Research Associate

Central State; United States; On-site; USD 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Agriculture and Natural Resources Information and Management (ANRIM) lab at Central State University seeks two Research Associates to work on soil and water conservation projects. You will perform field and lab work, data management, and contribute to reports and manuscripts.

Responsibilities include travel to field sites, lab analysis, data entry, and mentoring undergraduates. Candidates should have a Master’s degree and willingness to learn protocols and collaborate with a team.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in agriculture, Environmental Science, or another related field
• Willingness and ability to perform physically demanding fieldwork in varying outdoor conditions
• Basic computer skills, including familiarity with spreadsheet and data management software
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a research team
• Strong attention to detail and record-keeping skills

Responsibilities

• Travel to field sites to collect soil, water, and plant samples using standard and project-specific protocols
• Set up, calibrate, and maintain field instrumentation and monitoring equipment (e.g., soil moisture sensors, water samplers, flow meters)
• Record field data accurately, including GPS coordinates, site conditions, and sample metadata
• Assist with the establishment and upkeep of field plots and research sites
• Support soil and water conservation practice installation, monitoring, and assessment activities
• Follow safety protocols for fieldwork under varying weather and site conditions
• Process, prepare, and analyze soil, water, and plant samples following established laboratory protocols
• Assist with calibration and preventative maintenance of laboratory equipment and instrumentation
• Help develop and follow standard operating procedures for sample analysis
• Enter, organize, and quality-check data generated from field and laboratory work
• Maintain accurate laboratory notebooks and sample inventories/chain-of-custody records
• Assist with data synthesis, summary statistics, and preparation of figures and tables for reports and manuscripts
• Assist the supervisor with report preparation, data analysis, and manuscript writing
• Mentor and assist in supervising undergraduate research assistants
• Attend lab meetings and, as opportunities allow, regional or national conferences
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor

Skills

Fieldwork

Lab work

Data management

Team collaboration

Attention to detail

Education

Master's degree

Tools

ICP-OES

ICP-MS

CN Analyzer

IRMS

Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry

HPLC

GC-MS

GIS

Job description

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

This is a term appointment. The initial appointment is for two (2) years. Renewal for each subsequent year is contingent upon satisfactory performance, and any renewal beyond the initial two-year term is contingent upon continued satisfactory performance and the availability of funding. Recent graduates and current PhD candidates are encouraged to apply.

Background Check All offers of employment at Central State University are contingent upon the successful completion of a comprehensive background check. This may include, but is not limited to, verification of education and employment history, criminal history check, driving record (if applicable), drug screening, and tax compliance review.

Certain positions may require additional screenings based on job responsibilities, regulatory requirements, or funding sources. Failure to successfully complete the required background check or provide accurate and complete information may result in withdrawal of an offer or termination of employment.

Work Authorization Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and throughout their employment. The University is not able to sponsor employment visas for this position now or in the future.

Non-Discrimination Statement In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, Central State University is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Central State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

Classification Title

Research Associate

Department

Agriculture Research Development Program (ARDP)

Department Contact Email

[e-mail]

Position Category

Staff - Monthly (Exempt)

Budgeted Annual Salary

Commensurate with experience

Job Summary/Basic Function

The Agriculture and Natural Resources Information and Management (ANRIM) lab in the College of Engineering, Science, Technology and Agriculture (CESTA) at Central State University is seeking two (2) Research Associates to work on research projects related to soil and water conservation in agricultural and natural systems. The selected candidates will support ongoing research in one or more of the following areas: modeling contaminant flow and transport at various geospatial scales, process-based modeling of soil organic matter transformations, soil metagenomics and proteomics, and isotope geochemistry.

The selected candidates will be responsible for field data collection, laboratory sample processing and analysis, data entry and management, and assisting with data synthesis, report preparation, and manuscript development. The successful candidates should demonstrate the ability to work both independently and as part of a team to achieve research objectives, under the guidance of the supervisor. The candidates are also expected to assist in mentoring and supervising undergraduate researchers engaged in the research activities. The candidates must be willing to learn field and laboratory protocols, instrumentation, and data collection and analysis methods relevant to the research program.

The position involves travel to selected field/study sites for data collection and, as opportunities arise, to meetings with collaborators and regional or national conferences.

Duties and Responsibilities

Field-Based Responsibilities

• Travel to field sites to collect soil, water, and plant samples using standard and project-specific protocols
• Set up, calibrate, and maintain field instrumentation and monitoring equipment (e.g., soil moisture sensors, water samplers, flow meters)
• Record field data accurately, including GPS coordinates, site conditions, and sample metadata
• Assist with the establishment and upkeep of field plots and research sites
• Support soil and water conservation practice installation, monitoring, and assessment activities
• Follow safety protocols for fieldwork under varying weather and site conditions

Lab-Based Responsibilities

• Process, prepare, and analyze soil, water, and plant samples following established laboratory protocols
• Assist with calibration and preventative maintenance of laboratory equipment and instrumentation
• Help develop and follow standard operating procedures for sample analysis
• Enter, organize, and quality-check data generated from field and laboratory work
• Maintain accurate laboratory notebooks and sample inventories/chain-of-custody records

Additional Responsibilities

• Assist with data synthesis, summary statistics, and preparation of figures and tables for reports and manuscripts
• Assist the supervisor with report preparation, data analysis, and manuscript writing
• Mentor and assist in supervising undergraduate research assistants
• Attend lab meetings and, as opportunities allow, regional or national conferences
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in agriculture, Environmental Science, or another related field (e.g., Soil Science, Natural Resources, Agricultural Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, GIS or a closely related discipline)
• Willingness and ability to perform physically demanding fieldwork in varying outdoor conditions
• Basic computer skills, including familiarity with spreadsheet and data management software
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a research team
• Strong attention to detail and record-keeping skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Coursework or research experience related to soil science, water quality, or agricultural/environmental systems
• Prior field or laboratory research experience
• Experience working with one or more of the following instruments: ICP - OES , ICP -MS, CN Analyzer, IRMS , Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry, HPLC , GC-MS, GC-MS/MS
• Familiarity with GIS , statistical software, or data management tools
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Posting Date

11/10/2026

Closing Date

Open Until Filled Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants

This is a term appointment. The initial appointment is for two (2) years. Renewal for each subsequent year is contingent upon satisfactory performance, and any renewal beyond the initial two-year term is contingent upon continued satisfactory performance and the availability of funding. Recent graduates and current PhD candidates are encouraged to apply.

Background Check All offers of employment at Central State University are contingent upon the successful completion of a comprehensive background check. This may include, but is not limited to, verification of education and employment history, criminal history check, driving record (if applicable), drug screening, and tax compliance review.

Certain positions may require additional screenings based on job responsibilities, regulatory requirements, or funding sources. Failure to successfully complete the required background check or provide accurate and complete information may result in withdrawal of an offer or termination of employment.

Work Authorization Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and throughout their employment. The University is not able to sponsor employment visas for this position now or in the future.

Non-Discrimination Statement In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) civil rights regulations and policies, Central State University is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Central State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).