Research Associate - Precision Agriculture **Havre, MT**

Position Details

Position Information

Announcement Number STAFF - VA - 27013 For questions regarding this position, please contact:

Ricardo Pinto

ricardo.pinto@montana.edu

406-994-6374

Classification Title Research Professional Working Title Research Associate - Precision Agriculture Havre, MT Brief Position Overview

The Northern Agricultural Research Center (NARC) Precision Agriculture Program at Montana State University seeks a motivated and skilled Research Associate to support a statewide initiative focused on variable rate fertilizer (VRF) adoption and validation in Montana cereal production systems. The position will be housed at an MSU-affiliated facility. Specific placement can be negotiated based on available capacity and program needs, including options such as MSU's main campus in Bozeman or one of the agricultural research centers (e.g., NARC). The successful candidate will work directly with producers, MSU faculty, Extension personnel, and crop consultants to implement variable rate nitrogen studies, collect and analyze spatial data, generate management zones, develop VRF prescriptions, and support field scale research across diverse Montana environments. This role is central to advancing data driven fertilizer recommendations, improving nitrogen use efficiency, and supporting soil health and profitability across Montana agriculture.

Position Number 4C0164 Department AES NARC Division College of Agriculture/MAES Appointment Type Professional Contract Term Fiscal Year Semester If other, specify From date If other, specify End date FLSA Exempt Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining FTE 1.0 Benefits Eligible Eligible Salary Salary commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications. Contract Type LOA If other, please specify Recruitment Type Open

Position Details

General Statement

Northern Agricultural Research Center (NARC) is located seven miles southwest of Havre, MT, and is an integral part of Montana State University. NARC is one of the seven Research Centers comprising the Department of Research Centers. Researchers at NARC conduct agricultural field and greenhouse studies, interact with farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses, industry, and the MSU Cooperative Extension Service.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinate and implement on farm variable rate fertilizer research studies across Montana in collaboration with participating producers and MSU researchers.
• Collect and manage spatial datasets including yield monitor data, soil sampling data, terrain attributes, and remote sensing imagery to support VRF prescription development.
• Assist in generating management zones and creating application ready VRF maps in formats used by industry such as SMS, shapefiles, and ISO XML.
• Conduct soil sampling following project protocols and coordinate with analytical laboratories for depth specific nutrient analysis.
• Support evaluation of agronomic, environmental, and economic outcomes of VRF adoption including yield responses, nitrogen use efficiency, and profitability comparisons against uniform rate controls.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for collaborating producers by assisting with equipment setup, data transfer, and field implementation of VRF strips.
• Assist MSU faculty and Extension agents in delivering outreach activities such as field days, VRF workshops, producer trainings, and creation of decision support materials.
• Contribute to progress reports, peer reviewed publications, Extension fact sheets, and presentations summarizing research outcomes.

Required Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Bachelor of Science degree in agronomy, soil science, precision agriculture, or a closely related field.
• Experience working in agricultural field operations or on farm applied studies.
• Experience working in agricultural field operations or on farm applied studies with documented experience with large farm operations including equipment, logistics, or field scale activities
• Ability to work directly with agricultural producers and communicate technical information clearly.
• Strong written and oral communication skills for interactions with researchers, Extension personnel, research center staff, and producers.
• Documented experience working alone or in a team environment to accomplish tasks and to desired work outcomes.

Preferred Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Master of Science degree in precision agriculture, agronomy, environmental sciences, data science, or a related field.
• Familiarity with spatial data used in precision agriculture including yield maps, soil datasets, remote sensing imagery, and geospatial layers.
• Experience generating or interpreting variable rate fertilizer prescriptions and management zones.
• Experience with geospatial analysis software such as SMS, QGIS, John Deere Operations Center, ArcGIS, or Google Earth Engine.
• Knowledge of experimental design, spatial statistics, and yield data processing workflows.

The Successful Candidate Will

• Demonstrate excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple active field projects.
• Communicate effectively with producers, consultants, Extension agents, scientists, and stakeholders across diverse agricultural disciplines.
• Understand and follow detailed written and oral research protocols established by MSU.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships within a team-oriented environment that include faculty across the MSU College of Agriculture, county agents, industry partners, and producers.
• Show initiative, independence, and a willingness to work in field conditions across varied Montana cropping systems.

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information

• Continuation of employment is contingent upon availability of funding.
• Evenings and/or weekend work will be required as dictated by season, weather, and deadlines.
• Must possess a valid driver's license, an acceptable driving record, and meet all State of Montana requirements to operate State/University vehicles. (If successful candidate possesses a valid out-of-state driver's license, must obtain a valid Montana driver's license within 60 days of hire.)

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University's rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Physical Demands

• Be able to work around dust and pesticides.
• Work in extreme weather conditions.
• Being able to enter, exit and operate numerous types of research and farm equipment unassisted.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

This position has supervisory duties? Yes

Posting Detail Information

Number of Vacancies 1 Desired Start Date Position End Date (if temporary) Open Date Close Date Applications will be:

Screening of applications will begin on July 23, 2026; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

Special Instructions

This position is not eligible for new sponsorship.

EEO Statement

Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.

In compliance with the Montana Veteran's Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran's preference, please complete the veteran's preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Optional Documents

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).