Research Associate

Corteva Agriscience; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits for you and family

Paid time off and holidays

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Retirement plan

Job summary

Corteva Agriscience seeks a hands-on Research Associate to build field research capabilities in the Indianapolis area. The role supports high-quality, multi-crop field trials from setup through harvest and closeout, working with scientists, agronomy colleagues, and technical partners to execute protocols and ensure safe, efficient field operations.

The position emphasizes autonomy, data integrity, and practical scientific judgment to improve methodologies and deliver reliable results for a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or at least five years of directly related agricultural research experience.
• Experience conducting applied agricultural field trials and field activities such as planting, treatment application, crop maintenance, assessment, sampling, and harvest.
• Ability to work with minimal guidance, analyze results, and make evidence-based recommendations.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to work safely in outdoor agricultural conditions, including seasonal demands.
• Indiana Commercial Applicator License, Category 10 Research and Demonstration at minimum, or ability to obtain it.

Responsibilities

• Help plan and conduct field research trials, including site preparation, planting, treatment, maintenance, sampling, harvest, and closeout.
• Conduct experiments and complex technical operations with minimal guidance.
• Optimize methodologies and recommend additional experiments or alternative approaches.
• Interpret results, troubleshoot issues, and propose next steps.
• Support data collection, quality checks, and organize field data for summaries and reports.
• Operate, transport, maintain, and troubleshoot agricultural equipment used for application, planting, and data collection.
• Coordinate day-to-day field activities with scientists, agronomy colleagues, seasonal staff, interns, and contractors.
• Promote safety, data integrity, and continuous improvement across field operations.
• Support field demonstrations, tours, and stakeholder engagement.

Skills

Field research

Data collection

Experimental design

Equipment operation

Safety compliance

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Agronomy/Crop Science/Plant Science/Weed Science/Plant Pathology/Entomology/Agricultural Engineering or related

Tools

Agricultural equipment

Sensors and drones

Job description

Corteva Agriscience is seeking a hands‑on Research Associate to help build field research capabilities at a growing agricultural research center in the Indianapolis area.

In this role, you will join the Integrated Field Science team and support high‑quality, multi‑crop field research from trial setup through harvest and closeout. You will work alongside scientists, agronomy colleagues, and technical partners to execute research protocols, maintain research plots, collect reliable data, and keep field operations running safely and efficiently. Working with minimal guidance, you will also conduct experiments and complex technical activities, interpret results, refine methodologies, and recommend practical next steps. This is an opportunity to apply your agricultural experience and scientific judgment while helping shape the capabilities and culture of a highly visible research center.

What you’ll do

• Help plan and conduct field research trials, including site preparation, planting, treatment application, crop maintenance, sampling, assessment, harvest, and trial closeout.
• Working with minimal guidance, conduct experiments, complex technical operations, and information-search or analysis projects.
• Optimize, interpret, and independently adapt methodologies for current projects; recommend additional experiments or alternative approaches when appropriate.
• Recognize erroneous or unexpected results, analyze and interpret findings, draw sound conclusions, and recommend a path forward.
• Contribute to work plans and manage daily workflow to deliver accurate, timely research results.
• Execute research protocols accurately and collect, record, quality-check, and organize field data for use in project summaries and reports.
• Operate, transport, maintain, and help troubleshoot agricultural and research equipment used for application, planting, harvesting, sensing, and data collection.
• Coordinate day-to-day field activities with scientists, agronomy colleagues, seasonal employees, interns, contractors, and technical partners across on‑site and off‑site research locations.
• Promote strong standards for safety, stewardship, compliance, data integrity, equipment care, and continuous improvement.
• Support field demonstrations, tours, and other activities that connect agricultural research with customers, partners, and visitors.

Why This Role Matters

The Indianapolis‑area research center is being developed as a hub for agricultural research, innovation, learning, and internal and external engagement. Your work will help establish dependable field research capabilities and create an environment where scientific concepts can be evaluated under practical agricultural conditions and showcased to internal and external groups.

What Skills You Need

• A Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy, Crop Science, Plant Science, Weed Science, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Agricultural Engineering, or a related discipline; or at least five years of directly related agricultural research experience.
• Experience conducting applied agricultural field trials and completing field activities such as planting, treatment application, crop maintenance, assessment, sampling, and harvest.
• Demonstrated ability to work with minimal guidance, analyze experimental results, identify unexpected outcomes, and make evidence‑based recommendations.
• Experience operating and calibrating agricultural equipment, with the mechanical aptitude to perform routine setup, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• A valid driver’s license and the ability to work safely in outdoor agricultural conditions, including seasonal work demands.
• Indiana Commercial Applicator License, Category 10 Research and Demonstration at minimum, or the ability to obtain it as soon as possible.
• Authority to work in the United States.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with multi‑crop research, crop protection, biological products, or agricultural technology platforms.
• Experience using digital field‑research tools, research data systems, sensors, drones, or precision agriculture technologies.
• Working knowledge of experimental protocols, data‑quality practices, pesticide stewardship, or regulated field‑research requirements.
• Experience independently adapting research methods or technical procedures to meet project needs.
• Experience coordinating seasonal employees, interns, contractors, or work crews.
• Experience supporting field demonstrations, tours, or other stakeholder‑engagement activities.

What You’ll Gain

• Opportunities to strengthen your scientific, technical, operational, and leadership capabilities.
• Collaboration with scientists, innovators, and agricultural professionals.
• The opportunity to help build a growing research center and contribute to agricultural solutions with real‑world impact.

Benefits – How We’ll Support You

• Numerous development opportunities offered to build your skills
• Be part of a company with a higher purpose and contribute to making the world a better place
• Health benefits for you and your family on your first day of employment
• Four weeks of paid time off and two weeks of well‑being pay per year, plus paid holidays
• Excellent parental leave which includes a minimum of 16 weeks for mother and father
• Future planning with our competitive retirement savings plan and tuition reimbursement program
• Learn more about our total rewards package here - Corteva Benefits
• Check out life at Corteva! www.linkedin.com/company/corteva/life

Are you a good match? We seek applicants from all backgrounds to ensure we get the best, most creative talent on our team.

Corteva Agriscience is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to embracing our differences to enrich lives, advance innovation, and boost company performance. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, military or veteran status, pregnancy related conditions (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), disability or any other protected status in accordance with federal, state, or local laws.