint.  

Student Responsibilities:

The intern will have the opportunity to gain skills related to

• Experimental design
• Feld research (survey and sampling protocols, small plot research)
• Microbiology (aseptic technique and culturing of fungi and/or bacteria)
• Molecular biology (DNA extraction, PCR gel electrophoresis, quantitative-PCR)
• Basic plant pathology techniques (inoculating plants, evaluating disease incidence and severity
• Soil sampling
• Isolating plant pathogens from infected tissues)

The intern will be able to learn methods associated with

• Data collection,
• Basic data analyses
• Summarizing research results for diverse audiences including growers, industry stakeholders, and the scientific community.

Preferred Skills/Experiences:

This BES Research Internship will require the intern to

• Work in laboratory, greenhouse and field conditions and
• Work with basic computer software (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).

For this internship, the student will be expected to work 40 hours per week, which may include field work.

Although not required, a background in biology, microbiology, molecular biology, and/or plant pathology (either courses or prior lab experience) would be advantageous for this experiential learning experience. 

Student Learning Outcomes:

Expected outcomes for students include:

• Aquiring skills and experience related to laboratory and field research
• Becoming familiar with research techniques related to botany, microbiology, mycology, and plant pathology
• Learning how to record, manage, and interpret data
• Presenting data to their peers in the scientific community.

The student will be expected to:

• Write a brief summary of their research
• Create and present a research poster at either the CAS Student Showcase in fall term or the Spring Poster Symposium in spring term

Student Hourly Salary: $14.20 to $15.00 depending on prior experience

Expected Hours/Week: Expected hours per week: 40 Generally, work hours will occur between 8am and 5pm. However, the student may occasionally be asked (not required) to work on weekends or outside of 8am and 5pm depending on crop phenology, weather, grower schedules, and/or other factors that cannot be controlled.

Housing Benefit: None, student responsible for own housing

Will the student have interaction with minors or access to hazardous chemicals, as student will need to complete a criminal background check? No

Will the student be operating vehicles or farm equipment /machinery, as they will need to submit driving record? No

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brett Dumbauld ([email protected], [email protected])

Project Term Availability: Summer 2025, Fall  2025

Project Description:

The USDA Agricultural Research Service Pacific Shellfish Research Unit’s ecology lab is investigating the ecological role that bivalve shellfish aquaculture plays in US Pacific Coast estuaries to inform sustainable management practices.  We collected data on fish and invertebrate use of estuarine habitats (oyster aquaculture, eelgrass, and open mudflat) utilizing underwater video cameras in Tillamook Bay, OR. in the summer of 2021, and it is now ready for further analysis.  We had a graduates student whom examined data from video taken in Spring and we hope to make some comparisons.. We also have some specific hypotheses of interest to address with portions of these data covering methodology that we would like to address in preparation for upcoming projects.  We can however accommodate the student  based on experience and interest. The student would be given some freedom to ask their own questions and utilize these data for an independent investigation and potentially assist us in piloting additional video camera work in Willapa Bay, WA for a new project.  Beyond this independent project, the student will also assist us in field habitat surveys for our project to investigate large-scale interactions between burrowing shrimp and oyster aquaculture.

Student Responsibilities:

The student will be a part of our team to assist us in field, laboratory and office work for ongoing projects and tasks as they arise.

• Fieldwork responsibilities will include: 
• Traveling with us to estuary field sites in Oregon and Washington
• Walking across tide flats to collect habitat data using handheld GPS units
• Digging in sediment to collect burrowing shrimp for laboratory processing,
• Potentially helping us deploy underwater cameras to pilot methods for remote nekton data collection.

Laboratory work will include:

• Assisting us in preparing field equipment and processing collected samples.

Office work will primarily include:

• Working on their independent research
• Might also include tasks like scanning and entering data.

Preferred Skills/Experiences:

• Being physically fit enough to carry up to 30 pounds of research equipment and walk in muddy and uneven terrain in potentially unfavorable weather conditions for a few miles during field work
• The student does not need previous boating experience but must be ok with traveling on small boats because this is how we access some of our field sites in the estuaries
• Some upper division coursework and especially interest in biology/marine biology or related subject would be desired
• A basic understanding of how to use Microsoft Office suite of products (Word and Excel).
• Having some experience performing basic statistics and plotting data would also be very helpful but not required
• Being a good team player, independent and responsible, and motivated to learn would also be preferred skills.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Our primary goal is for the student to gain a well-rounded experience of conducting research as part of a small research team in the field, lab, and office.
• They will help us achieve our project goals for the summer which include collecting and processing high quality data for ongoing studies.
• We also expect the student to produce a brief report and poster presentation outlining their findings from their independent project.
• The student will also provide notes and documentation of their independent work during the data analysis process so we will have these for future reference.

Student Hourly Salary: $15/hr

Expected Hours/Week: 40 hours/week in summer.  90% of the time we will have normal work hours from 9am – 5 pm. 10% of the time there will be early mornings to be able to collect data during low tides in the estuaries. This may include weekend work based on the tides and scheduling. Work will not exceed 40 hours per week for the summer.  This could include time spent doing other student training and shared activities with other interns at HMSC if allowed.

Housing Benefit: Expect that summer housing at HMSC student housing will be provided, but may we may be able to cover some of this cost as well depending on funding.

Will the student have interaction with minors or access to hazardous chemicals, as student will need to complete a criminal background check? Yes

Will the student be operating vehicles or farm equipment /machinery, as they will need to submit driving record? No

**Please note: Dr. Brander will not be able to meet with students until after the March 7th application deadline. If you are interested in this project, please submit an application and arrange to meet with Dr. Brander during the week of March 10th.

Faculty Mentor(s): Dr. Susanne Brander ([email protected])

Project Term Availability: Summer 2025, Fall 2025

Project Description:

Microplastics are one of the most common land and marine-based pollutants, and are now being detected in our sediments, soils, waterways, atmosphere, and oceans. The Brander Ecotoxicology and Environmental Stress Lab at the Hatfield Marine Science Center has teamed up with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to better understand how microplastics generated from our homes and waste management activities (e.g. from mechanical recycling plants, compost) can contribute to environmental contamination, especially given that 80% of the plastic particles ending up in our oceans are coming from land.

Our lab is also trying to better understand how ingestion of microplastics in coastal areas is being transferred back to animals that primary live on land via a collaboration with the College of Forestry, wherein we are analyzing samples collected from Marbled murrelet (bird) nests in coastal forests as well as studying the prey items (small fish) these birds obtain from local estuaries.

Across both projects, we are using laboratory techniques to digest organic material and advanced spectroscopy approaches to identify the materials present. The student intern would be able to select from one of these two projects depending on their interests, or would also have the option of doing work on both. All work done in either summer or fall 2025 would be done under the supervision of Brander and an experienced Faculty Research Assistant. 

Student Responsibilities:

The student intern will first be trained on the following (previous experience in specific skills not required):  

• Microplastics extraction from complex sample types (e.g. sediment, scat, fish), 
• Imaging of filters with microplastics via a stereomicroscope
• Use of a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer for identification of particles to material type.
• Clean room protocols designed to prevent contamination of samples from air or clothing
• Outreach at the Hatfield Visitors Center

Since our lab works on plastic pollution there is a lot of interest from the public in our work and we occasionally table at the visitors center, especially during busy summer days.  

Following training, the intern will be responsible for processing samples independently while working in coordination with graduate student(s) and the Faculty Research Assistant. They will also have the opportunity to work with graduate students and technician(s) on data entry and data analysis skills using R. Should time allow, we will also arrange a trip to OMARC at Portland State University to learn additional analytical techniques. 

Preferred Skills/Experiences:

Specific skills related to the work described above are not required, but the candidate for this internship should:

• Enjoy working in a laboratory setting,
• Have high attention to detail and ability to follow protocols, and a proclivity for keeping track of relatively large amounts of data that are collected on each sample and each microplastic particle selected for FTIR analysis.
• Being able to use Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, as well as having had a course in statistics, is desired.
• Having the patience for troubleshooting and creativity in terms of the ability to solve problems in a team setting is important as well.
• Being able to work independently will come with time and training. Some science communication skills and some experience doing lab work, in a classroom setting for example, is preferable.

Student Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the summer the skills acquired should allow the student intern to work in other labs studying microplastics nationwide if so desired, since the protocols we use are in alignment with other research universities.

They will also emerge from the internship having had the opportunity to present their work at Hatfield and on main campus, and will be able to practice these communication skills in lab meetings or during outreach events at the Hatfield visitors center.

Experience communicating science is invaluable in terms of a skill necessary for most scientific careers.  

Additionally they will get to work with a dynamic interdisciplinary team consisting of graduate students, faculty research assistants, technicians and other undergraduates, and get to learn how lab science works.

Furthermore, there will be opportunities to interact with other members of the Hatfield community, which by its nature is a transdisciplinary campus including academics, government agencies, and frequent interactions with members of non-profits (e.g. Surfrider).

We also expect that the intern will complete this experience with improved data collection and data analysis skills, and a general sense of what graduate school would be like if they intend to pursue an advanced degree.  

Student Hourly Salary: $14.20/hr

Expected Hours/Week: Approximately 40 hours per week would be expected, roughly between the normal working hours of 9 am - 5pm. Weekend work is generally not expected and would occur infrequently if at all.

Housing Benefit: Partial funding for housing will be provided if needed.

Will the student have interaction with minors or access to hazardous chemicals, as student will need to complete a criminal background check? No

Will the student be operating vehicles or farm equipment /machinery, as they will need to submit driving record? No

Faculty Mentor(s): Dr. James Sulikowski ([email protected])

Project Term Availability: Summer 2025

Project Description:

Do you crave adventure photography? Is the ocean always calling your name? Join the Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station (COMES) research team as their official photographer and storyteller this summer. Since its inception in 1989, the Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station (COMES) has been the state’s primary research engine supporting wise use and conservation of marine resources with a primary focus on fisheries, aquaculture, and seafood. Consistent with the College of Agriculture’s mission, COMES works to solve complex problems of productivity, profitability, environmental quality, and human health, and to prepare the next generation of scientists, managers, and leaders in marine resource fields.    

The incumbent will bring the story of COMES to our stakeholders and larger audience through various forms of media including video, photo, and written copy. Each day brings new opportunities to participate in and capture the magic moments of our faculty, staff and student adventures and activities. In addition to taking photos and filming video clips, this position will work closely with a cross-departmental group to collect, manage, and share content with our stakeholders, university marketing, and general public. All collected media will be shared daily on social media platforms, along with the production of weekly COMES content.  The incumbent will join our group to film their activities during lab and field activities.  COMES invites candidates to apply who are energetic, enthusiastic, smart, hardworking, and motivated. Science, adventure, fun – COMES seeks someone who is passionate about our work, willing to seek adventure and able to tell our story to the masses.   

Student Responsibilities:

Applicants should already be well-versed in photography/videography and eager to apply their skillset in the context of what COMES represents.

The incumbent will partake in shooting product images, portraits, and other special projects, as well as curating images to be used daily for social media posts.

 Act as primary photographer for COMES events during the summer, covering Student Conferences (both in-person and online), as well as other events.

Shooting for other projects and marketing campaigns, as assigned.  

Completely confident with the technical aspects of photography in order to focus on capturing strong, relational images that tell COMES’ story visually.  

Meet with members of COMES to discuss specific photo needs for the upcoming summer, including capturing candid photos and setting up intentional photo shoots for marketing campaigns.  

Provide photos for social media posts on a frequent basis.

Images are often shot, edited, and posted on the same day.  

Maintain COMES’ existing process for organizing, tagging, and uploading photos.  

Research current photography trends and campaigns, and present novel ideas on how COMES can improve utilization of photography.  

Meet weekly with supervisor for feedback, planning, and problem-solving. 

Preferred Skills/Experiences:

• Must be at least 18 years old by internship start date
• Basic knowledge of post-production workflow such as Adobe Bridge and editing in Adobe Camera Raw and Photoshop
• Adept at creative problem-solving, able to manage time well, responsible for leading projects, and able to work within deadlines
• Able to travel and operate independently, as needed
• Willing to receive feedback and input
• Experience with digital camera operation and photo editing software
• Have an interest in, respect for, and ability to work with people with diverse backgrounds, opinions, beliefs, abilities, and experience
• Strong work ethic and will work until the job is complete
• Motivation to contribute positively to the COMES at-large community
• Interpret a variety of instructions provided in written or verbal form
• Multi-task efficiently while managing a high-volume workload in a fast-paced, changing environment
• Demonstrate the ability to be creative and think 'outside the box'
• Strong command of communication, writing, and organizational skills
• Ability to work in a busy environment with many distractions
• Excellent driving record and a valid driver's license
• Must be able to successfully pass a comprehensive background check
• Good sense of humor

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Learn best archival and social practices
• Gain experience working with diverse individuals and telling their unique research stories
• Organize and inventory digital files and physical archival materials
• Gain experience in a fast-paced work environment
• Engage and work with research professionals in various fields

Student Hourly Salary: $17/hr

Expected Hours/Week: Minimum 30 hours per week. Potentially weekend work and/or outside of 8am-5pm. 

Housing Benefit: None, student responsible for own housing

Will the student have interaction with minors or access to hazardous chemicals, as student will need to complete a criminal background check? No

Will the student be operating vehicles or farm equipment /machinery, as they will need to submit driving record? No

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Stuart Reitz ([email protected])

Project Term Availability: Summer 2025

Project Description:

Consumer demands for more environmentally-friendly, sustainably produced fruits and vegetables coupled with the evolution of resistance to standard insecticides have spurred the development of novel biologically-based insecticides (biopesticides). These natural products are intended to specifically target particular pests without adversely affecting beneficial insects, like bees and predatory insects, and not to have harmful effects on human health or the environment.  

One concern with these novel biopesticides is whether they are as effective as standard, synthetic chemical insecticides. This question of effectiveness is a critical issue for onion farmers because they can face complete crop losses from outbreaks of thrips. Thrips are minute insects that damage crops through their feeding and ability to transmit devastating viruses to crops. Currently, onion farmers have  a limited set of insecticides to manage thrips, which are the key pest of onions in Oregon and worldwide. Documenting the comparative effectiveness of novel biopesticides relative to standard insecticides will help evaluate how best to use these new products in pest management programs.  

Experiments for the project will be conducted in the laboratory to assess mortality and feeding damage by thrips when exposed to novel biopesticides or standard insecticides. The student will need to handle small quantities of insecticides following appropriate safety training.  

Student Responsibilities:

• The student will be responsible for collecting insects for research trials. This will include driving to field sites, proper handling of plants and collection of insects.  
• The student may need to maintain colonies of thrips in the laboratory to generate sufficient numbers of test insects.  
• The student will be responsible for setting up experiments, monitoring their progress, and collecting, recording and  summarizing data.  
• The student will receive hands-on instruction in all of these methods from the mentor (Stuart Reitz) and technicians in his lab at the Experiment Station.  

Preferred Skills/Experiences:

• Willingness to learn and ask questions.
• Interest in learning about insect biology, identification and toxicology.
• Interest in preparing simple chemical solutions.
• Interest in establishing and monitoring insect bioassays.  
• Interest in learning scientific record keeping, data entry and basics of data analysis.
• Interest in learning to use a stereomicroscope for insect observation.
• Interest in use of image analysis software for assessing insect feeding damage. 

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Insect identification skills, including collection and colony maintenance techniques.  
• Skill in use of stereomicroscopes, basic chemical preparation, including use of micropipettes.  
• Skill in establishing insect bioassays, using techniques for onion thrips developed in the Reitz lab.  
• Introduction to statistical analysis skills to summarize project data.  
• Understanding of pest management programs and how farmers make pest management decision

Student Hourly Salary: $15/hr

Expected Hours/Week: 8-5 Monday - Friday. After hours work is not expected, but there will be plenty to do during the weekdays.

Housing Benefit: If needed, the station can provide housing. The student would be responsible for meals.

Will the student have interaction with minors or access to hazardous chemicals, as student will need to complete a criminal background check? Yes

Will the student be operating vehicles or farm equipment /machinery, as they will need to submit driving record? Yes

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christina Hagerty ([email protected])

Project Term Availability: Summer 2025

Project Description:

The Pendleton Cereal Pathology lab is focused on serving the producers and stakeholders of high quality Oregon wheat. Our goal is to conduct relevant, practical, and applied research to develop sustainable agronomic practices and plant-pathogenic fungi and nematode control methods for dryland wheat production in the Inland Pacific Northwest.

We are conducting multi-year and multi-location field trials to determine the ecological benefits of cover crops in dryland wheat production system. Our lab is focused on many research areas of agronomy and plant pathology: evaluating the impacts of alternative and cover crops, varietal performance trial, plant-nematode interaction, identifying sources of genetic resistance to pests of interest, trialing seed treatments, and testing fungicides. Our ultimate goal is to provide affordable solutions to help growers. 

Student Responsibilities:

We are looking for a student intern to work with our lab team throughout the summer and month of September. The student intern will be expected to spend 20-35 hours per week outdoors and up to 20 hours per week in an indoor lab/greenhouse. They will be working directly with other lab members to develop project work plans as part of a general research effort in the program. Students will have opportunity to engage in many on-going projects and we can accommodate if the student has specific interests (e.g. Seeking lab experience? Seeking field work experience? Seeking data management and preliminary data analysis skills?). 

• Help in preparing labels and sample bags.
• Conduct plant and soil sampling and processing, evaluate root biomass and disease scoring 
• Help managing research plots
• Weigh the plant biomass and grains from the plots and enter the data in excel.
• Help in harvesting
• Help maintain a clean and safe working environment 

Preferred Skills/Experiences:

Interest in science/agronomy and farm experience is desirable.  

Required skills:

• Timeliness
• Good attitude,
• Attention to detail,
• Able to work in hot/dry/dusty conditions.

Work will be challenging but gratifying. 

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Student will gain full exposure to agronomic research methods. They will learn how to manage research plots, collect and organize data.
• Additionally, students will learn the procedure of root image analysis/processing and plant sample processing for tissue test analysis.
• We can teach them preliminary data analysis skills if they are interested.
• Student will also learn about the key agronomic principles and general crop management practices throughout the growing season.
• Moreover, students will gain hands-on experience in plant and soil samplings for determining plant and soil health status, crop scouting, and pest management.
• Students will be able to directly interact with experienced and passionate researchers and can learn technical and leadership skills from them. 

Student Hourly Salary: $17.50/hr

Housing Benefit:None, student responsible for own housing

Will the student have interaction with minors or access to hazardous chemicals, as student will need to complete a criminal background check? Yes

Will the student be operating vehicles or farm equipment /machinery, as they will need to submit driving record? No

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Marcia Walker ([email protected])

Project Term Availability: Summer 2025

Project Description:

Summers at the Food Innovation Center are filled with a variety of projects focused on product development or research of food products.  This summer internship will include working in the R&D lab on product formulation, process development and quality testing.  Hands-on experience with real client projects of the Food Innovation Center.  

Student interns will become part of the team at the FIC and coordinating projects with the food scientists The FIC is a laboratory that includes:  A large central kitchen, Sensory and Consumer Research Lab, Focus Group Lab, Food Safety lab and Product Development Lab, Analytical Lab. Work will be performed in each of the labs depending upon what you have been asked to work on.  

Student Responsibilities:

• Summer interns will be responsible for managing the tasks assigned by their mentors.
• General food science lab analysis, including pH, water activity, and refractometer readings.  
• Lab and kitchen clean up and general organization.
• Guided bench-top formulation work.  
• Product evaluation for flavor, texture and other important characteristics will be part of the testing.  
• The student intern will gain excellent real-world, hands-on skills in dealing with clients.  
• Students will be responsible for reporting these results to FIC staff upon completion of their internship.
• Generally, interns will be on their feet most of the day, some computer work will be required, little or no travel will be required. 

Preferred Skills/Experiences:

An interest in food product development and general food science with excellent communication and computer skills is preferred.  Use of computer, and basic lab skills, dishwashing, and organizational skills will be required.

Student Learning Outcomes:

The intern will leave the summer internship with a broad knowledge of product and process development, sensory and consumer research, and basic project management skills

Student Hourly Salary: $15/hr

Expected Hours/Week: 40 hours/week 8-5 possible some evenings and weekends  

Housing Benefit: None, student responsible for own housing

Will the student have interaction with minors or access to hazardous chemicals, as student will need to complete a criminal background check? No

Will the student be operating vehicles or farm equipment /machinery, as they will need to submit driving record? No

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Younas Dadmohammadi ([email protected])

Project Term Availability: Summer 2025, Fall 2025

Project Description:

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a versatile crop with a rich history of cultivation for various uses, such as fiber, oil, and food products. The seeds of hemp are particularly notable for their nutritional value. Depending on the variety and environmental factors, they contain approximately 20-25% protein. This protein is composed mainly of edestin (60–80%) and 2S albumin, both highly digestible and rich in essential amino acids.  However, the protein content and composition of different hemp cultivars can vary. Factors such as genetic diversity, environmental conditions, and cultivation practices contribute to these variations. Therefore, a detailed characterization of the protein profiles of various hemp cultivars is essential for their effective utilization in food and beverage products.

This proposal aims to identify and quantify the protein content across diverse hemp cultivars cultivated in Oregon. By employing advanced analytical techniques, we will characterize the functional properties of hemp proteins. Understanding these attributes will facilitate the development of new functional foods and beverages, leveraging hemp's nutritional benefits. Moreover, such profiling will assist breeders in selecting and developing hemp varieties with optimized protein content and quality, tailored for specific food applications.  

Student Responsibilities:

Through this project, students will gain knowledge and hands-on experience in various aspects of protein science and analytical techniques.

They will explore proteins' diverse functional properties, including solubility, emulsification, foaming capacity, and gelation, which are critical for their application in food and beverage products.

By working with hemp protein, students will understand how these properties vary among different cultivars and how they impact product formulation.

Additionally, students will engage in data analysis, learning how to process and interpret experimental results using statistical tools and software.

They will gain experience in handling large datasets, performing comparative analyses, and drawing meaningful conclusions based on scientific evidence. 

Preferred Skills/Experiences:

• Proteins and macromolecules
• Food and beverage product development
•  Analytical Chemistry 

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Understanding of Protein Functional Properties
• Hands-on Experience with Protein Characterization Techniques
• Data Analysis and Interpretation
• Scientific Communication Skills
• Collaboration and Problem-Solving 

Student Hourly Salary: $14.20/hr; however, students with relevant experience can be compensate at a higher rate.

Expected Hours/Week: Minimum of 5 hours per day

Housing Benefit: None, student responsible for own housing

Will the student have interaction with minors or access to hazardous chemicals, as student will need to complete a criminal background check? No

Will the student be operating vehicles or farm equipment /machinery, as they will need to submit driving record? No

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Younas Dadmohammadi ([email protected])

Project Term Availability: Summer 2025, Fall 2025

Project Description:

Oregon Seaweed is a distinctive and valuable cultivar recognized for its exceptional composition of health-promoting bioactive compounds, including essential polysaccharides, peptides, antioxidants, and minerals. These bioactive components contribute to various health benefits, such as anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting, and antimicrobial properties, making Oregon Seaweed a premium ingredient for functional food applications. Given its high nutritional value, unique umami flavor, and natural sustainability, Oregon Seaweed presents an excellent opportunity to be incorporated into innovative food products that cater to modern consumer preferences. With the increasing consumer demand for clean-label and health-focused snack options, there is a growing need to explore novel formulations that integrate functional ingredients while maintaining high sensory appeal.

This project seeks to leverage Oregon Seaweed as a key ingredient in the development of a functional and clean-label snack using an advanced extrusion processing technique. Extrusion is a widely utilized food processing method that enables the production of nutrient-dense, shelf-stable, and texturally appealing snacks. By incorporating Oregon Seaweed into extruded snack products, this project aims to enhance the nutritional profile of snacks while maintaining desirable taste, texture, and consumer acceptability. 

Student Responsibilities:

• Wash and dehydrate the seaweed samples received.  
• Grind the received samples.
• Identify the suitable co-ingredients.
• Operate the extrusion machine and optimize extruder parameters.
• Collect samples and coordinate for sensory analyses.  
• Write the report.  
• Prepare slides for the technical presentation. 

Preferred Skills/Experiences:

• Knowledge of clean-label snacks
• Knowledge of extruder machine
• Food and beverage product development
• Sensory analyses 

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Understanding of Functional Food Development
• Hands-on Experience with Extrusion Technology
• Proficiency in Food Product Characterization
• Understanding in Sensory Study
• Data Analysis and Interpretation
• Technical Writing and Scientific Communication
• Problem-Solving and Innovation Skills 

Student Hourly Salary: $14.20/hr; however, students with relevant experience can be compensate at a higher rate.

Expected Hours/Week: Minimum of 5 hours per day

Housing Benefit: None, student responsible for own housing

Will the student have interaction with minors or access to hazardous chemicals, as student will need to complete a criminal background check? No

Will the student be operating vehicles or farm equipment /machinery, as they will need to submit driving record? No

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Angee Hunt ([email protected])

Project Term Availability: Summer 2025

Project Description:

In coastal areas like the North Oregon Coast, home to the OSU Seafood Research and Education Center, the seafood industry plays a vital role in the local economy. With a growing focus on 100% fish utilization and reducing environmental impacts from wastewater discharge, research is shifting toward transforming seafood processing waste into valuable resources. This internship offers students the opportunity to participate in exciting research on seafood wastewater—water and residual components from seafood processing. The goal is to find innovative ways to use this wastewater more effectively, helping to reduce waste, pollution, and environmental impact, while creating new products or uses that add value.

As an intern, you will work on hands-on projects exploring how seafood wastewater can be treated, reused, or repurposed. You’ll gain practical experience in resource recovery and contribute to solving pressing challenges in the seafood industry. Some projects may include recovering fish bones for food-grade phosphate or extracting shrimp oil from the boiling water used in processing Pacific shrimp. The projects in this internship will support efforts to improve the quality and sustainability of seafood products, with the potential to positively impact both the environment and the economy. The skills you develop will also be applicable to a wide range of fields, including environmental science, sustainability, and food processing. 

Student Responsibilities:

Students will be expected to:

• Work in a team environment alongside scientists at the facility
• Be willing to learn new skills and consume seafood for sensory projects
• Work independently once skills are verified.

Depending on experience and ability, students may be given small projects to conduct on their own.  In addition, projects may require work at seafood processing facilities to collect samples for projects and some work may occur on weekends or outside the typical 8am-5pm work hours. Students need to have a driver’s license to be able to drive a university vehicle.

Preferred Skills/Experiences:

Ideally applicants will have participated in chemistry, biology, microbiology or similar courses with a lab component.

Students must be willing to learn new skills and to work independently once skills are verified.

There may be opportunities to participate in sensory projects and students should be willing/able to consume a variety of seafood products.  

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Students will gain hands-on experience in seafood wastewater treatment, exploring methods for reusing and repurposing processing by-products.
• They will develop research skills in data collection, analysis, and resource recovery, including extracting oils or converting fish bones into valuable products.
• Students will learn how these techniques support sustainability in the seafood industry by reducing waste and creating eco-friendly products.
• They will collaborate on real-world projects, applying their findings to address industry challenges.
• Finally, students will improve communication skills through presenting research results and contributing to sustainable solutions in seafood processing. 

Student Hourly Salary: $18/hr

Expected Hours/Week: Projects may require work at seafood processing facilities to collect samples for projects and some work may occur on weekends or after hours.  

Housing Benefit: Although there is no housing benefit provided, we have a list of potential options that may be available for prospective students to rent private rooms/space in Astoria homes that are within close proximity (within 1-2 miles) of the OSU Seafood Lab. 

Will the student have interaction with minors or access to hazardous chemicals, as student will need to complete a criminal background check? Yes

Will the student be operating vehicles or farm equipment /machinery, as they will need to submit driving record? Yes