Research Assistant

In this role you'll help drive innovation in agronomy/crop systems. Daily tasks will vary but will include the hands on operation and management in the crop and forage operations at the Southeast Research and Extension Center in Parsons and outlying farms and fields including Mound Valley and Columbus locations. The center conducts research on corn, soybeans, milo, sunflowers, wheat and a variety of forage and cover crops. The station is also home to a beef cattle operation which includes a research feed yard and a herd of beef cows. Your role will encompass all aspects of crop and forage production including tillage, fertilizer/herbicide/pesticide application, harvesting, equipment maintenance and repair, data collection, soil sampling, crop scouting among other duties, including some lab work. You'll play a critical role in crop and forage production and be engaged with agronomy research at the facility and across the center. You'll provide team support to cattle and crop production across locations in the center.

Research Assistants are assigned to various research center projects to carry out numerous tasks in the research environment with minimal supervision and direct the work of lower ranking and less experienced employees, thereby freeing the faculty member or project leader to engage in more academic and creative pursuits.

K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service. We are a partnership between Kansas State University and federal, state, and county government, with offices in every Kansas county. We conduct research throughout Kansas that is shared by Extension agents and others on our Web sites and through numerous conferences, workshops, field days, publications, newsletters and more.

This position is On-site.

While the Southeast Research and Extension Center in Parsons, KS is the base of operations, the person selected for this position will primarily report to the Mound Valley, KS field site.

All employees must reside in the United States when they begin working to comply with state law. K-State is unable to provide remote or hybrid work opportunities for residents of the state of Idaho.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Requires a bachelor's degree. (Major in Animal Science, Agriculture, of other closely related field) Education beyond the minimum degree requirement may count toward required experience if deemed relevant by the hiring manager. The degree requirement ensures candidates possess the advanced theoretical knowledge, highly specialized methodologies, and critical problem-solving skills fundamental to this work. These competencies are typically developed and rigorously validated only through the comprehensive curriculum and intensive experiential experience inherent in a formal degree program.
• Valid driver's license required
• Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

Preferred Qualifications:

• 3 years experience in large scale ranching/farming operations
• Vocational training in the safe and proper use of pesticides
• Ability to drive large and small farm equipment safely and skillfully
• Ability to recognize plant diseases and signs of insect infestation
• Knowledge of the hazards and effects of pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, etc.) and the ability to read and interpret label and MSDS instructions regarding safe and proper use of agricultural chemicals
• Knowledge of hazards and safety precautions pertaining to repair, maintenance, and operation of agricultural equipment, vehicles, and power tools
• Ability to setup, calibrate, and operate precision agricultural equipment
• Ability to communicate in English, both orally and in writing, in order to interpret precise instructions, procedures, technical plans and designs, and keep research and production records
• Knowledge of methods and principles of supervision and the ability to plan, assign, and review work of other employees

Additional Role Information:

• Certified, or capable and willing to obtain Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
• Certified, or capable and willing to be certified to apply restricted-use pesticides to crops including category 10: Demonstration and Research

Sponsorship eligibility:

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship

Please submit the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Contact information for three professional references

Applications close on: April 8, 2026

$20.67 - $24.03 per hour