FWS Fall 2026, Horticulture Undergraduate Research Assistant - Fruit Crop Climate Resilience

Current undergraduate enrollment at the University of Kentucky.

No previous research experience is required. Applicants must demonstrate reliability, attention to detail, timely communication, and a willingness to follow research protocols and laboratory and field safety procedures.

N/A

Work will occur in laboratories, orchards, vineyards, berry plantings, and occasionally on cooperating commercial farms. Students must be able to stand or walk for extended periods, work on uneven ground and in seasonal weather, perform detailed bench or microscopy work, and occasionally lift and carry routine field or laboratory supplies.

Weekdays between 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Evenings
Weekend
.There is flexibility to work at different times on individual hours, while collaborative work will often take place during normal business hours.

Students will work in one of two complementary tracks within the Fruit Climate Resilience Student Innovation Lab.

Engineering-track students will build, test, troubleshoot, maintain, and document sensors, temperature-control systems, data loggers, and other equipment used in fruit climate-resilience research.

Biology-track students will collect and process fruit-crop samples, assess cold injury in the field and laboratory, use microscopy and visual scoring methods, and organize and interpret biological and weather data.

Students will join either the Engineering Track or the Biology Track within the Fruit Climate Resilience Student Innovation Lab. Students in both tracks will receive hands-on training, take ownership of a defined research project, and contribute to larger collaborative studies focused on fruit crops and climate resilience.

Each student will work with a faculty mentor to develop a project that matches the student’s interests and skills. Students will help define a research question, develop a work plan, collect and manage data, analyze results, and communicate their findings. Depending on the project and student interest, outputs may include a scientific poster or presentation, an undergraduate research abstract, an Extension article or publication, a grower presentation, a technical protocol, or a contribution to a research manuscript.

Engineering-track students will design, assemble, program, calibrate, deploy, and troubleshoot sensors, controlled-temperature systems, imaging tools, data loggers, and other research equipment. They will also work with large environmental, sensor, temperature, and image datasets. Activities may include programming, data cleaning and integration, database development, statistical and signal analysis, data visualization, computer vision, predictive modeling, and the evaluation of machine-learning approaches. Engineering students will work closely with biology-track students to connect system design and computational analysis to biological research questions, validate system outputs, and improve research workflows.

Biology-track students will work directly with engineering-track students to prepare, deploy, and evaluate research systems in laboratories, orchards, vineyards, berry plantings, and cooperating commercial farms. They will collect plant and environmental data, process fruit-crop samples, measure crop development and cold injury, and perform microscopy, dissection, imaging, and other biological analyses. Biology students will also organize datasets, conduct quality-control checks, perform statistical analyses, and interpret plant responses in relation to temperature, weather, crop stage, and system performance.

Students in both tracks will maintain accurate research records, participate in project planning and team meetings, share progress with the group, and contribute to collaborative experiments. They may also work with fruit growers and Extension professionals to understand practical production challenges and communicate research findings to both scientific and nontechnical audiences.

Strong attention to detail, curiosity, problem-solving ability, careful record keeping, dependable attendance, and effective teamwork. Applicants should be able to work independently after training and communicate questions or problems promptly. Interest in fruit crops, climate resilience, engineering design, plant biology, data analysis, Extension, or public communication is preferred.

Coursework or experience in one or more of the following areas is preferred: plant science, horticulture, fruit production, electronics, sensors, programming, data logging, microscopy, field sampling, research, Excel or data management, agriculture, or science communication.

Preferred major: Engineering track: Biosystems Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field. Biology track: Horticulture, Plant and Soil Sciences, Biology, Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology, Environmental Science, Sustainable Agriculture, or a related field.

We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.