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Research Agronomist
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Position Number: 1891520
Location: Macomb, IL
Position Type: Laboratory and Research

Research Agronomist

About Western Illinois University:
Western Illinois University, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, serves over 7,500 students at its traditional, residential four-year campus in Macomb, IL and its metropolitan branch campus in Moline, IL. Compliance to state and federal hiring standards is coordinated through WIU's Office of Equal Opportunity & Access.

Western Illinois University is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity employer with a strong commitment to diversity. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of people, including, but not limited to, minorities, veterans, women and individuals with disabilities. WIU has a non-discrimination policy that includes discrimination based on an individual's membership in the following classes: sex, race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, marital status, national origin, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and any other classes protected by state or federal law.

Job Description:
APPOINTMENT: August 1, 2020

RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Field Research. Design, execute, and tabulate plot research projects; including the daily maintenance of all plots. Research projects may involve experiments located at the WIU farms, leased properties, greenhouse, growth chamber, and cooperating farms.
2. Manuscripts, Publications, and Presentations. Prepares research for manuscript publications, assists in making presentations at field days, professional conferences, to media outlets, and other program functions.
3. Data management. Management of all data generated by the Program; ensuring that information has been properly recorded, validated, and safely backed-up. Assists in experimental plot design and conducts complete statistical analysis.
4. Supervision. Supervises undergraduate student workers assigned to the Program for each semester and during the summer months. Establishes work schedule and sees that it is followed. Checks time logs for workers. Establishes priorities, determines best worker for each task, assigns work, gives instructions, explains all safety procedures, sets deadlines, checks on work in progress, and interacts with workers to improve performance.
5. Equipment management. Maintenance and scheduling of all field equipment supported by the Program; includes assisting in purchasing and preparing bid requests, scheduling vehicles for service, and overseeing proper handling of all equipment lent to other programs.
6. Safety. Follows safety procedures for each assigned task and oversees training and instruction of new personnel to the program.
7. Grant management. Helps Project Director and Project Manager complete tasks associated with the project.
RANK & SALARY: $36K. Negotiable, commensurate with experience. Western Illinois University offers a competitive benefits package including domestic partner benefits. For full benefit information visit: http://www.wiu.edu/vpas/human_resources/benefits/.

Requirements:
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
B.S. in Agriculture, plant genetics and breeding, plant physiology, or closely related disciplines with at least 2-3 years of work experience in the field
General Skills:
Proven ability to perform and learn a variety of agriculture crop production techniques;
Ability to initiate research projects;
Demonstrates decision-making and problem solving skills;
Excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to effectively develop strong internal and external working relationships with diverse groups;
Ability to supervise student workers;
Ability to work independently;
Strong publication record demonstrating expertise in both laboratory and field experiments;
Ability to present or assist in the presentation of program projects in a number of public forums.

Specific Skills.
Must maintain valid Illinois driver's license and pesticide applicators license;
Ability to drive plot combine, tractors, trucks with trailers;
Experience in field, greenhouse, and laboratory research;
Use of personal computer with standard office and web-related software;
Mechanical aptitude to effectively operate research equipment and ability to work outdoors, physical lifting, and work in varying ergonomic environments

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience in field plant breeding of oil seeds, nitrogen uptake, and laboratory skills.
Ability to perform statistical analyses is highly desirable.
For a degree to be considered, it must be conferred from a regionally accredited degree-granting institution of higher education (or equivalent from an international accrediting body). Unless otherwise stated, the degree must be"in hand" at the time of application.

Additional Information:
THE DEPARTMENT: The School of Agriculture is housed in the College of Business and Technology and has 13 full-time faculty positions. Approximately 330 students are majoring in Agriculture. Included on the School of Agriculture's three farms (the nearest located one mile north of the main campus) are bull, swine, and ram test facilities; livestock center; orchard and horticultural plots; brand new greenhouse facility, and row crop test and demonstration plots.http://www.wiu.edu/cbt/agriculture/

THE UNIVERSITY: Since 1902, Western Illinois University has provided outstanding educational opportunities to individuals in west central Illinois and well beyond our region and state. WIU's traditional residential campus in Macomb, Illinois, is the educational, cultural and athletic center of the region, while the WIU-Quad Cities non-residential branch campus in Moline, Illinois, is the only public university in the immediate Quad Cities region.

More than 66 undergraduate degree programs, nearly 40 graduate programs and two doctoral programs prepare students for a successful career after graduation. Outside the classroom at Western, concerts, lectures, presentations, films, dance performances and more are performed each year, along with numerous major theatrical and dance productions and studio shows, as well as a variety of service-oriented projects and activities, all in a diverse and inclusive campus environment. The Multicultural Center is home to four cultural and resource centers: The Gwendolyn Brooks, Casa Latina, the Women's Center, and the LGBT*QA Resource Center. These cultural and resource centers promote WIU's goal of enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion through educational programming and advocacy.

The University's athletics program, based on the Macomb campus, sponsors 19 NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's and women's varsity sports. Football competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision through the Missouri Valley Football Conference; all other varsity sports compete at the Division I level through The Summit League.

WIU-Macomb, IL (Student Population: 6,432): A traditional, residential four-year campus with offering a comprehensive slate of undergraduate and graduate programs, including a doctorate in education, WIU-Macomb is located in the heart of west central Illinois in Macomb (population 20,000). Amtrak provides twice-daily service from Macomb to Chicago (and point in-between). Macomb is located approximately 75 miles from the Quad Cities International Airport (Moline, IL) and 70 miles from the Greater Peoria Regional Airport (Peoria, IL).

WIU-Quad Cities (Student Population: 1,192): The only public university in the Quad Cities area, WIU-QC offers select undergraduate and graduate programs, including a doctorate in education and a doctorate in environmental studies, at its metropolitan, non-residential campus in Moline, IL.

Application Instructions:
APPLICATION: Complete applications include:
1) a letter of application addressing how the candidate meets the required and preferred qualifications of the position.
2) current curriculum vita or resume
3) the names, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of three current professional references
4) aseparate statement regarding your commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion

Please upload the requested documents by clicking APPLY NOW or by navigating to the WIU Employment page at the following URL http://www.wiu.edu/employment/
**Note** In order to upload Individual documents must be under 2 MB in size.
Screening will begin on May 6, 2020.

Western Illinois University endeavors to provide a safe environment for its employees and students and requires candidates to submit to a background investigation upon offer of employment. Employment is contingent upon compliance with University policies and procedures relating to the receipt and evaluation of information contained in the background investigation.
Questions regarding the search may be directed to: Dr. Winthrop Phippen at wb-phippen@wiu.edu.

For assistance with the online application system contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at (309)298-1977 or via email at eoa-office@wiu.edu.

To Apply, visit:
https://www.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=122136