Research Technician

Position Function:

This is a full time, 12-month appointment contingent on available funding. The appointee will assist with research activities related to plant and animal production systems and the application of precision technologies in production agriculture. The appointee will also be responsible for assistance with activities in the ABE Machine Shop and other duties as assigned by principal investigator.

Salary Grade: 11

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges. For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Department Profile:

ABE has an energetic group of 18 on-campus faculty members engaged in teaching, research, and extension, as well as several other faculty members at MSU-affiliated research centers and adjuncts employed elsewhere. We have a strong culture of mentoring junior faculty members to help them attain success. Our department is co-administered by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Bagley College of Engineering, and it offers undergraduate (B.S.) and graduate (M.S. and Ph.D.) degrees in three distinct program areas: Biomedical Engineering and Bio-systems Engineering, which are both accredited by ABET, and Agricultural Engineering Technology and Business. Within these programs, the department has over 400 undergraduates and 40 graduate students. The department has ongoing collaborations with MSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, and several other centers, institutes, and departments. The J. Charles Lee Agricultural and Biological Engineering Building includes more than 6,000 square feet of state-of-the-art instructional and research facilities, and it includes separate labs for sterile tissue culture, bio-mechanical testing, environmental and agricultural simulation or modeling studies, electronic/robotic design fabrication and testing, GPS/GIS, renewable bio-energy, and student computing resources. More information about ABE can be found at http://www.abe.msstate.edu/.

MSU, a Carnegie Foundation R1-Very High Research Activity Doctoral University, is a comprehensive public institution with more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students and nearly 1,500 full-time faculty members. Representative of the American land-grant tradition yet distinctive in character and spirit, MSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, masters, specialist, and doctoral degrees. MSU’s researchers are assisted by a supportive research administration to place MSU among the top 100 universities in the nation in research and development in the sciences and engineering. A member of the Southeastern Conference, MSU is a major athletic competitor on the national stage, having won the NCAA baseball national championship in 2021. The university is located in Starkville, Mississippi, a historic city with a population of about 25,000, roughly 2 hours by car from Memphis, Birmingham, and Jackson and roughly 4 hours from New Orleans, Atlanta, and Nashville. Starkville is a vibrant college town with several signature weekend events highlighting arts, culture, and sports. Its location opens doors to adventures and relaxation in natural settings. Like the state of Mississippi, Starkville is also known for its southern hospitality, welcomes all people and embraces diversity. Websites for the Chamber of Commerce (https://www.starkville.org/support/) and city schools (https://www.starkvillesd.com/) are good sources of additional information.

Anticipated Appointment Date:

January 2025.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Specific duties include, but are not limited to,
1. Assist in implementation and maintenance of in-field and laboratory research,
2. Assist team members to collect, record, and summarize research data and maintain records,
3. Active participation in equipment operation, maintenance, and modification,
4. Assist in information dissemination; summarize data for presentation in poster, oral, or print,
5. Assist in training of undergraduate and graduate student labor, and
6. Perform other tasks as necessary under the direction of the principal investigator.
Weekly planning meetings will provide guidance on critical tasks, including prioritization of tasks. Incumbent will assist interim workers, student workers and graduate students. Travel to research and demonstration locations throughout Mississippi will be required, including hauling equipment on trailers. Occasional overnight travel may be required.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Earned bachelor’s degree in an agricultural-related discipline
• A valid US driver’s license
• UAS Part 107 Certification or the ability to attain in the first 90 days of employment
• A Mississippi Pesticide Applicator’s license is required within 60 days of hire

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters degree in Agriculture
• Experience operating precision machining and manufacturing equipment (milling machine, lathe, welder, etc.)
• Previous experience in academic research including experimental design and layout, data collection and analysis, and disseminating technical information (poster, oral presentations, publications, etc.)
• Experience with plant and/or animal production systems

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to operate, maintain, and modify farm equipment (tractors, combines, sprayers, planters, etc.)
• Ability to think critically, ask questions, and work well with others
• A hands-on, common-sense approach to problems
• Interest in research and plant and animal production systems
• Excellent planning skills (weekly work schedules, research prioritization, etc.)
• Interest in research and plant and animal production systems
Excellent organizational and communications skills
• Computer literacy in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
• Ability to operate, maintain, and modify farm equipment (tractors, combines, sprayers, planters, etc.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

• Ability to work in all weather, particularly heat.
• Ability to occasionally lift 50-lb bags (e.g., fertilizer and seed)

Instructions for Applying:

Link to apply: http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/

Email a resume, cover letter, unofficial transcripts with social security numbers redacted, and contact information (email and phone number) for three references to [email protected] and submit online. Include “Research Assistant application” in the subject line. For any questions related to the position, please contact Dr. J. Wes Lowe.

Screening Date:

November 6, 2024, until filled.

Restricted Clause:

Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

MSU is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, gender identity, status as a U.S. veteran, and/or any other status protected by applicable law. We always welcome nominations and applications from women, members of any minority group, and others who share our passion for building a diverse community that reflects the diversity in our student population.

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or [email protected].

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or [email protected]. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.