Job Description

Job Summary/Basic Function
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.

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