Research Associate, Agriculture ​/ Farming, Research Scientist

Research Associate

Texas A&M Agri Life is comprised of the following Texas A&M University System members:

• Texas A&M Agri Life Extension Service
• Texas A&M Agri Life Research
• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University
• Texas A&M Forest Service
• Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory

As the nation's largest most comprehensive agriculture program, Texas A&M Agri Life brings together a college and four state agencies focused on agriculture and life sciences within The Texas A&M University System. With over 5,000 employees and a presence in every county across the state, Texas A&M Agri Life is uniquely positioned to improve lives, environments and the Texas economy through education, research, extension and service.

The Research Associate provides quasi-independent, technical support for research activities requiring an advanced level of knowledge in small-grains breeding. The Research Associate will be a member of the small-grains breeding team at the Texas A&M Agri Life High Plains Research and Extension Center in Canyon, TX, with primary focus on dual-purpose winter wheat and subsidiary focus on triticale for forage. The primary responsibilities will be to assist with greenhouse, growth chamber, seed processing, and field operations and to conduct independent research to improve research protocols.

The Research Associate will be expected to operate research and field equipment, facilitate and oversee the work of graduate students, and guide other lab/field personnel in research.

• Plant, manage, and harvest breeding experiments in greenhouses, grow rooms, and growth chambers.
• Plant, manage, and harvest wheat-breeding nurseries and yield trials in the High Plains and Rolling Plains field trials. This will involve towing plot machinery on trailers with pickups and independently driving an agency vehicle on highways and farm roads to perform trial maintenance and collect data.
• Independently operate and maintain tractors, planters, small plot combines, irrigation systems, and other related machinery, including equipment with GPS guidance systems.
• Collect, organize, analyze, and report data accurately and efficiently. Data collection will include operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), on-combine weigh systems, and electronic field books.
• Evaluate the multiple-location data, make status recommendations on nursery entries, and co-author wheat cultivar releases and Extension publications.
• Process grain samples after harvest, including seed cleaning, inventory, storage, and disposal. Prepare seed for planting, including organizing trials, applying seed treatments, and packaging and labeling seed.
• Provide ongoing, day-to-day guidance to undergraduate and/or graduate students and other technical or field staff as delegated by the wheat breeder.
• Coordinate activities with and provide mutual support to other research and Extension projects as requested.
• Other related duties as required, including (but not limited to) vehicle maintenance and records, facility maintenance and repair, and purchasing supplies and equipment.

• Bachelor's degree in relevant field.
• Two years of related professional experience.
• Must obtain within six months of hire date a Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator's license, and maintain licensure.
• Must obtain and maintain a Texas driver's license.
• Must obtain within six months of hire date a FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification, and maintain biennial certification.
• Demonstrated experience with operating and maintaining seed processing and small-plot field planting and harvest equipment.
• Ability to use power tools and forklift safely and effectively.
• Ability to connect, load, haul, unload bumper-pull and gooseneck trailers safely.
• Advanced skills using Microsoft Office and similar software to create databases, perform statistical analyses, summarize and present data, and perform other, related tasks.

• Must be willing and able to work indoors and outdoors in extreme temperatures and in dusty conditions. Moderate to heavy physical effort is required. Must be able to lift or more heavy objects up to 75 pounds.
• Must be willing and able to work long hours and weekends during planting and harvest seasons.

Salary:
Compensation for this position is commensurate based on the selected candidate's qualifications.

Why Work at Texas A&M Agri Life?

When you choose to work for Texas A&M Agri Life, you become part of an organization that is an established leader in agriculture and life sciences with a wide range of capabilities to meet the needs of our statewide, national, and international constituents.

In addition, Texas A&M Agri Life offers a comprehensive benefit package including the following:

• Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M Agri Life contributing to employee health and basic life premiums
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at…