PG191814EP

No

Research Associate - Horticultural Science

Commensurate with Experience

Monday - Friday / 8am - 5pm (some evenings and weekends as needed)

Raleigh, NC

Horticultural Science

Since 1901, the faculty, staff and students of the Department of Horticultural Science have been providing innovative teaching, research and outreach to the citizens of North Carolina, the nation, and the world. Our research and extension programs are recognized worldwide for their contributions to applied horticultural production and to discovery science. We generate and extend knowledge about fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants, and landscape design for the purpose of increasing food security and food safety, sustaining the environment, enhancing economic vitality, and improving the quality of life for individuals and their communities.

The Research Associate in this position will lead, conduct, and coordinate vegetable research cultural management projects that will include cultivar evaluations and their development, plant nutrition and fertilizer usage, plant stand establishment, crop quality aspects such as internal necrosis in sweet potato, hollow heart in watermelon (etc.), irrigation, pollination, and grafting. The incumbent in this position will supervise and train part-time employees, as well as interact with representatives of the vegetable industry. The incumbent in this position will coordinate extension programs primarily in sweet potato, sweet corn, and cucurbit crops. The project team associated with this position consists of academic and industry colleagues working in breeding and molecular genetics, crop cultural management, food science, postharvest physiology, weed science, agricultural engineering, agricultural economics, and statistics. The overall goal is to enhance production efficiency and vegetable crop quality that can be adopted by the vegetable crop industry. The incumbent in this position will instruct undergraduate and graduate students, as well as project members in the field, greenhouse, and laboratory and extension activities. However, the predominant expectation of this position is field and greenhouse work in applied research and extension activities.
Some specific aspects of this position are to: coordinate and secure land assignments and requests for trialing a variety of research, field plot layout and preparation, execution of the studies involving excellent husbandry practices, collection of the data with attention to detail, supervision of temporary employees, organizing the data for statistical analysis, statistical analysis and the reporting of the results in finalized products such as presentations at both professional research meetings and extension meetings, and a summary publication that can be either paper copy and/or placed on the web.
The incumbent in this position will lead and be responsible for the outreach and/or extension in this program by coordinating and conducting on-farm replicated and demonstration sweetpotato or vegetable studies using this as a forum to train county extension agents, engage with them, and with the commercial vegetable industry. The incumbent will be expected to test new farm equipment which is innovative to improve production for the vegetable industry. This will require the incumbent have a mechanical and technical ability to operate and safely transport farm equipment. Some sweetpotato studies might include but are not limited to are; variety/clone, fertilizer, nematode, cover crop, international shipping, and heavy metal accumulation.

This position will also assist undergraduate and graduate students, as well as project members in laboratory, field and greenhouse research and extension activities. The position will provide supervision and safety training to part-time employees, as well as interact with representatives of the vegetable industry.

• Master’s Degree in Horticulture or relevant field or a relevant Bachelor’s and 3 or more years of relevant experience, relevant independent experience and education.
  
  

• Must have excellent communication skills and be able to effectively interface with a wide diversity of clientele, both orally and in writing.
• Must be capable of writing reports for grants and demonstrate good management of spending.
• Mechanical and technical ability to safely operate and transport farm equipment
• Ability and willingness to train and mentor part-time employees.

• Experience in conducting statistical analysis, placing in tables, and providing accompanying narrative/reports.
• Experience in organizing and the facilitation of posting information on the web (especially for sweetpotato and cucurbits).
• Knowledge and ability to work with farm equipment (tractors, truck and trailers, sprayer, etc.) and to maintain them in good working order, proficiency in computer use such as Excel, Word, Google Applications, SAS, etc.

• Valid NC driver’s license or ability to obtain one within 60 days of hire.

Yes

No

06/15/2022

Open until filled.

Please submit a CV, cover letter, and the contact information for at least three (3) professional references.

00042135

EHRA Non-Faculty

1.00

12 Month Recurring

Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather

Mandatory - Medical Emergencies

No

111501 - Horticultural Science

NC State University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as an individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process, please call 919-515-3148.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

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