CH Research Assistant

Department:

Chemistry

Special Instructions to Applicants:

When applying you will be required to attach the following electronic documents:

• 2-page Resume
• A Cover Letter stating why this position will be important to you
• 3 professional references in one PDF document

For additional information please contact: Marilyn Mackiewicz at [email protected]

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability, protected veteran, and other protected status.

This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a Criminal History Check and be determined to be position qualified as per OSU Standard 576-055-0000 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in Youth Programs may have additional Criminal History Checks every 2 years.

OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public website prior to hire.

Note: All job offers are contingent upon Human Resources final approval

Job Description:

This recruitment will be used to fill 1 part-time (a maximum of 24 hours per week) CH UGRA for the Chemistry Dept. at Oregon State University (OSU).

Become a member of a highly innovative research team under the supervision of Dr. Marilyn Mackiewicz in the department of Chemistry at Oregon State University for Nanostructured Materials. We have an immediate, highly motivated, and interactive undergraduate research assistant position to participate in a 1-year NSF Research Experience to work on an NSF-funded project on teasing apart how physicochemical properties play a role in toxicology.

The Research Assistants will participate in research efforts focused on the design, synthesis, and characterization of a series of silver nanomaterials, which will be used for studies on stability and toxicology. The Research Assistants will be working with a diverse team of other research assistants and graduate students in this collaborative research project. They will be expected to use a wide array of techniques to study and characterize materials produced.

The Undergraduate Student Technical Assistant performs routine to complex technical tasks in support of research or administrative work which includes laboratory, green house, field plot, data collection, simple analysis, or the care and maintenance of animals.

Position Duties

The Research Assistants will participate efforts focused on the:

• Design, synthesis, and characterization of a series of nanomaterial 70%
• Characterize materials using UV-Vis and Dynamic light scattering techniques. 20%
• Record and keep track of data using a variety of methods 10%

Transferable Skill Development

OSU is committed to ensuring students are prepared for success after graduation through intentional skill development as student employees. The competencies students develop while working at OSU are defined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) as the essential skills employers seek in their hires. In this position, students learn and build vital career-readiness skills in the primary areas below:

Communication, Critical Thinking, Teamwork, Professionalism

Qualifications:

Full Employment Eligibility Requirements can be found here: https://hr.oregonstate.edu/student-employment-manual/500-employment-eligibility-requirements

• Must be academically enrolled in a high school, community college, or university and pursuing a program or course of study
• Must meet Academic Standing Requirements; students on academic suspension are not eligible for employment
• Must meet the applicable minimal enrollment standard High School student: Regularly enrolled in a high school or participating in a home-schooling program Undergraduate and post-baccalaureate student: 6 credit hours per term Undergraduate international student: 12 credit hours per term* Graduate student officially admitted to Graduate School: 5 credit hours per term Graduate international student officially admitted to Graduate School: 9 credit hours per term*

*International students may be allowed to carry fewer hours than specified above and still be considered “full-time” by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). A reduced course load is approved by the Office of International Services (OIS), and must be provided to the Student Employment Center.

Required qualifications:

• Must have taken relevant course work in chemistry, biology, or engineering
• Demonstrated ability to learn new and innovative procedures quickly
• Demonstrated knowledge of basic computer software (Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, adobe photoshop, excel)
• Experience working with nanomaterials design and study
• Strong organization skills, dependability, and ability to work independently and as a team member to accomplish research goals
• Ability to multi-task efficiently and demonstrate excellent time management skills
• Communicate effectively (written and verbal) to edit, write, and disseminate reports and publications
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a diverse and collaborative team
• Demonstrated leadership skills to manage projects in the lab
• Demonstrated ability to follow and ensure a safe working environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Undergraduate in pursuing a degree in chemistry, biology, and engineering
• Demonstrated ability with basic laboratory skills
• Experience handling chemical and biologically hazardous materials
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse groups

Key Cultural Competencies

• Creates an environment that acknowledges, encourages and celebrates differences
• Functions and communicates effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities and cultural backgrounds
• Seeks opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement
• Adheres to all OSU’s policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct

Additional Required qualifications:

This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a Criminal History Check and be determined to be position qualified as per OSU Standard 576-055-0000 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in Youth Programs may have additional Criminal History Checks every 2 years.

Working Conditions/Schedule:

8-5 pm during the weekdays

Salary Range:

Anticipated Start Date:

2026-07-22

Anticipated End Date: