Job Information
Montana State University Research Associate *Havre, MT* in Bozeman, Montana
Position Details
Position Information
Announcement Number STAFF - VA - 25137
For questions regarding this position, please contact:
Ricardo Pinto
ricardo.pinto@montana.edu
406-994-6374
Classification Title Research Professional
Working Title Research Associate Havre, MT
Brief Position Overview
The NARC Precision Agriculture Lab at Montana State University’s Northern Agricultural Research Center ( MSU - NARC ) seeks a motivated and skilled Precision Agriculture Research Associate to join our team. The successful candidate will contribute to the establishment and development of research and extension programs aimed at using precision agriculture technologies to improve the efficiency and profitability of farming and ranching operations across Montana. This role involves managing research and data collection efforts focused on optimizing management practices through the integration of precision agriculture technologies, including effective pest, disease and weed management, spatial and temporal variability of soil properties and crop responses as well as livestock-related studies.
Position Number 4C5015
Department AES NARC
Division College of Agriculture/MAES
Appointment Type Professional
Contract Term Fiscal Year
Semester
If other, specify From date
If other, specify End date
FLSA Non-Exempt
Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining
FTE 1.0
Benefits Eligible Eligible
Salary Salary commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications.
Contract Type LOA
If other, please specify
Recruitment Type Open
Position Details
General Statement
The Northern Agricultural Research Center consists of 3,000 acres at the main facility with an additional 3,960 acres of grazing land located in the nearby Bear Paw Mountains. The 3,000 acres on the main facility supports both crop and livestock research activities which is distinctly unique to MSU . The research center has recently completed $2.8 million of construction and renovation, including a new $2.1 million office/laboratory complex. In the spring of 2014, two center pivots suitable for research were installed. A modern research scale greenhouse was funded and designed with construction to be completed in the near future. The research center, when fully staffed, consists of four faculty, two operations managers, research scientist, master’s level technician, and 12 permanent support personnel. A local advisory board made up of area producers and industry representatives from the five surrounding counties, provides guidance on NARC research priorities.
Duties and Responsibilities
Develop and implement research studies that support precision agriculture practices to enhance farming and livestock efficiency and profitability in Montana;
Interact effectively with farmers and ranchers on on-farm experiments to test and refine precision agriculture techniques;
Coordinate and supervise research and educational activities as described in written and oral protocols;
Operate UAV (drones) for data collection and process imagery using Pix4D software or other relevant tools;
Conduct remote sensing and satellite imagery analysis to inform precision agriculture strategies;
Contribute to the dissemination of research findings through extension activities, including workshops, field days, and publications.
Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
Bachelor’s degree in agronomy or a related field;
Familiarity with remote sensing technologies and satellite imagery analysis;
Proficiency in statistical analysis using software such as R or Python;
Effective communication skills (both written and oral) with researchers, educators, research center personnel, and producers.
Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
A Master’s degree in precision agriculture, agronomy, data science, or a related field;
Proven experience in operating UAV (drones) and processing images using Pix4D software or similar;
Experience with Google Earth Engine;
Familiarity with R Shiny for developing interactive data visualizations and tools;
Understanding of experimental design and statistics.
The Successful Candidate Will
Have excellent organizational skills;
Be able to communicate with all disciplines of agriculture, from producers to scientists;
Have the ability to understand and follow written and oral University and research protocols;
Establish and maintain effective working relations with co-workers, faculty, and staff in a team-oriented environment.
Position Special Requirements/Additional Information
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Physical Demands
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
This position has supervisory duties? No
Posting Detail Information
Number of Vacancies 1
Desired Start Date Upon completion of a successful search
Position End Date (if temporary)
Open Date
Close Date
Applications will be:
Screening of applications will begin on November 1, 2024; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.
Special Instructions
EEO Statement
Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.
In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.