Campus

OSU-Stillwater

Contact Name & Email

Justin Q. Moss, mossjq@okstate.edu

Work Schedule

Monday through Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm with occasional evenings and weekends.

Appointment Length

Regular Continuous/Until Further Notice

Hiring Range

$45000 - $65000 Salary

Special Instructions to Applicants

For full consideration, please include a resume, cover letter and contact information for three professional references.

About this Position

The Ornamental and Nursery Crop Breeding Program in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Oklahoma State University seeks a full-time Senior Research Specialist to assist in establishing and managing a comprehensive research and breeding program for ornamental and nursery crops. The position supports the development, evaluation, and release of improved cultivars through greenhouse, laboratory, and field-based research.

Key responsibilities include, but not limited to, the following:

• Supervise, lead, and train student workers, interns, and junior laboratory personnel to ensure compliance with OSU and regulatory policies.
• Manage daily operations in greenhouse, laboratory, and field environments, including experiment setup, data collection, and maintenance of plant materials.
• Implement and conduct experiments focused on breeding, propagation, and evaluation of ornamental crops. Activities include sowing, transplanting, vegetative propagation (cuttings, grafting, division, tissue culture), pollination and crossing, seed harvesting, germination, and development of breeding populations.
• Evaluate plants for growth, flowering, foliage color, stress tolerance, disease and pest resistance, ornamental quality, and yield through both visual and instrumental measurements.
• Record observations, collect and analyze data, compile reports, and assist with preparation of manuscripts, grant reports, and plant patent or cultivar release documentation.
• Support integrated pest management (IPM) by scouting for pests, diseases, and weeds; identifying issues; and coordinating control measures and pesticide applications as needed.
• Operate, calibrate, and maintain field and research equipment and instruments, including those measuring pH, EC, moisture, fertility, soluble solids (Brix), pollen and seed viability, and chlorophyll content.
• Prepare, review, and update research protocols, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and data management systems to ensure accuracy, reproducibility, and safety.
• Maintain chemical inventories, assist with biosafety and compliance documentation, and ensure adherence to OSU’s chemical hygiene and greenhouse safety standards.
• Order, track, and maintain laboratory and greenhouse supplies, tools, and equipment inventories.
• Assist in developing extension and outreach activities such as field trials, demonstration plots, and industry collaborations.

This position offers the opportunity to contribute to a fast-growing breeding program focused on developing sustainable, high-value ornamental crops adapted to Oklahoma and the Southern Great Plains. The role requires initiative, organization, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment. Must have the ability to travel to various locations within the state for sample and data collection. 

About Us: The Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture has 23 faculty with both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The department operates The Botanic Garden at OSU, Oklahoma Gardening television show, the Greenhouse Learning Center, the Landscape Architecture Studio, the OSU Student Farm, and is active at several research sites through the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station. For more information about the department, go to:  https://agriculture.okstate.edu/departments-programs/hla/ 

There are lots of great reasons to work at OSU.  Check out our competitive benefits and eligibility at https://hr.okstate.edu/prospective-ee.html. 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's in horticulture, plant science, plant breeding and genetics, or a closely related field
  (degree must be conferred on or before agreed upon start date)

• A minimum of five years of relevant experience with a bachelor’s degree, or two years of experience with a master’s degree.  The candidate should have at least three years of successful experience in laboratory, greenhouse, and field settings.  Experience should include hands-on work in greenhouse and field environments involving plant propagation (seed, cuttings, grafting, or tissue culture), maintenance of breeding and research materials, and data collection for crop evaluation. Candidates should have experience establishing and managing breeding populations, growing horticultural crops under greenhouse and field conditions, evaluating yield and quality, and implementing integrated pest, disease, and weed management practices.  Completion of college-level statistics courses is needed.

• Certifications, Registrations, and/or Licenses:
  • Valid driver’s license and the ability to travel between university and field research sites.
  • Certified pesticide applicator license or ability to obtain certification within the first three (3) months of employment.
  • Must be able to lift and carry more than 50 pounds and perform physical tasks required for greenhouse and field research.
• Skills, Proficiencies, and/or Knowledge:
  • Proficiency in operating laboratory equipment, including High Performance Liquid Chromatography, microspectrometers, microscopes, and water potential pressure chambers.
  • Knowledge and experience operating field equipment such as mowers and cherry pickers.
  • Hands-on skills in installing irrigation systems, constructing agricultural fencing, and building related tools and infrastructure to support field research.
  • Hands-on skills in maintaining or repairing laboratory equipment.
  • Ability to analysis data.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's in horticulture,  plant science, plant breeding, plant biotechnology or closely related field.
• • A master’s degree may substitute for up to three years of experience. 
  • Five or more years of experience in horticultural research, nursery or greenhouse management, or applied plant breeding projects.
  • Experience supervising student workers or technical staff, coordinating research trials across multiple sites, and maintaining large-scale breeding or germplasm collections.
  • Demonstrated experience conducting plant evaluations for ornamental traits, stress tolerance, and adaptation to regional climatic conditions.
  • Prior experience preparing research reports, publications, or extension materials related to plant breeding or crop evaluation.
• Certifications, Registrations, and/or Licenses:
  • Certified pesticide applicator license with experience in integrated pest management practices.
  • Commercial driver’s license (CDL) or experience operating research or nursery equipment (tractors, sprayers, etc.).
  • First aid or safety training certification applicable to greenhouse or field environments.
• Skills, Proficiencies, and/or Knowledge:
  • Proficiency in experimental design, data management, and use of software for statistical or field data analysis (e.g., Excel, R, SAS).
  • Knowledge of plant tissue culture and micropropagation methods for woody or herbaceous ornamentals.
  • Experience maintaining environmental control systems, irrigation systems, and greenhouse automation equipment.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for presenting research results and coordinating with growers, collaborators, and industry stakeholders.
  • Ability to organize and manage multiple projects independently while meeting deadlines in dynamic research environments.