Extension Associate (Integrated Pest Management)

Louisiana State University Agricultural Center; United States; On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement plan

Medical insurance options

Tax Saver Flexible Benefits Plan

University holidays (14 per year)

Vacation and sick leave

Employee Assistance Program

Tuition exemption

Job summary

Louisiana State University AgCenter seeks an Extension Associate for Integrated Pest Management to support statewide IPM Extension efforts across commodities, pest diagnostics, and community outreach. You will collaborate with stakeholders, help evaluate programs, and communicate progress through reports and online platforms.

The role may involve conducting applied agronomic research and will require strong written and oral communication skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biology, science communication, agriculture, or related field.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Ideal candidate must have excellent written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with stakeholder groups to gather input for IPM Extension program planning.
• Facilitate communication among project cooperators.
• Assist in IPM program evaluation and report writing.
• Create and maintain website and social media apps to promote statewide IPM initiatives.
• Provide additional assistance as needed by the project director.
• Assist in conducting applied research on agronomic crops as needed.

Skills

Written and verbal communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in biology/related field

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Extension Associate (Integrated Pest Management)

Position Type: Other

Academic Department: LSUAG PL4 - Central - Support (James Michael Villegas (00001420))

Pay Grade: Other Academic

Work Location: This position will be housed at the LSU AgCenter Dean Lee Research and Extension Center, Alexandria, LA. Collaborative work will also be conducted at other LSU AgCenter Research and Extension Centers and at the LSU A&M campus.

Position Description

The LSU AgCenter Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program is looking for a qualified candidate to fill the position of Extension Associate. This role supports the IPM Extension Implementation Program for Louisiana, which aids statewide extension efforts in IPM across various commodities including agronomic crops (insect, weed, disease, and nematode), pest diagnostic facilities, communities (including housing), and pesticide safety.

The Extension Associate will have a range of responsibilities, including collaborating with stakeholder groups to gather input for IPM Extension program planning, facilitating communication among project cooperators, assisting in IPM program evaluation, writing report on IPM efforts, creating and maintaining website and social media apps to promote statewide IPM initiatives, and providing additional assistance as needed by the project director. The candidate will also assist in conducting applied research on agronomic crops as needed by the program.

Qualification Requirements

• A minimum of a bachelor's degree in biology, science communication, agriculture (such as entomology, weed science, agronomy, plant pathology), or a related field.
• A master's degree is desired.
• The ideal candidate must possess excellent written and oral communication skills.

LSU and the AgCenter are dedicated to fostering an environment where our employees feel appreciated for their skills and individual qualifications. If a candidate does not meet the minimum qualifications listed but has other qualifications or substantial experience related to the key responsibilities, we encourage them to apply (La RS 42:36).

Salary and Benefits

Salary will be commensurate with education and experience.

Current benefits offered include retirement, multiple medical insurance options, supplemental insurances (dental, life, long-term disability, accident, vision, long-term care, etc.), Tax Saver Flexible Benefits Plan (saves tax dollars on some child care and medical expenses), university holidays (14 per year, typically includes a week off at Christmas), generous annual (vacation) and sick leave benefits, Employee Assistance Program, and possible educational leave and tuition exemption for coursework at campuses of the LSU System. Specific benefits depend on job category, percent effort and length of employment.

Benefits - The LSU AgCenter has an attractive benefits package with a wide variety of benefit options. Benefits offered include retirement, multiple medical insurance options, supplemental insurances (dental, life, long-term disability, accident, vision, long-term care, etc.), Tax Saver Flexible Benefits Plan (saves tax dollars on some childcare and medical expenses), university holidays (14 per year), generous annual (vacation) and sick leave benefits, Employee Assistance Program, and possible educational leave and tuition exemption for coursework at campuses of the LSU System. Specific benefits depend on job category, percent effort and length of employment.

Employment Information

Date Available: Upon completion of the selection process.

Application Deadline: November 23, 2026 or until a suitable candidate is identified.

Background Check - An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.

Positions approved to work outside the State of Louisiana shall be employed through Louisiana State University’s partner, nextSource Workforce Solutions, for Employer of Record Services including but not limited to employment, benefits, payroll, and tax compliance.

Positions employed through Employer of Record Services will be offered benefits and retirement as applicable through their provider and will not be eligible for State of Louisiana benefits and retirement.

Contact

Dr. James Villegas
Assistant Professor - Field Crop Entomology
Dean Lee Research and Extension Center
LSU AgCenter
8105 Tom Bowman Dr., Alexandria, LA 71302
E-mail: [e-mail]
Website: www.lsuagcenter.com

Human Resources Contact

HCM Contact Information: Questions or concerns can be directed to the LSU AgCenter Human Resources Management Office at 225-578-2258 or emailed [e-mail].

About the LSU Agricultural Center

The LSU AgCenter, is one of eight campuses within the broader LSU enterprise (LSU System). The LSU AgCenter includes the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, which conducts agricultural-based research, and the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, which extends the knowledge derived from research to the people of the state. The AgCenter is headquartered in Baton Rouge and has 12 “on campus” academic departments and five regions which are made up of 15 branch research stations and an extension office in each parish. For more information, visit the AgCenter’s website at www.lsuagcenter.com. The LSU Agricultural Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

LSU includes institutions, facilities and programs in each of Louisiana’s 64 parishes, and its campuses stretch the length of the state from New Orleans to Shreveport. Each institution plays a vital role in preparing students to incorporate new knowledge and technologies into their daily lives. LSU researchers across Louisiana are working on developing a wide-range of innovations to improve quality of life by studying issues such as disease management, advance medical treatments, obesity, coastal protection, hurricane preparedness, energy, natural resource management and agriculture, among others. Louisiana’s Flagship University is a land-, sea- and space-grant institution with academic programs in all areas of science, engineering, humanities, arts and social sciences. The University comprises of nine institutions: Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College (“LSU”), the premier flagship university for the state, which include the Paul M. Hebert Law Center and the School of Veterinary Medicine Louisiana State University at Alexandria Louisiana State University at Eunice Louisiana State University at Shreveport LSU Health Sciences Center – New Orleans LSU Health Science Center – Shreveport The Health Care Services Division Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Pennington Biomedical Research Center Any other college, university, school, institution, or program now or hereafter under the supervision and management of the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College In implementing its mission, LSU is committed to: Offering a broad array of undergraduate degree programs and extensive graduate research opportunities designed to attract and educate highly qualified undergraduate and graduate students; Employing faculty who are excellent teacher-scholars, nationally competitive in research and creative activities, and who contribute to a world-class knowledge base that is transferable to educational, professional, cultural, and economic enterprises; and Using its extensive resources to solve economic, environmental, and social challenges.