Student Technical Assistant - Sensory Lab

Oregon State University

Oregon State University

IT
USD 15.05-21.5 / hour
Posted on Jan 5, 2026
Position Information
Job Title Student Technical Assistant - Sensory Lab
Appointment Type Student Employee
Job Location Corvallis
Position Appointment Percent 100
Appointment Basis 12
Pay Method Hourly
Pay Period 16th - 15th of the following month
Pay Date Last working day of the month
Remote or Hybrid option?
Min Hourly Rate $15.05 (Standard); $14.05 (Non-Urban); $16.30 (Portland Metro)
Max Hourly Rate $21.50 (Standard); $19.50 (Non-Urban); $22.00 (Portland Metro)
Position Summary
This recruitment will be used to fill up to ten part-time (a maximum of 24 hours per week) Student Technical Research Assistant positions in the Sensory Science Lab in the Department of Food Science and Technology (FST) at Oregon State University (OSU).
Work will be composed of assisting the consumer studies and/or assisting undergraduate level basic research (human psychophysics lab).
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, Teamwork, Professionalism, Technology
Position Duties
90% of the candidate’s responsibilities will be to assist with operations in the consumer testing lab and/or in the human psychophysics lab.
10% of the candidate’s responsibilities will include some laboratory organization/design, where needed, in order to increase the laboratory’s efficiency and professional appearance.
Duties will include:
  • helping set-up and run consumer studies (scheduling panelists, preparing food samples, serving samples during testing days, general cleaning)
  • basic graphing
  • data analysis
Duties in the psychophysics lab may include:
  • assisting with writing a study protocol(s)
  • preparation of samples
  • collecting data
  • analyzing data
  • making basic graphs
  • cleaning lab glassware and testing equipment
  • other duties assigned as needed
Minimum Qualifications
  • 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.
Additional Required Qualifications
  • Strong interest in Sensory Science and willing to learn and develop relevant skills
  • Must be proficient with Microsoft Office
  • Must be comfortable working with computers and technology in general
  • Must possess good interpersonal skills
  • The candidate must be able to communicate effectively in both written and oral English
Preferred (Special) Qualifications
  • Be an active student in the Food Science and Technology (FST) or related (e.g., nutrition, chemistry) programs at Oregon State University
  • Available in the summer
  • OLCC Server’s License
  • Work study eligible preferred (listed on financial aid award letter)
Working Conditions / Work Schedule
  • Anticipated 10 hours per week
  • May include evening and weekend hours
  • May require walking, standing, bending and stooping for extended periods
  • May require maneuvering and transporting heavy objects (Up to 40 lbs)
  • May require working with or around food products (including common allergens), concentrated flavors, and odorants.
Posting Detail Information
Posting Number P12673SE
Number of Vacancies 10
Anticipated Appointment Begin Date 01/09/2026
Anticipated Appointment End Date
Posting Date 01/05/2026
Full Consideration Date
Closing Date 01/30/2026
Indicate how you intend to recruit for this search Competitive / Student - open to ALL qualified/eligible students
Special Instructions to Applicants
When applying you will be required to attach the following electronic documents:
● A Resume
● A Cover Letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position

For additional information please contact: Sara Maruyama at sara.maruyama@oregonstate.edu

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

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