Turfgrass Research Scientist I — Field & Lab Innovation

Iowa State University; Ames (IA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)

Retirement benefits

Wellbeing program

Employee discounts

Job summary

Iowa State University’s Department of Horticulture seeks a Turfgrass Research Scientist to advance a nationally recognized turfgrass program focused on athletic field safety, golf course management, sports turf performance, and sustainable practices.

The role blends outdoor field research with laboratory work, data collection, and collaboration with faculty, students, and industry partners to improve turf systems across athletic fields, parks, and golf courses.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, Turfgrass Management, Agronomy, Plant Science (or related field).
• Experience establishing, maintaining, and managing turfgrass research plots or production systems.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and execute applied turfgrass field research, including site prep, protocols, scheduling, and supervising student workers.
• Establish and maintain turfgrass research plots with mowing, irrigation, fertilizer, pesticides, and cultivation.
• Collect and manage research data: plant/ soil samples, turf quality, weed assessments, moisture, surface testing.
• Assist in developing methods, maintain databases, perform quality control, and conduct statistical analyses.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, students, and external partners on projects, publications, grants, field demos.
• Present findings at field days, conferences, and industry meetings; prepare displays and facility tours.

Skills

Turfgrass management

Field research

Data analysis

Scientific collaboration

Statistical methods

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, Turfgrass Management, Agronomy, Plant Science

Tools

Turfgrass equipment

Job description

Iowa State University’s Department of Horticulture seeks a Turfgrass Research Scientist to advance a nationally recognized turfgrass program focused on athletic field safety, golf course management, sports turf performance, and sustainable practices.

The role blends outdoor field research with laboratory work, data collection, and collaboration with faculty, students, and industry partners to improve turf systems across athletic fields, parks, and golf courses.