Research Analyst

Required License/Registration/Certification

None

Physical Requirements

Lifting, pushing, or pulling of objects up to 50 lbs. Sitting for long periods of time.

Shift

Monday – Friday 8:00-4:30 37.5 hours/week

Job Summary

Advance Data-Driven Solutions for Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Stewardship

The University of Kentucky is seeking a Research Analyst to join the Agriculture and Environmental Informatics Laboratory
.

This position will support innovative research focused on precision agriculture, digital soil mapping, soil health, and environmental informatics. The Research Analyst will contribute to the development and implementation of data-driven solutions by collecting, managing, and analyzing complex soil, landscape, and plant datasets while collaborating with researchers, stakeholders, and trainees on a variety of projects, publications, and grant initiatives.

What You’ll Do

• Conduct research experiments and collect data from laboratory, field, proximal sensing, and remote sensing sources.
• Prepare samples and analyze laboratory, field, and geospatial datasets to support research objectives.
• Develop and maintain project databases and metadata to ensure high-quality data management and accessibility.
• Assist with grant proposal development, manuscript preparation, and dissemination of research findings.
• Support laboratory and field operations, including equipment, workflow coordination, and safety compliance.
• Coordinate and supervise student workers and trainees, providing guidance on laboratory procedures, field activities, and safety practices.
• Collaborate with faculty, researchers, industry partners, and other stakeholders on projects related to sustainable agriculture and natural resource management.

What You’ll Bring

• Knowledge of precision agriculture, digital soil mapping, soil health research, or related agricultural and environmental applications.
• Experience with programming and data analysis tools such as R, Python, Shell scripting, GIS , or related technologies.
• Ability to collect, manage, and interpret large, high-resolution datasets from multiple sources.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow experimental protocols and research procedures.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Planning, organization, and laboratory management skills.
• Knowledge of laboratory safety practices and commitment to maintaining a safe research environment.
• Ability to mentor and support students and trainees while promoting accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with procedures.
• No related experience required

What’s In It for You

• Opportunity to contribute to impactful research addressing real-world challenges in sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship.
• Exposure to a broad portfolio of projects involving precision agriculture, geospatial modeling, soil health, soil carbon and nutrient modeling, spectroscopy, and remote sensing.
• Opportunities to collaborate with farmers, crop consultants, industry partners, government agencies, and researchers from other institutions.
• Professional growth through participation in scientific publications, grant development, training, and research innovation.

Why Now?

The Agriculture and Environmental Informatics Laboratory is expanding efforts to develop data-driven tools that support sustainable agricultural production and natural resource management. As research initiatives continue to grow across precision agriculture, soil health, digital soil mapping, and environmental monitoring, this role provides critical support for advancing research goals and translating data into practical solutions.

This position offers an opportunity to contribute across multiple innovative projects rather than a single research initiative, helping strengthen collaborations, accelerate scientific discovery, and support the development of technologies that benefit producers, researchers, and communities.

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

• Coding machine learning algorithms
• Effective communication and teamwork mindset

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? No

Preferred Education/Experience

• PhD degree or postdoc training in Precision Agriculture, Soil Science, Computer Science, Earth Science or closely related fields
• Experience in writing publications/grant applications
• Experience in field work (soil, water, and/or crop sampling, and/or proximal sensing data in field)
• Proficiency using open-source geospatial libraries in Python or R
• Experience in…