Branch Experiment Stations – Experiential Learning Initiative
Project Term Availability: Summer 2022
BES Faculty Mentor Name: Chris Langdon
BES Facility Name: Coastal Oregon Marine Experimental Station, Hatfield Marine Science Center
Location (town name) of BES Facility: Newport, Oregon
Short Project Description:
The successful BES student will develop and evaluate methods for the culture of microalgal food using computer-controlled bioreactors. Five bioreactors, made by Industrial Plankton, Canada, have been purchased and two are fully operational. Their performance will be compared with the traditional method of culturing microalgae in static tanks, both in terms of daily cell production and the food quality of the algae for oyster larvae. The student will work as a member of a team of technicians and students working on the culture and breeding of Pacific oysters.
Student Responsibilities:
The student will work with Faculty Research Assistant Antonia Barela in the day-to-day culture of microalgae for feeding oyster larvae. The student will monitor microalgal production from bioreactors and tanks and compare overall cell production rates, operational labor needs, and costs, The student will also compare the nutritional value of the bioreactor and tank-cultured algae for rearing oyster larvae. A short report or presentation will be required at the end of the summer internship.
Project Objectives:
The student will compare the use of bioreactors versus traditional tanks for the culture of microalgal foods for rearing oyster larvae.
Preferred Skills/Experience:
- Taken upper-division courses in biology, preferably marine biology or a related marine subject.
- Experience in growing animals or plants in a farm or experimental setting
- Enjoys "hands-on" learning experiences - not afraid to get hands wet!
- Careful and conscientious
- Highly motivated to learn and hardworking
- Good team player
Student Learning Outcomes:
The student will learn:
1) how to grow microalgae as well as rear oyster larvae
2) to write a report or prepare a presentation on the summer project
3) to become an effective team member
Specific Duration Details: Summer term
Student Hourly Salary: $12.00/hour
Expected Hours/Week: 30-40 hours per week
Hourly Working Parameters: The student may be asked to work two or three weekends during the summer, especially during periods when oyster larvae are being reared on the different microalgal diets.
Housing Benefit: Housing in the apartments at the Hatfield Marine Science Center will be paid for
Special Considerations: No
Vehicle/Machinery Operation: No
Project Term Availability: Summer 2022
BES Faculty Mentor Name: Christopher Adams
BES Station Name: MCAREC
Location (town name) of BES Station: Hood River
Short Project Description:
The Adams Tree Fruit Entomology Lab, located at the Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research and Extension Center (MCAREC) in Hood River, has a number of research projects planned in both pear and sweet cherry orchards. We are currently working on two invasive species that impact the tree fruit industry; the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) and Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD). Projects will include understanding and improving trapping and monitoring of these key insects. We are also investigating parasitoid wasps for control of these and other insect pests. Pear psylla is a key pest that pear growers must control. The primary control tactic is promotion and protection of a large complex of natural enemies. We will be trying to understand how we can make this diverse beneficial complex more productive for growers. Western Cherry X Disease is a phytoplasma that lives and replicates in the vascular phloem of infected trees. It is vectored by several species of leafhoppers. We will be conducting leafhopper surveys to determine the species complex and the phenology of these insects in order to better time control measures. Other exciting projects are being developed and the candidate will have an opportunity to work on many novel projects.
Student Responsibilities:
The student is expected to learn how to identify insect pests of tree fruit, their predators, and parasitoids. The Student will deploy and check insect monitoring traps and help to collect and process data. Much of this work will be outside in the fresh air, sunshine, and occasional wet weather, so students should enjoy being outdoors working in the field and plan to dress accordingly. Many of these studies will require insects to be identified and counted under the microscope, so quality time at the scope can also be expected.
Project Objectives:
The objectives of all the lab’s projects will be to collect insect related data, to better understand, and mitigate, the entomological challenges of fruit growers. It is our hope that students will see the many opportunities for potential tree fruit scientist, and come back to work in this field.
Preferred Skills/Experience:
Working well with others, a positive attitude, attention to detail, love of insects.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will see first-hand the challenges of growing quality fresh fruit. Students will gain experience in insect identification, experimental design, data collection and analysis, team work, and the beauty of the Hood River area.
Specific Duration Details: based on student availability.
Expected Hours/Week: 20 - 40 hours per week
Hourly Working Parameters: most tasks will be completed within the hours of 8-5 and weekends are not required.
Housing Benefit: We do not have any housing available at this time
Special Considerations: No
Vehicle/Machinery Operation: Yes
Project Term Availability: Summer 2022
BES Faculty Mentor Name: Dr. Scott Lukas
BES Station Name: Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center
Location (town name) of BES Station: Hermiston
Short Project Description:
The internship will be located at the Oregon State University (OSU), Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center (HAREC), Integrative Horticulture Lab (IHL). This internship opportunity will be conducting both field- and laboratory-based research and data collection, which focuses on fostering environmental stewardship while maintaining production. The main project that the intern will be working on are organic blueberry trials which look at the overall benefits of organic inputs. This project aims to evaluate different locally available organic materials such as grape pomace and biochar, best suited to improve the quality of the sandy soils in eastern Oregon, enhance soil microbes, and increase blueberry production. These locally available materials are otherwise burned or disposed of as waste which is harmful to the environment. The student will acquire knowledge in field production systems, experimental design, and data collection in row crops and will work closely with, and report directly to the principal investigator. In addition to the main project, the student will engage in other projects over the season but will have the opportunity to choose the project of his/her interest to satisfy the requirements of the Branch Experiment Station (BES) program.
Student Responsibilities:
The student will be responsible for helping with sample collection, irrigation, fruit harvest, weeding, collecting water infiltration rate measurements, berry counting, and collecting berry quality data. The student can also help with other ongoing projects as desired.
Project Objectives:
The project aims to evaluate different locally available organic amendments and how they impact overall soil health and fruit quality of organic blueberry. We are also looking at changes in soil biodiversity in various organic treatments.
Preferred Skills/Experience:
Previous experience working outdoors is desired, as this opportunity will be primarily working in the elements outdoors in an agricultural setting. Laboratory work will be coupled with field work with some projects. The intern must be able to work independently and as part of a team, and will report and work closely with the faculty mentor to ensure goals are met. Previous experience in topics related to crop production, soil science, nutrient management, weed science, and data collection are desired, but not required. A strong drive to learn and to think creatively is desired.
Student Learning Outcomes:
The student will have the opportunity to learn a suite of fruit and soil quality analyses indices including molecular techniques. The student will also have firsthand experience of learning field experiences such as helping in soil sampling, irrigation, fruit harvesting, etc. In addition to field and lab experience, the student will also learn basic data analysis for the poster. This internship is designed to be a learning experience for the student to provide educational diversity to aid in a more informed career / academic path.
Specific Duration Details:
Student Hourly Salary: $15.00/hour
Expected Hours/Week: 40 hours/week preferred
Hourly Working Parameters: No expectation for work out of normal operating hours.
Housing Benefit:
Special Considerations: No
Vehicle/Machinery Operation: Yes
Project Term Availability: Summer 2022
BES Faculty Mentor Name: Nackley and Buckland
BES Station Name: NWREC
Location (town name) of BES Station: Aurora
Short Project Description:
Remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) provide a platform for collecting images that can be used in plant health surveys in agronomy. RPAS are being used widely in monoculture farm systems, and to a lesser extent in small-scale diverse farming operations. We believe that RPAS can be used to detect plant health in small-scale horticultural systems. To test this hypothesis, we would like to work with a BES intern who will partner with our team pilots to fly a quadcopter with a multispectral camera and develop vegetation indices for broccoli grown in an experimental field containing replicated plots under different field management practices in Oregon. We will also work with the BES intern to develop drought stress metrics using an infrared camera.
Student Responsibilities:
The BES student will be responsible for daily field assessment and management. Field assessments are important to "ground-truth" the conditions with a variety of scientific tools that measure plant health. Additionally, field management is important to minimize external "noise" from the remotely sensed images. This noise can be caused by non-target plants, and accidently irrigation. The student will work with our pilots to plan the flight and flight the drone. We will provide opportunities for the student to become a pilot if they desire. The BES intern will then be responsible for analyzing the images collected by the drone. We have developed training modules to guide the student in data analysis.
Project Objectives:
The projects objectives are to determine plant health metrics (nutrient status, and drought stress) using remotely sensed images. At NWREC we have a number of replicated field trials that the student will be able to use for their research. The results of their research will be shared online and with industry stakeholders.
Preferred Skills/Experience:
- Remote sensing in agriculture experience
- GIS experience
- RPAS (aka drone) experience
- Crop health management experience
- Field management experience
- Irrigation management experience
- Research experience
- Science communication experience
Student Learning Outcomes:
Depending on the students beginning skill-set, they will learn elementary to advanced levels of agricultural remote sensing, data analysis, and science communication.
Specific Duration Details: start date from May - July
Student Hourly Salary: $14.00-$16.00/hour depending on experience
Expected Hours/Week: 15 - 25 hrs per week
Hourly Working Parameters: regular work hours.
Housing Benefit: housing is not available.
Special Considerations: No
Vehicle/Machinery Operation: Yes
Project Term Availability: Summer 2022
BES Faculty Mentor Name: Nackley
BES Station Name: NWREC
Location (town name) of BES Station: Aurora (near Portland)
Short Project Description:
It is essential that growers apply fertilizers at the 4 Rs: the right concentration, right rate, right location, and right time to ensure maximal root uptake. The application of the 4 Rs in ornamental crops grown in soilless substrates is primarily constrained by a lack of information and secondarily by unfamiliarity with low-cost, high precision management tools. . The effects of different cultural practices (fertilizer and irrigation management) will be investigated in a series of experiments with perennial nursery crops. Using different nursery crop species, we will assess how (1) digital imagery can be used to monitor crop performance (nutrition and water stress); and (2) fertilizer rate alters plant nutrient uptake and nutrient run-off into the environment. Experiments will be performed on a run-off pad, a unique system that enables the collection of run-off from container-grown crops. We are looking for a student who is interested in plant nutrition and fertilizer management. Agricultural run-off is one of the leading causes of water pollution in the united states and the world. We would like to work with a student who is interested in detailed oriented research collection and analyses. The results from this project will help reduce pollution and decrease costs to help make agricultural more sustainable
Student Responsibilities:
The student will perform daily assessments of plant health and check water quality. We have hundreds of plants growing at NWREC and will be fertilizing many at different rates. The BES student will help us assess how our scientific treatments affects growth, nutrient release, and water quality.
Project Objectives:
The nursery production area is approximately five acres of greenhouse, field, and container yard. The BES student will work with our team who are managing a variety of experiments that look at the interaction between fertilizer concentration, irrigation, and soilless substrates. We are looking for a student who is interested in developing their skills as a horticulturalist and diving deeper in to fertilizer science and mineral nutrition.
Preferred Skills/Experience:
- Plant production
- Irrigation management
- Fertilizer application
- Data collection
- Data analyses
- Farming or outdoor work.
Student Learning Outcomes:
The student will gain expertise in plant nutrient management, data collection, data analyses, horticulture, and science communication.
Specific Duration Details: Start May - July
Student Hourly Salary: $14.00-$16.00/hour depending on experience
Expected Hours/Week: 15 - 20 hours per week.
Hourly Working Parameters: regular business hours.
Housing Benefit: no housing is available
Special Considerations: No
Vehicle/Machinery Operation: Yes
Project Term Availability: Summer 2022
BES Faculty Mentor Name: Brian A. Charlton and Everald McLennon
BES Station Name: Klamath Basin Research & Extension Center
Location (town name) of BES Station: Klamath Falls, OR
Short Project Description:
Multiple research opportunities includes:
(1) Industrial hemp grain and fiber trials
(2) Potato variety trials and seed potato production
(3) Winter and spring cereal grain crops (wheat and barley) variety testing trials,
(4) Seeding rate fertilizer testing trials,
(5) Direct and indirect involvement with scholarly activities such as data collection, arrangement, analysis, literature search etc.),
(6) Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on Klamath County and Grazing Practice surveys. Intern will have opportunities to work with project leaders in each of these area as time and situation permit.
Student Responsibilities:
Intern will collect and read insect trapping cards weekly. Insect identification for psyllids, leafhoppers, tuber moth, and aphids will be counted and disseminated to producers via a weekly newsletter. Intern will learn to visually detect potato viruses and confirm results using field diagnostic kits. The intern will be involved in data collection such as plant emergence, vigor, plant height, maturity, harvesting etc. for various on-going and new research projects. Intern will be involved in plot management of hemp and small grains field trials. Forage sample collection, weighing and grinding of samples will also help to gain experiences in this research field. Intern will have opportunity to operate farm machinery as research trial needs dictate. Data entry and summaries will be performed as appropriate. Intern will be guided by tenure track faculty in their future career direction and professional development.
Project Objectives:
Learn research field plot technique, analyze and interpret data, broad understanding of agronomic disciplines - plot management, pathology, entomology, soil science, etc. Intern will work closely with project leaders and independently as appropriate. Intern will work in varying conditions both indoors and outdoors including inclement weather
Preferred Skills/Experience:
Good communication skills, know how to work in an interdisciplinary team, ability to operate farm machinery, and eagerness to learn are preferred skills. Intern will need to obtain ATV and forklift certification. We will provide the training necessary to obtain these certifications if intern doesn't already possess them. We provide on-site job training so experience isn't necessary.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Intern will learn how to design various field plot arrangements and management, basic data entry and statistical analysis. Intern will learn basic insect identification, disease diagnosis, weed identification, etc. Intern will also have opportunities to analyze soil sample results and interpret nutritional status of sample. Intern will learn how to supervise weather data in the field of agriculture.
Specific Duration Details: May 2022 to August 2022
Student Hourly Salary: $15.00/hour
Expected Hours/Week: 40 hrs. per week, may occasionally exceed during peak rouging events. It can be less hours per week if students have other activities in summer.
Hourly Working Parameters: Intern may occasionally need to irrigate on weekends or under frost events. Supervision will be provided as needed.
Housing Benefit: On-site housing is available if needed.
Special Considerations: No
Vehicle/Machinery Operation: Yes
Project Term Availability: Winter 2023, Spring 2023
BES Faculty Mentor Name: Nick Andrews
BES Station Name: North Willamette Research & Extension Center
Location (town name) of BES Station: Aurora
Short Project Description:
Many farmers have been struggling with high vole populations for the last few years, they damage a wide range of crops and management practices are expensive and time consuming. An ability to quickly identify areas with the active vole colonies can help farmers focus their control efforts to achieve the greatest benefit and do the least harm to other wildlife and the environment. We hypothesize that canine scent detection can increase trapping efficiency and improve ecologically sound vole management on farms. We are investigating trap placement methods using canine scent detection and human visual cue detection on vegetable, hazelnut and dairy farms in the Willamette Valley north of Corvallis. We will also host Extension workshops, a project blog and write newsletter articles to engage a wider audience.
Student Responsibilities:
This position will contribute to a USDA: Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education grant. The student will help with on-farm field work and data collection. They will visit farm research sites, usually working with the project PIs and staff, and will contribute to setting, clearing, and pulling traps, accurately collecting data including rodent ID, taking photos, maintaining needed supplies, and other assigned tasks.
Before working in the field, the student must complete animal care and use training that includes videos, health certification and a short in-person training/certification to practice primary and secondary techniques of rodent euthanasia. Compliance with current Covid-19 policies and practices required of all OSU employees is required.
Project Objectives:
Voles do not hibernate, but they stop breeding in the winter. So winter and early spring provides a good opportunity for farmers to manage local vole populations in order to reduce breeding potential early in the growing season. If the breeding population is relatively low early in the season, crop damage will also be lower later in the summer.
Our main research objective is to test our hypothesis that canine vole detection is more efficient and accurate than human vole detection. We are training dogs to give reliable alerts to their handlers when they detect a live vole in a field. We are comparing the efficiency of trained vole detection dogs to trained human detection.
Our main Extension objectives are to communicate effectively with collaborating farmers and to share project findings with interested farmers. We are developing a project blog and plan to host a farmer field day in 2023.
Preferred Skills/Experience:
Experience or strong interest in applied research in agricultural or wildlife science. Attention to detail and good data collection experience. An interest in working with farmers and sharing research based information. An ability to work relatively independently to complete reporting requirements for the BES program.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Rodent identification and biology. Vole detection and trapping techniques. Data collection and entry methods and some plot layout skills. Extension work including blog entries and field day coordination.
Specific Duration Details: Winter and spring term 2023
Student Hourly Salary: $16.00/hour
Expected Hours/Week: 10-20
Hourly Working Parameters:
If the student might be expected to work on weekends and /or outside of 8am-5pm, please provide information here.
Field work will be during normal work hours, but data entry and other desk work can be done on a flexible schedule.
Housing Benefit:
Special Considerations: No
Vehicle/Machinery Operation: Yes
Project Term Availability: Summer 2022
BES Faculty Mentor Name: Aymeric Goyer
BES Station Name: HAREC
Location (town name) of BES Station: Hermiston
Short Project Description:
Every year potato producers lose approximately 17% of their yield due to plant pathogenic microorganisms. Potato is the fourth most important staple food crop in the world and accounts for a nearly $2 billion dollar industry in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho alone. To combat this loss, farmers may rely on a combination of control methods such as pesticides application, cultural practices, and planting of disease-free certified seeds and, when available, resistant cultivars. However, for some pathogens, these control methods are either unavailable, inadequate, or unsustainable. Therefore, new control methods are needed. Thiamin, also known as vitamin B1, a compound naturally produced by plants, can prime plants when externally applied to foliage, enabling plants to respond more rapidly and/or more robustly to pathogens and thus annihilating or limiting disease. However, besides one study on potato virus Y, the priming effect of thiamin has never been tested in potato. Therefore, in this project, the student will assist a Master student to test the effectiveness of thiamin priming application on potato against bacterial (Streptomyces and Pectobacterium) and fungal (Alternaria solani) pathogens. The experiments will be done in greenhouses as well as in the field.
Student Responsibilities:
- Preparation of tissue culture medium
- Preparation of soil mixture
- Propagation of potato plantlets in tissue culture
- Transfer of tissue culture plantlets to soil in pots
- Growth management of potato plants
- Mechanical inoculation of potato plants with pathogens
- Leaf sample collection
- Data collection and analysis in Excel
- General lab housekeeping
Project Objectives:
The objectives of this project are to:
1) Test the effectiveness of thiamin priming treatments on potato against the bacterial pathogens Streptomyces scabies and Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp carotovorum;
2) Test the effectiveness of thiamin priming treatments on potato against the fungal pathogen Alternaria solani.
Preferred Skills/Experience:
- Good communication
- Punctual
- Enthusiastic
- Dependable
- Strong work ethics
Student Learning Outcomes:
The student will learn the fundamentals of plant tissue culture, and plant growth and disease management. The student will also learn scientific experimental design, and data collection and analysis.
Specific Duration Details:
June 20 - September 2
Student Hourly Salary: $14.00/hour
Expected Hours/Week: 40 hours.
Hourly Working Parameters:
Housing Benefit: May be able to provide housing.
Special Considerations: No
Vehicle/Machinery Operation: No
Project Term Availability: Summer 2022
BES Faculty Mentor Name: Guojie Wang
BES Station Name: Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Union Station
Location (town name) of BES Station: Union
Short Project Description:
During 2016 to 2021, both annual and perennial forage production systems were evaluated at the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center. Our research focused on forage species diversity and selection under different irrigation scenarios. We tested 20 cover crop species including small grains, millets, sorghum-sudangrass hybrids, and brassicas in single species evaluations. We found that full-season cover crops seeded in early to mid-spring produced approximately 3-4 tons of forage dry matter per acre with limited irrigation. These full-season cover crops can be designed as early maturing crops with limited need for irrigation water and can be used as harvested hay or grazing material in July and August, the summer slump months for other forage species. Several superior cover crop species were identified within these 20 species pools. We also noticed the limitations of these cover crop species for grazing animals based on the field agronomic evaluations including water content and nutrient deficiencies. Therefore, we want to continue fine-tuning this production system to produce higher yielding and balanced-quality forages under drought conditions by increasing cover crop species diversity. Annual forages can add flexibility to producers facing uncertain irrigation water availability. Annual cover crops increase soil organic matter and overall soil health, preparing farm or ranch for increased productivity in future years. The field agronomic study will be conducted at the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center at Union Station in 2022. The full-season cover crop seed mixtures will be seeded in early spring with a no-till drill. The field agronomic plots will be laid out as a split-plot experimental design with four replications. Irrigation treatments will be the main plot. Within each irrigation treatment, cover crop mixtures will be the split-plot.
Student Responsibilities:
The intern will be responsible for 1) searching each forage species information indoor and writing a literature review about the selected cover crop species, 2) managing forage plots including pest control, irrigation, and fertilization, 3) monitoring forage plots including species developmental stages, height, density, and production, 4) collecting forage and soil samples, 5) grinding forage samples, 6) inputting and analyzing the collected data, and 7) interpreting results, making a poster, and finishing a scientific report.
Project Objectives:
Our specific research objectives are to:
1) Test full-season cover crop seed mixtures with multiple species identified from preceding research projects to increase forage species diversity and increase forage yield and quality.
2) Study forage fiber quality and digestibility to determine if multiple species will have synergistic effects on forage used by grazing livestock.
3) Evaluate irrigation management practices to save water while growing a productive forage cover crop; determining if a full-season cover crop can be an profitably grown under severe drought.
Preferred Skills/Experience:
The expectations to the intern from project mentor is to 1) communicate with mentor, summer tech, graduate student, and other personnel effectively and work together efficiently; 2) perform the necessary daily tasks the intern responsible for smoothly with help from mentor and other personnel; 3) meet deadlines for this internship program midterm report and final poster presentation; 4) learn new scientific and practical knowledge daily and actively by asking questions, searching internets, and other means.
Student Learning Outcomes:
The leaning outcomes of this internship is to 1) have hands-on opportunities in agriculture related activities, such as field measurement, seeding, fertilization, weed control, and irrigation; 2) have scientific training such as experimental design, data collection, field monitoring, and results interpretation; 3) interact with local producers and scientists and have a broader perspective on agriculture production through field tours and producers' meetings.
Specific Duration Details:
Student Hourly Salary: $15.00/hour
Expected Hours/Week: For this project, the student intern will be expected to spend 25-35 hours per week outdoors and up to 15 hours per week in an indoor lab that depending on the time of the season, these hours can vary widely.
Hourly Working Parameters: This project deals with seeding, irrigating, raising, and harvesting forages. These duties will need to be completed in a timely manner. Intern may need to work in the early morning, late afternoon and/or weekends to complete the necessary field work
Housing Benefit: A room in a trailer house, located on site, will be assigned to the intern to use during the internship with no charge to the intern. Intern may/may not share the trailer house with other interns. Necessary cleaning and housekeeping work need to be done on intern's side. Rooms are available on a first come-first serve basis.
Special Considerations: Yes
Vehicle/Machinery Operation: Yes
Project Term Availability: Summer 2022, Fall 2022
BES Faculty Mentor Name: Govinda Shrestha
BES Station Name: Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center
Location (town name) of BES Station: Central Point, OR
Short Project Description:
In the U.S., the hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) legalization as an agricultural commodity, through the 2018 Federal Farm Bill brings bountiful opportunities to expand hemp production similar to other agriculture crops. Hemp can be grown for many purposes, including grain, fiber, cannabidiol extracts, and smokable flowers.
Traditional agricultural crops have long and on-going pest management research. Insect pest and disease risks to the new hemp crop should now be emphasized. Understanding these risks can assist in formulating the best pest management strategies; thereby contributing to the hemp industry sustainability and economic viability. The overall goal of this study is to establish the baseline information on insect pests and associated beneficial insects on hemp production systems.
The specific aims of the study are: 1) to monitor the population dynamics of corn earworms and beet leafhopper that are currently potential threats to hemp CBD and smokable production in OR, and 2) to identify common insect pests and beneficial insects on hemp plants.
From this project, the student will learn how to monitor a variety of insect pests; how to identify insect pests and natural enemies; and develop outreach skills such as interaction with hemp growers, hemp processors, and other stakeholders.
Student Responsibilities:
1. Establish pheromone traps (for corn earworm adults) and yellow sticky cards (for flying insects, e.g., aphids, thrips, Lygus bugs, leafhoppers) in 6-8 outdoor hemp fields at the beginning of the field season (June).
2. Monitor pheromone traps and sticky cards once a week until harvest season.
3. Sample insect pests and natural enemies on hemp plants once a week until harvest season.
4. Process insect samples under a stereomicroscope in the lab.
5. Prepare insect datasheet.
Project Objectives:
The aims of the study are: 1) to monitor the population dynamics of corn earworms and beet leafhopper that are currently potential threats to hemp CBD and smokable production in OR or across the nation, and 2) to identify common insect pests and beneficial insects on hemp plants.
Preferred Skills/Experience:
This internship doesn’t require preferred skills. However, the project will be benefitted if the student has an interest to learn insect pest monitoring techniques, insect pest identification, biological control, and plant-insect interaction.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Student will gain several skills and knowledge from this project:
1. Student will learn insect pest monitoring techniques for hemp that can be relevant any other outdoor crops
2. Student will learn how to identify insect pest and natural enemy species on agricultural crop fields, including hemp.
3. Student will develop outreach skills. For, example, the student will be directly involved in interaction with hemp growers, hemp processers and other stakeholders
Specific Duration Details:
June to August
Student Hourly Salary: $15.00/hour
Expected Hours/Week: 40 hours per week
Hourly Working Parameters: No
Housing Benefit:
Special Considerations: No
Vehicle/Machinery Operation: Yes
Project Term Availability: Summer 2022
BES Faculty Mentor Name: Ann Colonna & Sarah Masoni
BES Station Name: Food Innovation Center
Location (town name) of BES Station: Portland
Short Project Description:
Summers at the Food Innovation Center are filled with a variety of projects focused on development or research of food products. This summer internship will include: working in the sensory and consumer research lab, possible on site and off site testing, and product and process development work. Hands-on experience with real client projects of the Food Innovation Center.
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.
For the Sensory portion, this intern will be assisting the Sensory Program Director, Sensory Specialist and other Sensory Program Staff with all aspects of sensory testing. Duties will include: meeting with clients to discuss overall testing objectives, putting together a budget and formal proposal, building screeners in Qualtrics, performing a full category review with the sensory team and client, emailing and calling for the recruitment of consumers from an existing database using Microsoft Access and Microsoft Outlook, advertising through Facebook and other sites, preparing the test ballot in the data acquisition system Compusense, potentially working with the Institutional Review Board on consent forms, preparing the test design and serving order, printing labels, making copies, the coding of serving materials, food sample preparation, serving food samples to consumers and clean up of the sensory reception facilities post test, analyzing testing results and preparing a full report for the client. Consumer tests are conducted both at the FIC laboratory complex in Portland and off-site. The laboratory complex includes a reception area, 10 booths and a staging area, a descriptive analysis/focus room, observation area and a commercial kitchen. The student intern will gain excellent real world, hands on skills in dealing with clients and administering sensory tests from beginning to end. Students will be responsible for reporting these results to FIC staff upon completion of their internship.
Project Objectives:
Student interns will become part of the team at the FIC. Coordinating projects with two working groups (Sensory & Consumer Research and Product and Process Development) will be the responsibility of the student intern. The FIC is a laboratory that includes: A large central kitchen, Sensory and Consumer Research Lab, Focus Group Lab, Product Development Lab, Analytical Lab. Work will be performed in each of the labs depending upon what you have been asked to work on. There is a self-study project for the student intern that involves developing a food product. The information for this portion of the summer work will be released to the candidate prior to the summer internship, a bit of work preparing documents will be required in preparation.
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/Experience:
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
Specific Duration Details: Mid June through Mid September, flexible
Student Hourly Salary: $15.00/hour
Expected Hours/Week: Minimum 30 maximum 40
Hourly Working Parameters: There may be an opportunity to work on a weekend, but this is not common, there may also be after hours work, but this is not common.
Housing Benefit: We do not offer a housing benefit
Special Considerations: No
Vehicle/Machinery Operation: No
Project Term Availability: Summer 2022
BES Faculty Mentor Name: Judit Barroso
BES Station Name: Columbia Basin Agricultural Research Station
Location (town name) of BES Station: Adams
Short Project Description:
Russian thistle (Salsola tragus L.) is one of the most economically important broadleaved weed in wheat–fallow cropping systems of the Inland Pacific Northwest (PNW). Russian thistle infestations are responsible for most tillage and herbicide use after wheat harvest due to its capability of regrowth after harvest. In the PNW, infestation on 3.6 M ac costs growers more than $50 M annually in control measures.
Most dryland growers in the intermediate and low rainfall PNW are dealing with significant and increasing difficulties controlling Russian thistle because of the existence of populations resistant to glyphosate. Those who tackle the problem relatively successfully every year know that they will have to deal with the uncontrolled Russian thistle infestation of their neighbors or roadways next year due to seed dispersion (Russian thistles disperse seeds by tumbling when plants die).
Determining when Russian thistle produces viable seeds in relation to growing degree-days will identify the time that a grower has after harvest to control this species. A better knowledge of Russian thistle seed production timing will help to improve control and maintain sustainability in wheat production systems in low rainfall zones of the PNW.
Student Responsibilities:
For this project, the student will be expected to spend about 10 hours per week outdoors and about 30 hours per week indoors.
Among the different tasks where the student is expected to help are:
1) Process Russian thistle plants to estimate the number of seeds produced per plant.
2) Conduct germination tests in a growth chamber to evaluate seed viability.
3) Participate in weed samplings in the field.
4) Help with sample processing and greenhouse and field studies.
Project Objectives:
The main goal of this project is to determine timing of viable seed production in Russian thistle based on germination date.
Preferred Skills/Experience:
- An interest in agronomy and/or weed science is desirable.
- Knowledge of Excel will help to develop some of the activities, but it is not required.
Student Learning Outcomes:
The student can expect to learn:
- Biology and ecology of Russian thistle.
- To recognize important weed species in dryland wheat production.
- To be familiar with seeds of different weed species.
- New practices to control weeds in wheat cropping systems.
- Differences between research conducted in a growth chamber, greenhouse, or in the field.
- Some notions to analyze data and interpret results.
Specific Duration Details:
Student Hourly Salary: $14.00/hour
Expected Hours/Week: I would like the student to work 40 hours per week, but if it is not possible, then a minimum of 20 hours per week.
Hourly Working Parameters: There maybe a few days that to avoid very high temperatures in the field, we decide to start earlier than 8:00pm.
Housing Benefit:
Special Considerations: Yes
Vehicle/Machinery Operation: Yes
Project Term Availability: Summer 2022
BES Faculty Mentor Name: Achala KC
BES Station Name: Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center (SOREC)
Location (town name) of BES Station: Central Point
Short Project Description:
Pear, wine grapes, and hemp are the larger acreage commercial crops grown in southern Oregon. While these crops are challenged with several production problems, diseases are one of them. At SOREC plant pathology program, we regularly monitor the diseases of economic importance to these crops. In 2022, we are planning two disease surveys including hemp disease survey and grapevine leaf roll disease. The student is expected to work on one of these disease survey projects.
Student Responsibilities:
Depending on the disease survey project that student is interested, the major responsibility will include assisting a researcher on identifying predefined disease symptoms in hemp or grapevine, recording data on presence or absence of symptoms, processing symptomatic plants in the lab for identification of causal organism, data management and entry in Microsoft Excel sheets.
Project Objectives:
The objectives of these projects are 1) to understand the presence of important diseases in crops that would threaten the productivity of a crop 2) to understand if one disease is more prevalent than others and prioritize management programs for that particular disease.
Preferred Skills/Experience:
It is preferred that students have some knowledge of basic research, good organizational skills, experience on basic office programs such as Excel and Power Point, good team player, understands and follows safety protocols, enjoys both outdoor and indoor research activities.
Student Learning Outcomes:
The student can expect to learn the basics of research that involves survey and data collection, distinguish between healthy and disease plants, sterile techniques related to microorganism isolation and identification, data entry and management.
Specific Duration Details: Mid- June to Early-September
Student Hourly Salary: $15.00/hour
Expected Hours/Week: 20 to 40 hours, but mostly 40 hours.
Hourly Working Parameters: Depending on the nature of project, student might be expected to work on weekends and/ or outside of 8am-5pm. However, this happens very least.
Housing Benefit:
Special Considerations: Yes
Vehicle/Machinery Operation: Yes
Project Term Availability: Summer 2022, Fall 2022
BES Faculty Mentor Name: Ruijun Qin
BES Station Name: HAREC
Location (town name) of BES Station: Hermiston
Short Project Description:
In the Columbia Basin region, growers can suffer from low profitability during the production of wheat and corn, which are planted for 2-3 years as the main rotational crops to potatoes or onions. Therefore, there is a need to introduce new crop species into the current cropping system to increase crop diversities and potentially increase growers' profits. Adzuki bean and mung bean showed great potential to be rotational crops based on our field trials over years. Meanwhile, these crops have rising demand in domestic and export markets. The inclusion of these crops will also benefit the current cropping system by fixing biological nitrogen, conserving water (reduced irrigation requirement), improving soil health, and suppressing pests and diseases. However, agronomic management practices need to be evaluated for the crops. Through greenhouse studies and field trials, we aim to develop the nutrient and water management practices for these crops. The execution of this project will benefit growers of the Columbia Basin by increasing crop sustainability and new market development.
Student Responsibilities:
The main work responsibility will be conducting greenhouse study and field trials, observing and measuring crop growth, taking soil and plant samples, recording and processing data, and/or reporting project progress. Besides this project, the students may have the opportunity to participate in other projects such as potato, wheat, bluegrass, forage, soil health, fertilization, biochar, etc. The student is also encouraged to develop and test research ideas.
Project Objectives:
This project will be based on greenhouse studies and field trials with the objectives of developing nutrients and water for adzuki beans and mung beans.
Preferred Skills/Experience:
Applicable majors include soil and crop science, agronomy, horticulture, ag-engineering, food technology, ecology, and other natural science-related majors. Applicants should be motivated, hardworking, team-player, and physically able to work in field conditions.
Student Learning Outcomes:
This project will provide good opportunities for students to gain experiences and knowledge in agricultural sciences through laboratory study and field trials. Particularly, the student will have a chance to learn legume crops. The student will learn field measurement and observation on crop growth. Based on the research findings, the student will be able to develop project reports, presentations, and/or publications with the supervision of a mentor and postdoc. The student may also have the chance to gain experience in the commercial fields of the crop industry.
Specific Duration Details:
Student Hourly Salary: $15.00/hour
Expected Hours/Week: 40 hours a week
Hourly Working Parameters:
Housing Benefit:
Special Considerations: No
Vehicle/Machinery Operation: No
Project Term Availability: Summer 2022,Fall 2022,Winter 2023
BES Faculty Mentor Name: Ruijun Qin
BES Station Name: HAREC
Location (town name) of BES Station: Hermiston
Short Project Description:
Soils under potato production in the Columbia Basin region generally exhibit poor soil fertility conditions and limited water and nutrient holding capacity. Many studies have shown that the organic amendment may be effective in improving soil quality. In the region, there are rich sources of manure and biochar materials, which provide great potential in applying organic materials into soils. Recycling manure in agricultural lands possesses agronomic benefits such as providing nutrients for crops, maintaining soil health, improving soil organic carbon content, enhancing microbial biomass, and activity. Biochar is a carbonaceous material made from pyrolysis of organic residues (e.g., corn stalk, bean straw, manure, pinewood, etc.) under anoxic conditions and has been extensively studied as a potential soil amendment to enhance soil quality with subsequent positive impacts on crop productivity. However, the information on the biochar and manure application in the Columbia Basin of Eastern Oregon is very limited. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the agronomic and environmental impacts of organic materials application to potato production in the Columbia Basin region, one of the most important potato production regions in the Pacific Northwest.
Student Responsibilities:
The main work responsibility will be observing and measuring crop growth, taking soil and plant samples, learning techniques for field measurement, recording and processing data, and/or reporting project progress. Besides this project, the students may have the opportunity to participate in other projects such as wheat, bluegrass, dry beans, alfalfa, soil health, etc. The student is also encouraged to develop and test research ideas.
Project Objectives:
This project will be based on field trials and laboratory incubation studies with the objectives of 1) understanding soil nutrient availability, 2) evaluating the field performance of potato crops in the field trial.
Preferred Skills/Experience:
Applicable majors include soil and crop science, agronomy, horticulture, ag-engineering, food technology, ecology, and other natural science-related majors. Applicants should be motivated, hardworking, team-player, and physically able to work in field conditions.
Student Learning Outcomes:
This project will provide good opportunities for students to gain experiences and knowledge in agricultural sciences through laboratory study and field trials. Particularly, the student will gain knowledge on the organic amendment, especially biochar and potato crops. Based on the research findings, students will be able to develop project reports, prepare presentations, and/or even develop publications with the supervision of the mentor and postdoc. The student may also have the chance to gain experience in the commercial fields of the crop industry.
Specific Duration Details:
Student Hourly Salary: $15.00/hour
Expected Hours/Week: 40
Hourly Working Parameters:
Housing Benefit:
Special Considerations: No
Vehicle/Machinery Operation: No
Project Term Availability: Summer 2022, Fall 2022
BES Faculty Mentor Name: Christina Hagerty
BES Station Name: Columbia Basin Agricultural Research Center
Location (town name) of BES Station: Pendleton (Adams), OR
Short Project Description:
The Pendleton Cereal Pathology lab is focused on serving the producers and stakeholders of high quality Oregon wheat. Our is to conduct relevant, practical, and applied research on the biology and control of plant-pathogenic fungi and nematodes that limit yields of dryland wheat production in the Inland Pacific Northwest. We work with many pathogens including Soilborne wheat mosaic virus, Fusarium crown rot, rust, Septoria leaf blotch, Eyespot, and nematodes including Cereal cyst nematode and Root lesion nematode. Ultimately, these pests hurt profitability for farmers; our research effort is to develop affordable solutions to help farmers. Our lab is focused on many solutions including: identifying sources of genetic resistance to pests of interest, trialing seed treatments, and testing fungicides. We are also working to understand pathogen/nematode dynamics, variety blends, and fungicide resistance.
Student Responsibilities:
For this project, 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.
The intern will be working directly with other lab members to develop project work plans as part of a general research effort in the program. We can accommodate if the student has specific interests (e.g. Seeking lab experience? Seeking field work experience? Seeking data management experience?), as there are many projects going on in the program.
Project Objectives:
1) prepare for research plot harvest. Manage plots maps and label harvest bags
2) Sample plants from research plots, evaluate for root mass and disease
3) Help harvest plots
4) Run protein on grain samples and enter data
5) Help maintain a clean and safe working environment
Preferred Skills/Experience:
Timeliness, good attitude, attention to detail, able to work in hot/dry/dusty conditions. Work will be challenging but gratifying.
Student Learning Outcomes:
The student can expect to learn basics of agronomy and plant pathology. Basics of extension communications. Personal and professional development opportunities will be abundant.
Specific Duration Details: None, as long as it is in the summer term.
Student Hourly Salary: $15.25/hour
Expected Hours/Week: 30 to 40 hours per week
Hourly Working Parameters: 7:30 am - 4pm
Housing Benefit: n/a
Special Considerations: Yes
Vehicle/Machinery Operation: Yes
Project Term Availability: Summer 2022
BES Faculty Mentor Name: Ryan Graebner
BES Station Name: Columbia Basin Agricultural Research Center
Location (town name) of BES Station: Pendleton, OR
Short Project Description:
Oregon has minor spring wheat acreage compared to Washington (roughly 6% of dryland wheat acreage in Oregon, compared to 23% in Washington in 2017), due to its perceived limited economic viability in the state. The difference in spring wheat acreage between Oregon and Washington is in part also driven by an absence of spring wheat varieties that were bred for local conditions. This severely limits options for controlling winter annual grassy weeds and limits the flexibility of farmers to quickly respond to premiums in the dark northern spring market. To address this, the OSU Cereal Extension Program is conducting a small-scale spring wheat breeding effort with the objective of developing one or more economically viable spring wheat varieties for dryland growing regions of Oregon with a focus on disease resistance and end-use quality.
Student Responsibilities:
The student in this position will play a key role in evaluating and advancing experimental spring wheat lines that with luck, may result in one or more economically viable, disease resistant, high-quality varieties for dryland growing regions in Oregon. The student will be responsible for 1) recording detailed field notes related to pest, disease, and environmental damage, as well as growth and development of experimental spring wheat lines, 2) participate in maintaining field trials including hand-weeding, 3) combine harvesting and collecting seed by hand, 4) grain sample cleaning and processing, and 5) using near-infrared spectroscopy to determine protein content and test weight of collected grain samples.
Project Objectives:
Two generations of selection will be completed in the greenhouse to seed about fifty experimental lines in two dryland field locations – one at the Pendleton station, and one in Sherman County collocated with statewide wheat and barley variety trials. The student will assist in the evaluation of these spring wheat lines throughout the 2022 field season, participate in harvesting activities, processing and analyzing collected grain samples, and interpreting and reporting results.
Preferred Skills/Experience:
Experience working outdoors in remote, hot, and dusty environments around heavy equipment and an ability to drive pickups and trailers is preferred but not required.
Student Learning Outcomes:
As an integral part of the Cereal Extension Program a student may expect to develop a greater understanding of dryland wheat production systems, learn the basics of plant breeding techniques, variety testing, wheat development and physiology, near-infrared spectroscopy, disease screening, and end-use quality metrics. A successful student will also gain experience working in the field, laboratory, and greenhouse, and gain proficiency in data collection, entry, and management.
Specific Duration Details: Start and end dates are flexible to accommodate a student's schedule. It is expected that this position would begin in May or June and end in September.
Student Hourly Salary: $16.00/hour
Expected Hours/Week: Approximately 40 hours/week.
Hourly Working Parameters: Normal work hours are from 7:30 am to 4 pm. On days when the program is harvesting students will be expected to travel - rarely, but occasionally overnight. A student may work outside of normal work hours and more than 40 hours during the busy harvest season.
Housing Benefit:
Special Considerations: No
Vehicle/Machinery Operation: Yes
Project Term Availability: Summer 2022
BES Faculty Mentor Name: David Wooster
BES Station Name: Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center
Location (town name) of BES Station: Hermiston
Short Project Description:
We work in eastern Oregon aquatic and forested ecosystems examining the impact of human water and land use on a variety of invertebrate species including crayfish, macroinvertebrates, and native bees (that are important pollinators). The BES intern will help out with a variety of these projects, working both in the field and in the laboratory. Field work might include crayfish trapping in local rivers and wetlands, hand-netting of bees, aquatic macroinvertebrate sampling, and identifying vegetation along transects.
Student Responsibilities:
The student will be responsible for all aspects of our work. This includes both field work collecting animals, measuring environmental parameters, and conducting vegetation surveys. As well as laboratory processing of invertebrate samples, data preparation, and conducting data summaries.
Project Objectives:
The main objectives of our research are:
- Examine the impacts that human water and land use have on local invertebrates.
- Summarize the data we collect into forms that can be used for reports and manuscripts.
Preferred Skills/Experience:
Although helpful, no previous experience with insects is necessary.
Student Learning Outcomes:
The student will learn a variety of field techniques including trap-setting, measuring environmental parameters, and laboratory processing of samples. The student will also learn how to enter data into a spreadsheet and use summary statistics and graphs to aid in interpreting data.
Specific Duration Details:
Student Hourly Salary: $15.00/hour
Expected Hours/Week: 40 hours/week
Hourly Working Parameters: Students may work more than 8 hours a day when doing fieldwork (but not more than 40 hours per week), or may start earlier than 8 AM or end later than 5 PM.
Housing Benefit: We will provide $150 a month in housing benefits.
Special Considerations: No
Vehicle/Machinery Operation: Yes
Project Term Availability: Summer 2022
BES Faculty Mentor Name: Sandy DeBano
BES Station Name: Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center
Location (town name) of BES Station: Hermiston
Short Project Description:
This project examines how habitat management in forests and orchards influence beneficial invertebrates, including native bees and invertebrate predators of crop pests.
Forests serve agriculture in numerous ways, including providing extensive rangeland habitat for livestock production and forest products. These rangelands also serve as important habitat for pollinators, including native bees which, in turn, are important crop pollinators. In fact, native bees are estimated to pollinate over $3 billion of crops in the US annually. Because of this, producers and land managers are interested in developing management plans that not only focus on forest and livestock production goals, but also on maximizing pollinator habitat in these areas. The student will be involved in a project that examines how forest thinning influences native bee communities.
Orchards are also key contributors to Oregon agriculture productivity. For example, in 2019, Washington and Oregon combined were responsible for nearly 80% of total sweet cherry production in the United States. The student will contribute to a project seeking to understand how cover-cropping and natural habitats affect beneficial invertebrate communities in eastern Oregon cherry orchards.
Student Responsibilities:
The internship will involve both field and laboratory work. Field work may last all day and involve physical activities such as extensive walking to and among field sites while carrying up to 25 pounds of equipment, collecting bees and other insects using nets and other trapping techniques, and sampling plants and soils. It is anticipated that 50% of the intern's time will be spent in the field and the remaining time in the laboratory. Most field work will take place at remote locations that involve staying in field station housing or camping for up to a week at a time. Laboratory work will consist of preparing insect specimens for identification (e.g., washing, drying, pinning, and labeling specimens), organizing insect collections, cataloging plant specimens, and entering data into Excel. The intern may also be involved in soil sampling and other field sampling methods necessary to characterize study sites.
Project Objectives:
The intern involved with this project will work on projects focused on how land management influence native bees in forests and orchards. Projects will take place at various locations in eastern Oregon. Specific objectives will be to:
1. collect native bees and other beneficial invertebrates at various forested and orchard sites using nets and traps;
2. sample blooming plants along transects at each site;
3. prepare invertebrate specimens for identification by washing, drying, and pinning; and
4. enter data into Excel spreadsheets following methods necessary to ensure targeted quality assurance and control.
Preferred Skills/Experience:
Although helpful, no previous experience with insects or plants is necessary. The intern must have a driver's license.
Student Learning Outcomes:
The intern can expect to learn or further develop existing skills in vegetation and soil sampling, beneficial invertebrate sampling methods, laboratory techniques (including invertebrate and plant preparation and preservation), data entry and analysis, and presentation skills in the development of their final project.
Specific Duration Details:
Student Hourly Salary: $15.00/hour
Expected Hours/Week: The student will be expected to work 40 hours a week.
Hourly Working Parameters: Students may work more than 8 hours a day when doing fieldwork (but not more than 40 hours per week), or may start earlier than 8 AM or end later than 5 PM.
Housing Benefit: We will provide $150 a month in housing benefits.
Special Considerations: No
Vehicle/Machinery Operation: Yes