ADS Research Associate-Life Science

Position Summary
The Research Associate is housed in the Department of Animal & Dairy Science at the University of Georgia’s Tifton Campus. This role is responsible for coordinating and supporting applied research and demonstration activities in beef cattle nutrition and forage/grazing management. The associate implements research protocols, manages daily trial operations, oversees livestock and field components, including data and sample collection, and provides leadership and supervision to graduate students and temporary labor.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in a related field of science.

Two years of professional experience.

Key Responsibilities

Coordinate and implement beef nutrition and forage/grazing research and demonstration trials in alignment with established protocols.

Oversee daily research operations, including data collection, sample collection and processing, animal handling, and overall trial management.

Manage livestock and research resources by selecting and maintaining herds, monitoring herd health, tagging, and making rotational grazing decisions.

Establish and maintain forage systems, including fertilization, spraying, harvesting, and timing of grazing and hay production activities.

Conduct routine scouting and evaluation of pastures and forage systems to inform management decisions and optimize productivity.

Procure and manage materials, supplies, and field inputs necessary for successful research trial execution.

Collect rumen samples and conduct laboratory analyses of feed and forage ingredients.

Organize and manage research data within databases; perform statistical analyses; develop comprehensive reports, technical summaries, and professional presentations.

Interpret and synthesize research findings to produce data‑driven recommendations, manuscripts, extension publications, progress reports, and other scholarly or outreach materials.

Apply data‑driven insights to refine and optimize field and livestock research methods, documenting methodology improvements.

Coordinate field days, tours, and outreach events, including planning agendas, preparing educational materials, and managing logistics.

Develop and support research proposals and grant submissions, drafting narrative sections, preparing background justifications, compiling documentation, assisting with budget justification, and ensuring compliance with sponsor guidelines.

P‑Card Responsibilities:

Process and reconcile purchase card transactions in compliance with university financial policies.

Monitor cardholder activity to maintain adherence to spending limits and policy guidelines.

Prepare and submit monthly reports and reconciliations promptly.

Resolve discrepancies and work with vendors and departments to correct billing issues.

Train and supervise graduate students and temporary labor to use field equipment, properly handle livestock, maintain field research areas, and set up and approve work schedules.

Other duties assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Work independently.

Cooperative competency.

Effective written and verbal communication skills.

Organizational and time‑management skills.

Competency with equipment operation and the work expected to successfully complete experiments.

Proficiency in research writing, funding acquisition, and proposal development.

Understanding of basic statistical analysis and data management.

Physical Demands

Work in various environmental conditions, including extreme hot and cold.

Lift heavy objects.

Driving.

Equal Opportunity Employment
The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, veteran status, or other protected status.

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