Research Associate - Field Research Program

Location: Eastern Agricultural Research Center, Montana. The role involves regular outdoor field research, agricultural equipment operation, occasional overnight travel, and evening, weekend, or extended-hour work during planting, evaluation, and harvest periods. A valid Montana driver's license must be held or obtained within 3 months of hire, and a Montana pesticide applicator license must be obtained within 3 months of hire.

Company

hirify.global's Office of Student Engagement and College of Agriculture/MAES support applied agricultural research through the Plant Pathology Program at the Eastern Agricultural Research Center.

What you will do

• Conduct and coordinate field research, including plot establishment, maintenance, field evaluations, sampling, and harvesting.
• Collect, organize, manage, and analyze research data using established protocols.
• Assist with experimental design, statistical analysis, and interpretation of results.
• Maintain detailed records and prepare technical reports, presentations, and scientific manuscripts.
• Supervise and train research assistants, students, and temporary workers while mentoring graduate students.
• Operate agricultural equipment and university vehicles and support field days, research tours, and outreach activities.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Plant Pathology, Crop Science, Agronomy, Agricultural Science, or a closely related discipline.
• Hands-on experience establishing, maintaining, evaluating, and harvesting agricultural field research experiments.
• Experience with experimental design, scientific data collection, data management, and analysis.
• Experience using Microsoft Office and statistical software, including R or similar programs.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently, and collaborate effectively.
• Ability to work outdoors on uneven agricultural terrain, handle up to 40 pounds, operate vehicles safely, and work around pesticides using required protective equipment.

Nice to have

• Experience evaluating crop diseases or other agronomic traits.
• Experience preparing scientific manuscripts, technical reports, or research presentations.
• Experience supervising students, research assistants, or temporary employees.
• Experience operating agricultural equipment and maintaining field research plots.
• Experience operating a backpack sprayer and applying experimental fungicides.

Culture & Benefits

• Work as part of a small, collaborative research team in a rural agricultural community.
• Contribute to grant-funded research supporting agricultural production in the Northern Great Plains.
• Develop advanced skills in field research management, data analysis, scientific communication, and research coordination.
• Full-time, benefits-eligible research professional appointment.
• This position is not eligible for new sponsorship.

Hiring process

• Applications include a resume and cover letter.
• Application screening begins September 17, 2026, and continues until an adequate applicant pool is established.