Field Research Assistant

Position Information

Job Duties

A Field Research Assistant position is available in the Northern Soybean Breeding Program to assist with field and seed lab activities. This is a technical position in a plant breeding and research program. The successful candidate will assist with year round activities of the program and duties may include, but are not limited to:  taking field notes (soybean flower color, pubescence color, maturity, plant erectness, plant height, plant stand counts, seed weight, and other field notes associated with a soybean breeding program), collecting soil and plant tissue samples, cleaning seed, packaging seed, quality control, working on planter and combine crews during the planting and harvest seasons, cross-pollinating soybean to produce hybrid lines, weeding and maintenance of field plots, and maintaining a clean work environment.

Required Skills

This position will report to Bay Farm (near Bradford Research & Extension Center – approximately 9 miles southeast of MU campus), so personal transportation is required. Applicants must be able to work outdoors between 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and/or 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Monday-Friday). At least two shifts (8 total hours minimum) per week are required. This position requires excellent observational, record keeping, organizational, and troubleshooting skills in addition to basic computer skills (e.g. Microsoft Word & Excel). The job candidate should be able to work well with others as well as work independently.

Preferred Qualifications

Other Comments

If interested, send an email to Clinton Meinhardt (meinhardtc@missouri.edu) and Mariola Usovsky (mariolausovsky@missouri.edu) with the following information: name, year in school, major, shifts available to work, resume, an unofficial transcript, and any plant breeding and/or farming experience. Please include “Field Research Assistant” in the subject line.

We encourage students to include a resume or transcript when e-mailing a faculty mentor to apply for a posted position.