Research Associate

Women In Science; Wilberforce (OH); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Central State University’s ANRIM lab is seeking two Research Associates to work on soil and water conservation projects in agricultural and natural systems. You will conduct field data collection, lab analysis, and data management while assisting with data synthesis, reports, and manuscript development.

The role requires a Master’s degree in a related field, independent and collaborative work, and willingness to travel to field sites and conferences as needed.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in agriculture, Environmental Science, or related field
• Willingness and ability to perform physically demanding fieldwork
• Basic computer skills 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
• Record field data accurately, including GPS coordinates and sample metadata
• Assist with 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 in the lab
• Enter, organize, and quality-check data from field and lab work
• Mentor and supervise undergraduate researchers when possible
• Attend lab meetings and conferences as opportunities arise

Skills

Field data collection

Data management

Laboratory techniques

Independent work

Team collaboration

Education

Master’s degree in agriculture, Environmental Science, or related field

Tools

ICP-OES

ICP-MS

CN Analyzer

IRMS

Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry

HPLC

GC-MS

GC-MS/MS

Job description

Position Summary

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.

Central State University

Wilberforce, OH

Job posting number: #7373422

Posted: November 10, 2026

Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

Job Description

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

Contact Information

More Info

Job posting number: #7373422 Application Deadline: Open Until Filled Employer Location: Online Job Advertising

JAX,Florida

United States