Research Scientist Associate

Department Contact:Samantha Lish

Internal or External Search:External - Open to all applicants

Advertising Summary:The Jornada Experimental Range is seeking an applicant for a Research Scientist I position to implement social science research to understand livestock producers experiences with precision ranching (PR) tools such as virtual fencing and remote sensing.

Position Details

PositionTitle: Research Scientist Associate

College/Division: Agricultural Experiment Station

Department: 317250-JORNADA EXPER RANGE HEADQUARTERS

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (if applicable):

Target Hourly/Salary Rate: Commensurate with qualifications.

Appointment Full-time Equivalency: 1.0

FLSA Status:Exempt

Bargaining Unit Announcement: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Contingent Upon Funding:Contingent upon external funding

Standard Work Schedule:Standard (M-F 8-5)

If Not a Standard Work Schedule:

Job Duties and Responsibilities: The successful candidate will be responsible for:
Designing and conducting qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys with ranchers across the Southwest and Western U.S.
Developing interview protocols and survey instruments; recruiting participants; collecting managing and analyzing data.
Synthesizing lessons learned; and identifying decision-relevant technologies barriers to adoption and opportunities to improve PR tools and applications.
Supporting multi-method analysis (qualitative data coding thematic analysis and survey statistics.
Assist with Institutional Review Board compliance.
Preparing reports publications and outreach materials.
Disseminating results through a peer-to-peer knowledge exchange network presentations and other dissemination venues to inform PR technology development training and producer support.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience:
Associates Degree 7 years of relevant experience or a Bachelors degree 5 years of relevant experience.

Equivalent Qualifications:

Preferred Qualifications:
Masters degree in social science range/agricultural science or a related field.
Willingness and ability to travel frequently to rural areas for data gathering and result dissemination.
Experience in conducting interviews and analyzing qualitative social science data.
Experience engaging with rural communities or agricultural stakeholders.
Successful applicants should be highly motivated and creative. They should be willing to work independently and as a part of a diverse and multi-disciplinary team.

Special Certification/Licensure:

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work involves moderate exposure to unusual elements such as extreme temperatures dirt dust fumes smoke unpleasant odors and/or loud noises.

Physical Effort: Light physical effort. Effort applies to no more than two (2) hours per day.

Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 10 pounds or some standing or walking.

Risk: Work environment involves some exposure to hazards or physical risks which require following basic safety precautions.