Research Associate, Agriculture ​/ Farming, Research Scientist

Job Title

Research Associate

Texas A&M Agrilife Research

Amarillo

Bushland, Texas

Staff

Commensurate

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 include assisting with greenhouse, growth chamber, seed processing and field operations and conducting independent research to improve protocols.

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

• 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.
• 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, including operating a UAV, on‑combine weigh systems, and electronic field books.
• Evaluate 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, apply seed treatments, and package and label seed.
• Provide ongoing guidance to undergraduate and/or graduate students and other technical or field staff.
• Coordinate activities and provide mutual support to other research and Extension projects as requested.
• Perform other related duties such as vehicle maintenance, facilities maintenance and repair, and purchasing supplies and equipment.

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field.
• Two years of related professional experience.
• Obtain within six months of hire a Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator’s license and maintain licensure.
• Obtain and maintain a Texas driver’s license.
• Obtain within six months of hire a FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification and maintain biennial certification.
• Experience 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 related tasks.

• Willing and able to work indoors and outdoors in extreme temperatures and dusty conditions; moderate to heavy physical effort required; lift 75 pounds or more.
• Willing and able to work long hours and weekends during planting and harvest seasons.

• 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 least eight hours of paid vacation each month.
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
• Employee Wellness Initiative.

The institution is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from veterans and persons with disabilities.