On-Farm Precision Ag Research Specialist

Iowa State University; Ames (IA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)

Retirement benefits

Vacation, holiday, and sick time and 3

Job summary

Iowa State University in Ames, IA, seeks a Technical Project Specialist II to design and implement on-farm research projects bridging agricultural research and real-world farming practices.

The role involves coordinating field activities, including soil sampling, drone imagery, and precision ag applications, with faculty, farmers, and partners. Strong data handling and communication are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 2 years of related experience
• Experience with precision agriculture technologies and agricultural machinery
• Ability to translate research questions into practical field trials
• Experience coordinating field research activities

Responsibilities

• Design and coordinate on-farm research projects in collaboration with faculty, farmers, industry partners, and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate and perform field research activities, including soil sampling, spatial data management, drone imagery collection, and other precision agriculture applications.
• Serve as a technical resource for precision agriculture technologies and agricultural machinery, developing protocols and advising project teams on their effective use in research.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for participating farmers, supporting trial design, implementation, communication, and resolution of technical or operational challenges.
• Develop and implement quality assurance and quality control processes to support accurate, reliable research data and successful project execution.
• Communicate research findings through reports, presentations, educational materials, peer-reviewed publications, and other communications for farmers, project partners, funders, and professional audiences.
• Provide training and direction to undergraduate employees, interns, and other staff supporting research projects, including assigning work and coordinating schedules.
• Build professional relationships and contribute technical expertise through research partnerships and external activities

Skills

Project coordination

Precision agriculture technologies

Technical troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Drone imagery

Soil sampling

Spatial data management

Job description

Iowa State University in Ames, IA, seeks a Technical Project Specialist II to design and implement on-farm research projects bridging agricultural research and real-world farming practices.

The role involves coordinating field activities, including soil sampling, drone imagery, and precision ag applications, with faculty, farmers, and partners. Strong data handling and communication are essential.