PhD Research Fellow: Grazing Water Tech & Livestock Systems

South Dakota State University; Brookings (SD); On-site; USD 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

South Dakota State University seeks a motivated Ph.D. student for aGraduate Research Assistantship focusing on grazing water technology, livestock systems, and applied rangeland research.

The role involves hands-on development of prototypes, field testing on SDSU facilities and cooperatives, and integration of GIS and data analysis to guide producer decisions. The appointment runs Jan 1, 2027, through Dec 30, 2029, with stipend support and tuition remission.

Qualifications

• Pursuing or entering a Ph.D. program in a relevant field with an interest in applied research.
• Willingness to learn hands-on prototyping, testing, and field work.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement grazing and water-resource research trials.
• Construct, modify, troubleshoot, and test research prototypes in field settings.
• Collaborate with ranches and SDSU facilities to collect and manage data.
• Work with cattle and sheep in production systems and analyze movement, grazing, and water-use patterns.
• Prepare manuscripts, Extension materials, and presentations to share findings.

Skills

Hands-on engineering

Fabrication

GPS/GIS

Field research

Job description

South Dakota State University seeks a motivated Ph.D. student for aGraduate Research Assistantship focusing on grazing water technology, livestock systems, and applied rangeland research.

The role involves hands-on development of prototypes, field testing on SDSU facilities and cooperatives, and integration of GIS and data analysis to guide producer decisions. The appointment runs Jan 1, 2027, through Dec 30, 2029, with stipend support and tuition remission.