Research Associate, Northeast Tennessee AgResearch & Education Center - UTIA

This position offers professional and technical support for animal, veterinary, and plant science research and outreach programs at the Northeast Tennessee Research and Education Center (NETREC).  The role involves designing, planning, establishing, maintaining, and managing animal and plant science fields and controlled research environments. Projects will mainly focus on grasslands management, health, welfare, and production of food animals.  Collaboration in the development of project plans and execution of those plans, including experimental layouts, forage production, securing supplies, and other animal husbandry items as needed.  A strong work ethic is essential, as this is a hands-on, professional position in a fast-paced research and education environment.

The incumbent must maintain a flexible work schedule and will be required to live within a reasonable, agreed-upon distance from the farm to be available to quickly address and/or respond to any farm-related emergency or project protocols.

• Participates in the design, planning, establishment, maintenance, and natural resources for the processing of animal and plant science field and controlled research environments. 
• Collaborates in the development of project plans and execution of those plans, including experimental layouts, forage production including collection and analysis, securing supplies, and other animal husbandry items as needed for the center.  
• Reporting of data, accurate record keeping, and IACUC compliance is required.  
• Preparing and executing research protocols/working with project leader(s) to prepare/design a research protocol, securing site/pens and supplies as directed.
• Individual Animal Records: date, treatment, location, feed, other applications.  Recording, compiling, and analyzing data/recording data including sampling, weighing animals, and preparing summaries for presentations.  
• Maintaining up-to-date records of current research projects in a computer format is a necessary skill for this function of the position.  
• Assisting with field days, tours, agronomy plot work, and other special events as directed by the REC Director.
• Maintaining research equipment/writing specifications for and assisting in securing equipment needed for research and development; maintaining equipment and instruments in accordance with maintenance.  
• May supervise employees but supervision is not the main focus of this position.
• Complying with all UT Policies, attending appropriate in-service training and regulatory requirements including RCR.  
• Complies with all UT policies and regulatory policies, especially pesticide labels and APHIS regulatory requirements for regulated materials.  
• Supervising other personnel involved in the research/supervising day-to-day activities of graduate students, interns, or other co-workers assigned to assist with a research project(s).
• Assisting with planning, maintaining, or completing research programs and/or projects involved in the discovery of new knowledge, techniques, and concepts in Plant Sciences.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree with one year of experience in animal/agronomy/biology/livestock/natural resources/plant/veterinary or closely related field.
• Experience: 1-5 years/animal/livestock/biology/veterinary/agronomy/plant sciences or related farm experience. Graduate assistantships or other paid student assistant work that is relevant may be considered.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Working knowledge of an agronomy farm with active livestock operations and maintenance of farm equipment; knowledge of plant science; ability to work long hours in extreme weather conditions and around dust and pollen; ability to have a flexible work schedule (frequent work on weekends and/or evenings).      Excellent computer skills and knowledge of or ability to learn precision livestock/agriculture technologies.  Knowledge of research methodology, protocols, data analysis, and forage production.   
• Other: Valid Driver's license, Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) certifications such as but not limited to Occupational Health screenings, Essentials for IACUC Members, working with the IACUC, and other AAALAC certifications as directed by REC Director.  Tennessee Pesticide license or must obtain one within 90 days after start date of employment.  The incumbent must maintain a flexible work schedule and will be required to live within a reasonable, agreed-upon distance from the farm to be available to quickly address and/or respond to any farm-related emergency or project protocols.
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Master's Degree 
• Experience: 2 years in animal, livestock, biology, veterinary, agronomy, plant sciences or related farm background.  Research Center livestock background/agronomic field plot knowledge/experience is preferred.  Graduate assistantships or other paid student assistant work that is relevant may be considered.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Demonstrated ability to plan, design, and implement field/controlled research environments and advanced knowledge in research skills to interpret data.  Applied skills in training/supervising personnel.      Advanced word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, database, and statistical software.  Proven ability and skills to prioritize, allocate, procure, and coordinate resources.  Knowledge in a research academic setting is preferred.      Agronomic field plot research is desirable. 

Work Location 

• Location: Greeneville, TN
• Onsite, as this is a hands-on professional position on an agronomy/livestock research and education center.

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: MR08
• Anticipated hiring range: $45,000 - $52,421)
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions 

To express interest, please submit an application with the attachments noted below. 

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• List of 3 Professional References

About The College/Department/Division 

Established in 1932, the Northeast Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center is known for its research on burley tobacco production and beef cow-calf production.

Research is conducted on the 500 acres that make up the Center.  Areas of research at the Center include all aspects of burley tobacco production with emphasis on breeding and production economics, variety testing, pest management, and breeding of field crops important to the agriculture of Upper East Tennessee and animal research in the areas of genetics, silage feeding, and grazing studies of fescue and warm-season native grasses.