Nursery Intern
The Nursery Intern assists the Nursery Manager in preparing for and executing a variety of projects primarily associated with the growing rice and quinoa seed program and other value-added crop research projects. Success in this position will contribute to the company’s ability to maintain certification of selected varieties, improve on current varieties, and provide sufficient seed to meet production requirements.
Essential Functions/Responsibilities
Research Projects
- Assist Nursery staff with set-up of experiments, data collection of plant morphological traits, rogueing of off type, harvesting and processing of selected breeding lines or varieties.
- Hand sorting of grain heads and/or threshed seed, stripping of heads into containers (envelopes, vials, bags).
- Cleaning and running of equipment; assist in measuring, staking and hand planting of headrows (envelopes and vials, dry and/or in water); hand harvest of individual plants and small plots.
- Keep resources clean and organized (seed storage, equipment, greenhouses, office).
Greenhouse Maintenance
- Help to maintain greenhouses, parental lines, and perform crosses.
- Planting of trays, pots, transplants for increase or use as parent plants.
- Harvest, labeling, and conditioning of seed from greenhouse plants.
- Perform crosses as directed.
- Maintenance through minor repairs, watering, labeling, and insect control.
Observation and Recordkeeping
- Take and record field notes, label materials, and complete seed paperwork as necessary.
- Notes and observations of fields and individual plant lines.
- Rogueing and recording of seed contaminants or off-types.
Knowledge, Skills and Ability
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Familiarity with rice and quinoa culture or ability to learn.
- Excellent attention to detail.
- Methodical and thorough working habits.
- Demonstrate cooperative behavior with colleagues, supervisors and managers at all times.
- Work well under pressure in order to meet multiple, and sometimes, competing deadlines.
Qualifications
Minimum
- Valid CA drivers license and reliable transportation
Preferred
- Pursuing a degree in Agriculture or related field
- Prior lab experience
Work Environment
The Nursery Intern will be required to work indoors at a desk during seed preparation and small lot cleaning and outside during seed cleaning, planting, growing, and harvest. Crossing of rice will be both inside and outside the greenhouse. Conditions range from a heated/air-conditioned office, hot and dry rice fields, humid flooded rice fields and hot, humid nursery greenhouses. The work requires both a clean, organized workspace as well as working in muddy conditions.
Physical Requirements for Performing Essential Duties
Sitting/Standing/Walking: Sitting during seed preparation, walking wet and dry fields, standing and sitting to make crosses, bending over to plant rows, reaching/pulling to rogue, etc.
Speaking/Hearing: Ability to effectively communicate with co-workers and supervisors.
Vision: Must have good vision to distinguish minute differences in rice plants and also to see the parts of the rice plant necessary in making crosses.
Lifting/Carrying: Must be able to lift 25 pound bags of seed.
Stooping/Kneeling: Must be able to stoop/kneel when required.
Reaching/Handling: Must have good flexibility to work with equipment and hand buckets and bags of seed from transport vehicles.