Research Associate, Northeast TN AgResearch & Education Center: UTIA

This position offers professional and technical support for animal, veterinary, and plant science research and outreach programs at the Northeast Tennessee Research and Education Center (NETREC). The role involves designing, planning, establishing, maintaining, and managing animal and plant science fields and controlled research environments. Projects will mainly focus on the health, welfare, and productivity of food animals. It includes collaboration on developing project plans and carrying out those plans, such as designing experimental layouts, managing forage production, securing supplies, and handling other animal husbandry tasks as needed. A strong work ethic is essential, as this is a hands-on, professional position in a fast-paced research and education environment.

The incumbent must maintain a flexible work schedule and will be required to live within a reasonable, agreed-upon distance from the farm to be available to quickly address and/or respond to any farm-related emergency or project protocols.

• Participates in the design, planning, establishment, maintenance, and processing of animal and plant sciences field and controlled research environments. Collaborates in the development of project plans and execution of those plans including experimental layouts, forage production including collection and analysis, securing supplies, and other animal husbandry items as needed for the center. Reporting of data, accurate record keeping, and IACUC compliance is required.
• Preparing and executing research protocols/working with project leader(s) to prepare/design a research protocol, securing site/pens and supplies as directed.
• Individual Animal Records: date, treatment, location, feed, other applications. Recording, compiling and analyzing data/recording data including sampling, weighing animals, preparing summaries for presentations. Maintaining up-to-date computer skills are a necessary performance to these functions. Assisting with field days, tours, agronomy plot work, and other special events as directed by the REC Director.
• Maintaining research equipment/writing specifications for and assisting in securing equipment needed for research and development; maintaining equipment and instruments in accordance with maintenance. May supervise employees but supervision is not the main focus of this position.
• Complying with all UT Policies, attending appropriate in-service training and regulatory requirements including RCR. Complies with all UT policies and regulatory policies especially pesticide labels and APHIS regulatory requirement for regulated materials. Supervising other personnel involved in the research/supervising day-to-day activities of graduate students, interns, or other co-workers assigned to assist with a research project(s).
• Assisting with planning, maintaining, or completing research programs and/or projects involved in the discovery of new knowledge, techniques and concepts in Plant Sciences.

Required Qualifications:

• Education:
  • Bachelor's degree in animal science/agronomy or closely related field;
• Experience:
  • 2-5 years/animal/livestock/biology/veterinary/agronomy/plant sciences or related farm experience. Graduate assistantships or other paid student assistant work that is relevant may be considered.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
  • Skills in the operation of background livestock and maintenance of farm equipment;
  • knowledge of plant science;
  • ability to work long hours in extreme weather conditions and around dust and pollen;
  • ability to have a flexible work schedule (frequent work on weekends and/or evenings).
  • Excellent computer skills and knowledge of or ability to learn precision livestock/agriculture technologies.
  • Knowledge of research methodology, protocols, data analysis, and forage production.
• Other:
  • Valid Driver's license
  • Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) certifications such as but not limited to Occupational Health screenings, Essentials for IACUC Members, Working with the IACUC and other AALAS certifies as directed by REC Director.
  • Tennessee Pesticide license or must obtain within 90 days after start date of employment.
  • The incumbent must maintain a flexible work schedule and will be required to live within a reasonable, agreed-upon distance from the farm to be available to quickly address and/or respond to any farm-related emergency or project protocols.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment visa status.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Education:
  • Master's Degree
• Experience:
  • 2 years in animal, livestock, biology, veterinary, agronomy, plant sciences or related farm background. Research Center livestock background/agronomic field plot knowledge/experience is preferred. Graduate assistantships or other paid student assistant work that is relevant may be considered.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
  • Demonstrated ability to plan, design, and implement field/controlled research environments and advanced knowledge in research skills to interpret data.
  • Applied skills in training/supervising personnel.
  • Advanced word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, database, and statistical software.
  • Proven ability and skills to prioritize, allocate, procure, and coordinate resources.
  • Knowledge in a research academic setting is preferred.
  • Agronomic field plot research is desirable.

Work Location:

• Location: Greeneville, TN
• Onsite

Compensation and Benefits:

• UT market range: MR08
• Anticipated hiring range: $42,000 - $45,000
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions:

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted on or before August 6, 2025.

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• List of 3 Professional References

About The College/Department/Division:

Established in 1932, the Northeast Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center is known for its research on burley tobacco production and beef cow-calf production. Research is conducted on the 500 acres that make up the Center. Areas of research at the Center include all aspects of burley tobacco production with emphasis on breeding and production economics, variety testing, pest management, and breeding of field crops important to the agriculture of Upper East Tennessee and animal research in the areas of genetics, silage feeding, and grazing studies of fescue and warm-season native grasses.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

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The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.

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