Research Assistant

About This Role

The employee in this position will be part of a special collaborative project between Dr. Thomas Phillips at KSU and Dr. Damon Crook at the USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) laboratory at Buzzards Bay, MA. The primary purpose of this agreement is to support studies on trapping, survey and detection of Helicoverpa moth sub-species that require quarantine action wherever detected. This research will provide critical information for regulatory policy and support the detection and quarantine action efforts within the USA.

The successful conduct of this research depends on the combined skills and collaboration of Drs. Phillips and Crook to conduct research on invasive moth pest species that do not occur in the USA and have official quarantine status. Federal regulations require that work on these pests can be done with live insects only at the secured quarantine research facility located at Dr. Crook’s USDA laboratory on Cape Cod at the Otis Air Force Base in Buzzards Bay, MA.

Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Maintain Laboratory colonies of living insects inside a quarantine-regulated facility needed for research on exotic pests of plants in the USA.
• Assist with the maintenance of Helicoverpa moth colonies held in the containment facility of the USDA APHIS PPQ Otis Laboratory.
• Assist with the care and maintenance of other colonies of insects held at the Otis Laboratory.
• Weighing and mixing diet, changing larval diet containers, cleaning and refreshing adult feeding material, setting up mating pairs, and cleaning cages/holding containers.
• Maintain all equipment and supplies needed to conduct the rearing and colony maintenance.
• Keeps the laboratory orderly, clean, and well stocked, and ensure that laboratory equipment is properly maintained.
• Conduct laboratory research on Helicoverpa moth sub-species and hybrids that will inform regulatory policy and support detection efforts within the USA.
• Screening and analysis of semiochemicals (e.g., attractants) in olfactory bioassays.
• Assist with collections of volatile chemicals and help conduct behavioral assays to identify potential attractants for Helicoverpa moths.
• Summarize findings to support experimental design and contribute to publication drafts.

About Us

Kansas State University’s Entomology Department is ranked 4th best Entomology department in the world alongside 23% of faculty being ranked in the top 2% of scientists. The members of the Department of Entomology inherently understand that anyone can find success and opportunities in Entomology. From the insects we study, to the systems we research, to the students we mentor, to the places we come from, to the cultures we practice, we are enriched by our unique differences. For further information, visit https://entomology.k-state.edu/

Worksite Description

This position is on-site. This position will be located at a USDA laboratory on Cape Cod at the Otis Air Force Base in Buzzards Bay, MA.

What You'll Need to Succeed

Minimum Qualifications:

• Requires a bachelor's degree.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with conducting laboratory and/or field research with insect pests.
• BS in Biology or any Biological Discipline.
• Experience conducting experiments and working with living and dead insects, and other organisms as needed for the research.
• Ability to rear, count and sort living insects and related organisms as needed for the research.
• Experience conducting field insect-trapping experiments and/or laboratory experiments on insect attraction to different chemicals (windtunnel or olfactometer assays).
• Ability to record and analyze results of experiments with insects, and to analyze and summarize numerical data from experiments.
• Experience using software for word processing, spreadsheet creation, data processing and graphics as needed.
• Ability to understand or have experience using gas chromatography or similar analytical methods.
  
  

Additional licenses / registrations / certifications:

• Valid driver's license.

Sponsorship eligibility:

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship

How to Apply

Please submit the following documents:

1. Resume or CV
2. Contact information for three professional references

Application Window

Applications close on August 14th, 2025

Anticipated Hiring Pay Range

$19.00 - $24.00 per hour