Assistant Research Professor - Precision Agriculture Cluster Hire

Company: Montana State University, Inc
Location: Bozeman
Posted on: June 8, 2021

Job Description:

Candidates are sought for the position of Assistant Research Professor - Precision Agriculture in the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station at Montana State University (MSU). The Assistant Research Professor positions will be expected to coordinate activities with the Associate Director of the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES) and advisory committees to build an independent research, outreach, and teaching program that focuses on precision agriculture relevant to Montana. The selected candidate(s) will be required to have a strong background in one or more relevant areas such as agronomy, animal, engineering/technology, database development and management, decision-support, agricultural economic, on-farm research, soil, spatial, and/or weed science, and be able to design, conduct and interpret a wide range of precision agriculture and/or on-farm studies and outreach relevant to their field of expertise. The ability to articulate a future vision, develop and teach relevant courses, engage in outreach, and supervise students and seasonal staff is also desired. Statistical analysis, report writing, and oral presentation skills are essential. Close collaboration with agronomy, animal, decision support, plant, and spatial science colleagues, and other scientific disciplines, is expected. Position description: Candidates are sought for the position of Assistant Research Professor - Precision Agriculture in the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES) at Montana State University (MSU) to be housed in an appropriate Department and location. We are seeking individuals with a strong precision agriculture background in engineering/technology, precision agriculture economics, soils, agronomy or animal science to: 1) Review existing research approaches and results on precision agriculture in Montana and surrounding region; 2) Identify precision agriculture research and teaching needs; 3) Design scientifically rigorous studies; 4) Develop relevant courses and outreach materials; and 5) work with MSU Extension Specialists, Field Faculty, and other state and regional partners to disseminate findings to producers, crop advisers, and other stakeholders. Collaboration with producers, crop advisers, Extension Field Faculty, other stakeholders, and on- and off-campus faculty members is an expectation of this position.

Duties and Responsibilities

Review existing research approaches and results on precision agriculture in Montana and surrounding region. Identify precision agriculture research and teaching needs through discussions with the stakeholder advisory committee, MSU faculty member advisory committee, producers, Extension Field Faculty, and crop advisers. Develop a precision agriculture research program and design scientifically rigorous interdisciplinary studies to address above needs. Design relevant courses and outreach materials as needed. Travel to locations across Montana to conduct producer engaged research and outreach Seek extramural grant funding to support a precision agriculture research program Be knowledgeable and proficient with precision agriculture technologies and the data they produce. Interact with collaborators, stakeholders, and students in a professional and respectful manner. Supervise students and technicians with data collection, management, analysis, and simulation modeling. Share research results with colleagues, producers, students, and other stakeholders. Produce peer-reviewed journal, popular press and Extension resources based on findings.

Required Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

Ph.D. in agronomy, agricultural engineering, animal science, computer science, economics, agricultural economics, spatial sciences, or related field. Demonstrated ability to design, conduct, and disseminate Precision Agriculture research. Evidence of strong oral communication skills through scientific communications and producer outreach activities. Evidence of strong written communication skills through scientific communications and producer outreach activities. Demonstrated ability to publish in peer-reviewed journals.

Preferred Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

Evidence of strong statistical and data management skills related to agriculture, including modeling and geospatial analyses. Experience working with graduate and undergraduate students, and academic course development and teaching. Experience working with, and educating producers, industries, and on farm research trials. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams. Demonstrated ability to write grant proposals and secure funding.

The Successful Candidate Will

Strive for excellence in teaching/outreach/research/scholarship. Share research results with their scientific community, regions producers and allied industry members and Extension Field Faculty. Respect and foster diversity. Have the ability to interact with collaborators, stakeholders, producers, and students in a professional, positive manner. Develop a successful and interdisciplinary precision agriculture research and education program addressing the needs in Montana.

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information

Possess a valid driver's license May be located in Bozeman or at one of our seven research centers (https://agresearch.montana.edu/researchcenters.html) This position requires seasonal travel to on- and off-campus field sites During off-campus trips to remote field locations, and/or during planting and harvest, work hours may be more than 8 hours per individual day.

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

Be able to work in inclement weather conditions. The person in this position must be able to safely operate full-size pickups and drive long distances.

To perform this job successfully, individuals must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

The Program

The Department

The College

Keywords: Montana State University, Inc, Bozeman , Assistant Research Professor - Precision Agriculture Cluster Hire, Other , Bozeman, Montana