Corteva Agriscience is looking for a highly motivated Senior Research Associate to join the Farming Solutions & Digital Field Experimentation team within Corteva Research & Development. Farming Solutions & Digital (FS&D) is focused on integrating digital into research and development (seed, crop protection, biologicals) and developing farmer-facing digital insights with Corteva products (seed, crop protection, biologicals). This Field Experimentation (FE) position will be responsible for leading small plot experimentation efforts for the Ivesdale-Champaign, Illinois research station, with a secondary support role for FS&D projects at Macomb and Princeton, IL.

The duties and responsibilities of this role include, but are not limited to the following:

• Ensures end-to-end success of small plot experimentation program for Illinois. Focus will be on expanding digital research capabilities at Champaign and sustaining projects at Macomb, IL research stations, with secondary support role for projects at Princeton, IL. 90% of role will be small plot experimentation with 10% in on-farm research at outlying locations throughout Illinois and Eastern Indiana.
• Partners closely with project leads and other Field Experimentation team members in the development of protocols. Takes the lead in communicating protocol objectives, details, and data traits to Field Experimentation and Research & Development (R&D) staff at research stations. Understand and communicate project goals to all pertinent stakeholders within R&D.
• Responsible for all pre-season preparations; these tasks may include trial mapping, soil sampling, sensor installation, agronomic data collection, and regular project meetings.
• Lead in-season data collection efforts, providing training and oversight on both simple and complex phenotyping tasks. Update and manage real-time data dashboards to ensure timely and quality data collection. Provide weekly, monthly, period-based summaries on Illinois and larger assigned project status to FE leadership.
• Ensure completion of all protocols through quality data capture at harvest. Following harvest, compile and quality control datasets for Illinois and provide complete data to project leads. Presentations and demonstrations as requested.
• Promote a safe, respectful, and inclusive working environment including partnering with station staff to ensure safety protocols are followed and understood and write new protocols as needed.
• Integral team member for activities at the Champaign Research Center, contributing to overall success of station.

The following are required:

• BS or MS degree in agronomy, including agronomy, soil science, plant breeding, biology, ecology, digital agronomy, precision agriculture, agriculture education, or related field.
• Prior experience working in research setting.
• Ability to work independently and as a team member.
• Self-motivated, goal-oriented and attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; English speaking required.
• Ability to travel within Illinois, with ~25-35% in-season possible (team vehicle provided).

The following are preferred:

• Experience with data management and manipulation in Excel or R.
• Experience with Arc/Q GIS
• Experience operating tractors/ equipment.
• Previous work experience in small plot research settings.
• Experience in crop physiology or pathology.
• Understanding of grower machine data sets.