Field Research Specialist, AgNUE & CABBI

This position requires in-person work on campus and may require working outside standard hours including evenings and occasional weekends.

This position is eligible for sponsorship for work authorization, except for sponsorship of a new H1B petition that would incur the $100,000 fee.

The University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign is a public land-grant research university in Illinois in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana. It is the flagship institution of the University of Illinois system and was founded in 1867. The university serves the people of Illinois through a shared commitment to excellence in teaching, research, public engagement, economic development and health care. Faculty, staff and students share their knowledge, expertise and resources with residents in every corner of the state through public service and outreach programs.

A field research specialist position is available in the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment in support of the Agricultural Nitrogen Use Efficiency Platform (AgNUE) project funded by the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research and the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The mission of AgNUE is to enhance the accuracy of models that predict field‑scale nitrogen cycling to improve NUE and reduce nitrogen losses, specifically nitrous oxide emissions and nitrate leaching, by establishing an international research platform of high-resolution multi‑scale measurements and advanced modelling that integrates mitigation technologies and management under diverse bioclimatic zones.

The mission of CABBI is to develop efficient ways to grow bioenergy crops, transform biomass into valuable chemicals, and market the resulting biofuels and other bioproducts. This position will be split 50/50 to (1) support AgNUE research activities at the University of Illinois supersite for multi‑scale measurements, mechanistic experiments investigating controls on the fate of nitrogen, and soil microbial screening for microbial predictors of nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen gas emissions, and (2) support CABBI research activities to investigate plant‑soil‑microbe interactions that underlie carbon and nitrogen cycling of bioenergy cropping systems.

Assist with field work and laboratory experiments; collect and analyze plant, soil, gas and water samples for CABBI and AgNUE research projects; and support lab activities as part of the CABBI and AgNUE projects.

• Collect plant, soil, gas, and water samples from field sites, and prepare supplies for these sampling campaigns.
• Process and analyze plant, soil, gas, and water samples in the laboratory.
• Assist with stable isotope tracer experiments and laboratory assays for carbon and nitrogen cycling processes.
• Organize, compile, and quality check datasets, and process raw data using spreadsheet templates and R scripts.
• Order and inventory materials and supplies for CABBI and AgNUE research activities.
• Supervise undergraduate students assisting with this project, including training, assigning work, and tracking work performance and deliverables.

Working extended hours in the field, including under hot and humid conditions.

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, environmental science, chemistry, soil science, or related field. Alternate degree fields will be considered/accepted depending on depth and breadth of experience and skills as related to this position.
• Research experience in the laboratory and in the field related to biogeochemistry or related disciplines (e.g.,…