Research Investigator

Location: Indianapolis

The Corteva Agriscience Product Science and Technology group (PS&T) has an immediate opening for a scientist or engineer with a passion for agriculture and developing products to meet the needs of growers, worldwide. The successful candidate will join the Application Technology R&D group located at the Crop Protection R&D center and global headquarters in Indianapolis, In.  This position supports the development and launch of new formulated products by understanding how key application parameters impact the total end-user experience for crop protection products.

Responsibilities of this role include understanding how products will be used and applied in key markets, understanding the key physical properties of products that will influence the efficacy, application, storage, and handling properties of the product, obtaining working knowledge of different types of application equipment, and developing laboratory-based testing to ensure products will meet or exceed market expectations. The successful applicant will have excellent written and oral communication, ability to manage multiple projects, and knowledge of agricultural practices.

This position requires a multidisciplinary approach and a person who can take a leading role in both conceptual design and experimental validation of new technologies within a collaborative cross-functional team of project managers, marketing specialists, regulatory scientists, field development reps, supply chain managers, biologists, formulation chemists, and engineers. ?
** What You'll Do:
*** Partners with formulation, analytical, greenhouse biologists, and field R&D scientists in developing new formulated products to ensure products meet or exceeds the customer's storage, handling, and application needs and expectations.
* Utilizes background in agricultural, physical, and chemical sciences to solve problems concerned with product delivery, application, storage, and processing of agricultural products.
* Designs and executes experiments in the lab to mimic real-world application scenarios to assess risks in product application, handling, and storage and develops mitigation plans to address any issues.
* Develops new methodologies and capabilities to assess how formulated products may impact efficacy and crop safety.
* Provides urgent in-season customer support and conducts educational programs to aid business leaders, sales & marketing reps, farmers and related farm cooperatives.
* Partners with marketing, field biology, and external partners such as equipment manufacturers, and industry/academic consultants to understand current industry trends and develop strategy to adapt to regional agricultural practices in application technology and product delivery and storage.
* The successful applicant will network with domestic and international standards organizations such as ASABE, ISO, CEN, and ASTM to promote and influence the agricultural industry design standards and trends targeted at creating leadership positions and driving strategy.
* The position may require 20% domestic and international travel.
** What Skills You Need:
*** PhD in Agricultural Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Weed Science, Entomology, Plant Pathology, or a related field with 0-3 years of work experience.
* Experience with agricultural application equipment, designing & prototyping purpose-built equipment, and troubleshooting lab to pilot scale processing issues.
* Good working knowledge of agricultural operations, agricultural products, and delivery systems.
* Track record of new product/technology development and using a multi-disciplinary approach to problem solving and opportunity development.
* Strong result-oriented mentality, able to work independently.
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