Student Job Board
Student Job & Opportunity Board
This page collects an assortment of job postings from faculty and staff of the Agronomy Department, as well as a number of opportunities for students post-graduation. You can also find scholarships and grants being offered to students.
These opportunities are intended for Agronomy students, but other related majors are considered. Jobs may be long or short-term depending on the work they entail.
If you are interested in one of these opportunities, please reach out to the contact listed in the post.
View even more College of Agriculture student employment opportunities here.
Crop Production Specialist
This position will be responsible for grower support, field data collection and seed management, and will work closely and report to the Agronomist. This position will be a primary contact and face of IND HEMP with our growers to assist in hemp farming practices.
Technology Venture Fellowship (Remote)
Established in 2020, The Tech Venture Fellowship is a paid, part-time program for current
graduate students and postdocs to support shaping the next generation of Tough Tech
companies and investments.
Engine Ventures invests in the next generation of Tough Tech founders to solve the world’s
biggest problems. We provide capital, operational expertise, and a powerful academic,
commercial, and governmental network to build and scale companies unlocking massive
opportunities in climate change, human health, and advanced systems.
The Technology Venture Fellowship program is rooted deeply in exploring breakthrough science
and engineering and its applications, while exposing Fellows to early-stage company formation
and venture investments in Tough Tech. Over the course of five months, the Fellows will work
with our investment team on opportunities ranging across the venture capital process.
Full-Time Summer Position
The Soybean Extension and Research Team is looking to fill a full-time summer position at the Agronomy Department in West Lafayette. We conduct applied research that investigates the latest advancements in soybean production: planting dates, seed rates, varieties, nutrient supplies, biologicals, inputs, and equipment (reflectance, aerial imagery). New projects are investigating interactions of cereal rye, sulfur, and disease development. Opportunities to learn field conditions and management techniques to maximize soybean production across Indiana.
Primary Duties / Responsibilities:
- Field establishment and maintenance
- Plant growth (heights, weights, node & pod counts)
- Soil sampling, plant material collecting and grinding
- Data entry in MS Excel
Skills & Abilities Required:
- Motivation to learn and willing to be trained
- Attention to detail to ensure quaility data for the research projects
- Willingness to work with others and to work autonomously as well
- Ability to work outside during the heat of the day
Weekly work should average ~35 to 40 hours per week over the summer. The work load will be a mix of outside and inside activities. Travel will be necessary on occasion, as our experiments are located throughout the state and some days will require early departures and late arrivals. Rates vary from $11-13/hour.
Contact:
Andrew Holderbaum
holderba@purdue.edu
Seed Research Technician
Job Description
We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented seed research assistant to support our agronomy and breeding R&D program. The candidate will be responsible for all aspects of warehouse seed processing, handling, labeling, packaging, and inventory management. This position provides the opportunity to work within a fast-paced, collaborative team, focused on introducing a new crop into US agriculture.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead pre-planting seed preparation activities including packeting, labelling, and organizing seed material for field testing.
- Post harvest seed processing, cleaning, weighing, labelling, packaging, tracking, and inventory of research materials.
- Work collaboratively with product development and commercial teams to support commercial seed production and farm performance evaluation initiatives.
- Supervise seasonal interns and part time employees.
- Ensure QA/QC practices are followed.
- Maintain a clean and organized warehouse area.
- Conduct all activities with health and safety as a main priority.
Entry-Level Agronomist
Company Overview: DeGroot’s Vegetable Farms is a 4,500-acre vegetable and grain farm located in St. Anne, Illinois. Our farm utilizes innovative farming techniques to ensure optimal crop yields and minimize environmental impact.
Position Overview: We are seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic individual to join our team as a full-time Entry-Level Agronomist. This position offers the opportunity for someone with a passion for agriculture to gain hands-on experience in sustainable vegetable farming practices. The successful candidate will work closely with our farm owners to support all aspects of crop production, from soil management to harvest. Additionally, the individual will assist in the ongoing operations of our Food Safety program and annual audits allowing DeGroot’s Vegetable Farms to maintain a high level of certification in Food Safety.
Lab Intern
The intern will join the Indiana Organic Network (ION) team for their inaugural season. Indiana is ranked fifth in the U.S. in agricultural production but its organic industry is lagging behind neighboring states. Although there is a new wave of organic transitions in Indiana, a lack of support networks for organic growers and insufficient knowledge about the complete soil health benefits of organic agriculture are hindering farmers’ ability to build more productive organic production systems. ION was created to address these challenges. The intern will assist with two main project goals: (1) establish a network of farmers to facilitate on-farm research, peer learning, and communications among existing and transitioning organic farmers, and (2) work with ION farmers to conduct a statewide soil health census of organic farms.
In the springtime, the intern will assist with project outreach (social media, email blasts, tabling at events, etc.) and other project preparations. Throughout the summer, they will travel with the project team to collect on-farm soil samples and process those samples in the lab on the Purdue WL campus.
Senior Farm Technician
The Pinney Purdue Ag Center (PPAC) is currently searching for a Senior Farm Technician to add to our team. Located in Northwest Indiana, 5 miles east of Valpo, PPAC specializes in research associated with many departments across the University. Recent research trials focus on row crops such as corn and soybeans, but also include Weed Science trials, various Horticulture crops, and adopting new advances in Technology such as Drone Image Capture and Spraying Technology. This Senior Farm Technician position is a Full Time position at the Ag Center who will work to assist in all daily activities. Responsibilities may include, but is not limited to, building and property maintenance, production ag equipment operation, assisting with maintenance of farm machinery and other shop work, and supporting all research efforts. Day-to-day responsibilities of this position will range widely depending on the season and requests from supervisor and researchers. Please see the link below for the job description that outlines many examples of the responsibilities of the position.
This is a full-time hourly position that includes paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, an employer contributing 401b, great health insurance, and many other benefits. Please follow the link below to apply if you are interested. You may also contact Stephen Boyer, PPAC Superintendent, if you have questions concerning the position.
Job Requirement/Expectations:
- High School Diploma/GED
- 4 years of experience in an Ag-related field
- Obtain certification and/or licensing in regulated areas as needed (Ex. Possess or have the ability to acquire a Cat 1 & 14 applicator licenses within 6 months of hire date)
- Acquire a Class A CDL within 12 months of employment
- Microsoft office software experience including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook
- Valid U.S. or Canadian driver’s license
- Become approved to drive Purdue University vehicles
- Possess the willingness and desire to learn new processes and skills
- Willingness to work extended seasonal hours beyond 40 hours per week as needed
- Participation in mandatory random drug screening
Extension Educator Positions
Ag Educator
The Agriculture (Ag) Educator is primarily responsible for delivering established educational programming in assigned subject matter areas of general agriculture, pest management, soil and plant sciences, emerging technology in agriculture, or other appropriate fields of study in agriculture. The educator also provides planning input for a variety of subjects, such as animal & plant sciences, food systems, and agricultural technology programs. The Ag Educator serves as a team member and will assist the supervisor in activities to organize, deliver and evaluate agricultural programs within the community.
Agriculture Resource Educator
The Agriculture (Ag) Educator is primarily responsible for delivering established educational programming in assigned subject matter areas of general agriculture, pest management, soil and plant sciences, emerging technology in agriculture, or other appropriate fields of study in agriculture. The educator also provides planning input for a variety of subjects, such as animal & plant sciences, food systems, and agricultural technology programs. The Ag Educator serves as a team member and will assist the supervisor in activities to organize, deliver and evaluate agricultural programs within the community.
Post-Doctoral Plant Breeder
For the Hazelnut Breeding Program at the University of Minnesota
A collaboration with the Upper Midwest Hazelnut Development Initiative
USDA Summer Internship Positions
Biological Science Aid / Hydrologic Technician / Engineering Aid
Salary: Starting at $16.35/hour
Period: May 13, 2024 - August 16, 2024
Duty Location: West Lafayette, IN - National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory (NSERL)
Crop Phenotyping Scientist (PhD / Post Doc level)
- Plan, coordinate and execute a variety of row crop phenotyping experiments, both in the field and in controlled environments, encompassing morphological, physiological, and molecular measurements, as an integral member of a cross-functional Inari Science and Product Phenotyping team.
- Foster cross-functional relationships with project leads and operational personnel across Inari’s Science and Product Development departments to deliver phenotypic data and analysis that is timely and pertinent to all stakeholders.
- Refine, implement, and scale manual as well as image-based phenotyping workflows.
- Supervise and direct seasonal staff to ensure the successful completion of experiments that are aligned with annual project objectives.
- Advance a culture of standardized and traceable data acquisition, procedures and documentation.
- Clearly and effectively communicate through comprehensive technical reports and articulate oral presentations to a variety of different audiences.
- Play an active and collaborative role in the advancement of high-throughput phenotyping methods by contributing innovative ideas and methodologies.
- Communicate and coordinate with a local team as well as key stakeholders in multiple locations.
- Model behaviors consistent with the highest safety culture.
Phenotyping Research Associate (BS / MS level)
- Execute a variety of phenotyping experiments, both in controlled environments and in the field, encompassing morphological, physiological, and molecular plant measurements, as an integral member of a collaborative Science and Product Phenotyping team.
- Foster cross-functional relationships with project leads and operational personnel across Inari’s Science and Product Development departments to deliver phenotypic data that is timely and pertinent to all stakeholders.
- Supervise and direct seasonal staff to align with the annual project objectives and ensure the successful completion of experiments.
- Refine, implement, and scale both manual and image-based phenotyping workflows, emphasizing consistent documentation practices to standardize equipment use and procedures.
- Clearly and effectively communicate phenotypic results through comprehensive technical reports and articulate oral presentations.
- Play an active role in the advancement of high-throughput phenotyping methods, contributing innovative ideas and methodologies.
Doctoral & Masters Research Assistantship in Geoinformatics and Soil
Successful applicants will join the Geoinformatics, Ecosystem Management & Soil Sustainability (GEMS) lab, led by Dr. Sidd Paul, to conduct geospatial research related to soil health, agroecosystem sustainability, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Agronomy Branch Manager
AgBest is currently searching for a well-qualified Agronomy Branch Manager who is a dedicated professional able to lead an established and profitable Agronomy Center located in Hartford City, Indiana.