New

DRIVES Research Associate

North Carolina State University

Commensurate with experience ($65,000 - $70,000)

life insurance, flexible benefit account, paid time off

United States, Maryland, Beltsville

Aug 07, 2026

Posting Information

Posting Number	PG194802EP
Internal Recruitment	No
Working Title	DRIVES Research Associate
Anticipated Hiring Range	Commensurate with experience ($65,000 - $70,000)
Work Schedule	Monday - Friday, 8 am - 5 pm
Job Location	Beltsville, MD
Department	Crop and Soil Sciences
About the Department	The Agroecology Lab at NC State works to create more sustainable, resilient, and varied farming systems by: Understanding how varied cropping systems support healthy soil, clean water, and other natural benefits, and reduce the risk of adverse weather Finding practical ways to increase the variety of crops grown on farms Exploring how these practices fit into real-world farming and food systems Through hands-on research, teaching, and collaboration with students, farmers, and the community, we aim to build a more sustainable and just food future for North Carolina and beyond.
Wolfpack Perks and Benefits	As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone. What we offer: Medical, Dental, and Vision Flexible Spending Account Retirement Programs Disability Plans Life Insurance Accident Plan Paid Time Off and Other Leave Programs 12 Holidays Each Year Tuition and Academic Assistance And so much more! Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community. Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.
Essential Job Duties	The DRIVES Agroecology Research Associate will work under the supervision of the Agroecology Professor to support the growth of the Agroecology Lab's research program about the impacts of crop diversification. Key responsibilities will include organizing and maintaining the Diverse Rotation Improve Valuable Ecosystem Services ( DRIVES) database (drives-network.org) and conducting synthesis research on crop diversification across a range of environmental conditions. The DRIVES database is a network of data from long-term cropping systems experiments. The Associate will be responsible for database expansion and enhancing interoperability using data dictionaries and controlled vocabularies when including additional variables. They will lead database content development and write code to assess the linkages between rotational diversity and economic performance and soil health. They will prepare publications for peer-reviewed journals and develop partnerships across the long-term cropping systems research community. Duties include: Research Data Management & Database Development Organize, maintain, and expand the Diverse Rotation Improve Valuable Ecosystem Services (DRIVES) database. Enhance database interoperability by developing and implementing data dictionaries and controlled vocabularies. Integrate and validate data from long-term cropping systems experiments across multiple research sites. Ensure data quality, consistency, and accessibility to support collaborative agroecology research. Research Analysis & Scholarly Publications Conduct synthesis research evaluating the impacts of crop diversification across diverse environmental conditions. Develop and maintain analytical code to examine relationships between rotational diversity, economic performance, and soil health. Interpret research findings and prepare manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed scientific journals. Present research findings and contribute to reports, publications, and other scholarly products. Collaboration & Research Network Development Develop and maintain partnerships with collaborators across the long-term cropping systems research community. Coordinate with researchers to facilitate data sharing and database expansion. Participate in project meetings and communicate project progress with internal and external stakeholders. Contribute to advancing the Agroecology Lab's research program through collaborative initiatives. Position is contingent on availability of funds, potentially 6 months to 1.5 years
Other Responsibilities	Mentorship of graduate and undergraduate students, disseminating research in publications and outreach training activities. Communicate with the IT services and maintain the website and the virtual machine.

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience	Relevant Master's degree, or Relevant Bachelor's and 3 or more years of relevant experience, relevant independent experience and education.
Other Required Qualifications	The Research Associate must be a clear communicator, have strong organizational skills, be able to work with diverse individuals, and work independently as needed.
Preferred Qualifications	PhD in agronomy, soil science, or ecology, Mastery in R, expertise in addressing spatiotemporal elements of research questions related to crop diversification, Experience working with long-term cropping systems data, Experience handling legacy datasets for organization and analysis, experience with large publicly available datasets, Expertise in Bayesian statistics, experience working with supercomputers.
Required License(s) or Certification(s)	N/A
Valid NC Driver's License required	No
Commercial Driver's License required	No

Recruitment Dates and Special Instructions

Job Open Date	08/06/2026
Anticipated Close Date	Open Until Filled
Special Instructions to Applicants	Please attach a Cover Letter, resume/CV, and contact information for three (3) professional references.

Position Details

Position Number	00112240
Position Type	EPS/SAAO
Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week)	1.00
Appointment	12 Month Recurring
Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather	Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather
Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events	Non Mandatory - Emergency Event
Department ID	110901 - Crop and Soil Sciences
EEO	NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity. If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu. 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. NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.