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Job Description

The Biological Research Technician will assist the sunflower genetics lab with multiple research projects at the Northern Crop Science Laboratory (located on North Dakota State University Campus) in Fargo, ND. Our laboratory leads the only public sector sunflower breeding program in North America, and conducts genetics and genomics studies on sunflower and perennial oilseeds. We collaborate extensively with North Dakota State University, University of Colorado-Boulder, The Land Institute, and several seed and food companies that have interest in our work.

Job duties:

  • Responsible for working with other full-time staff in the sunflower lab to manage nurseries in Fargo and Chile, and yield trials in the region. 
  • Tasks include selecting lines for release, seed prep, equipment transport, note taking, pollination, herbicide application, and plot maintenance.
  • With the assistance of other members of the lab, recruit, interview, hire, and manage a team of 3-5 college interns each year.
  • Monitor field and greenhouse space for pest and disease, then recommend steps for mitigation as necessary.
  • Aid a research geneticist by harvesting a sunflower nursery and collecting data necessary to promote germplasm enhancement of sunflower.
  • Provide interns with helpful instructions and positive feedback on a wide variety of tasks in lab, field and greenhouse settings.
  • Performs regularly scheduled maintenance on research field equipment such as tractors, combines, and vehicles. Ability to troubleshoot and diagnose problems is a plus.
  • Organize and prepare sunflower seed samples for fatty acid analysis via gas chromatography (GC).
  • Continually evaluate workflows and design ways to improve research techniques.
  • Maintain technical competency of all scientific and field equipment by keeping detailed maintenance logs, reading user manuals, and using online resources.

Position Requirements:

    • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree related to biology, genetics, agriculture, or other related fields.
    • Experience using Microsoft Office, RTK, and Google Suite (SQL and SAS are beneficial).
    • Able to work outdoors in all types of weather.
    • Safely lift 50 pounds.
    • Occasion travel to field locations, winter nursery, and collaborator sites.
    • Certificates within the first year in the position: Commercial Driver’s License, Pesticide Applicator License
    • Wage: GS 5 to 9
    • Hours: 40 hours a week Monday to Friday 8am to 4:30 pm with opportunity for overtime.
    • Benefits: paid time off, paid holidays, and potential to earn master’s degree while working full-time
    • To apply email resume to brent.hulke@usda.gov

About USDA-ARS

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific in-house research agency. Our job is finding solutions to agricultural problems that affect Americans every day from field to table. Here are a few numbers to illustrate the scope of our organization:

 

 

  •  
    • 690 research projects within 15 National Programs  
    • 2,000 scientists and post docs  
    • 6,000 other employees  
    • 90+ research locations, including overseas laboratories
    • $1.1 billion fiscal year budget

If you are interested in learning more about USDA-ARS please visit ars.usda.gov

This position is open to US citizens only.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex , martial status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program.