Plant Phenomics Research Specialist

Working Title

Plant Phenomics Research Specialist

CAES-Crop & Soil Sciences

• Posting Number: S15768P
• Posting Type:
  External
• Employment Type:
  
  Employee
• Benefits Eligibility:
  Benefits Eligible
• Full/Part time:
  Full Time
• Additional Schedule Information:
  Monday-Friday with occasional nights and weekends to meet project demands.
• Advertised Salary:
  Commensurate with Experience
• Retirement Plan: TRS or ORP
• FTE: 1.00
• Classification
  
  Title:
  
  Res Associate-Life Science I
• FLSA:
  Exempt
• Posting Date: 09/17/2026
• Open until filled:
  Yes
• Proposed Starting Date: 10/01/2026

Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state's flagship university (https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report.

The University's main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University's enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.

Griffin Area

The Plant Phenomics Research Specialist will lead the operation and continued development of the high-throughput plant phenotyping activities within the University of Georgia Turfgrass Breeding Program at the Griffin Campus. The position will coordinate field- and laboratory-based phenotyping using unmanned aerial systems, RGB, multispectral, hyperspectral, thermal, X-ray, and other emerging imaging and sensing technologies. The specialist will be responsible for planning and conducting data collection, establishing quality-control procedures, processing and organizing sensor-derived data, maintaining data and metadata standards, and developing reproducible and increasingly automated workflows.

The position will integrate phenomics information with visual ratings, physiological measurements, environmental information, and breeding records to support genetic improvement and cultivar development. The specialist will work closely with faculty, staff, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, collaborators, and external partners. The position will also maintain specialized equipment, train research personnel, document protocols, and contribute to research reports, presentations, publications, grant proposals, and other scholarly products.

Bachelor's degree in a related field of science

A Master's degree in plant science, crop science, agronomy, plant breeding, biological or agricultural engineering, remote sensing, data science, computer science or a closely related field. Preference will be given to candidates with experience operating unmanned aerial systems for agricultural or environmental research and those who possess an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.

• Possess knowledge of plant phenotyping, remote sensing, scientific imaging, agronomy, plant breeding, crop science, data science, or related disciplines.
• Ability to operate and troubleshoot unmanned aerial systems and field- and laboratory-based sensing equipment, including RGB, multispectral, hyperspectral, thermal, X-ray, and other imaging technologies.
• Ability to process, organize, analyze, interpret, and manage large and complex datasets using appropriate scientific programming, statistical, geospatial, photogrammetry, image-processing, and remote-sensing software.
• Understanding of experimental design, statistical analysis, data quality assurance, research data management, and the development of clear, reproducible, well-documented, and scalable data-processing workflows.
• Demonstrate strong problem-solving, organizational, written communication, and oral communication skills; careful attention to detail; and the ability to manage multiple projects and seasonal deadlines.
• Demonstrate the ability to work independently and collaboratively, train students and research personnel, and learn new sensors, software, analytical methods, and emerging phenotyping…