Research Scientist

Research Scientist

Excellence. Pride. Integrity. Compassion. Trust. Are you ready to plant your career in a place where words like these serve as the foundation for doing business every day? At Michigan Sugar, our purpose is Making Life Sweeter, and our mission is Creating Growth and Opportunity.

Michigan Sugar Company has an immediate full-time opportunity for a Research Scientist. This position is a remote position, but will be assigned to the Research facility in Bay City, MI at certain times of the year.

Job Summary

The Research Scientist will serve as the company's coordinator and facilitator of agricultural research projects, specializing in pile storage and data analysis. Projects that the Research Scientist will coordinate include but are not limited to; small plot agronomic research trials (weed control, fertility, disease, plant health and plant growth), sugar beet storage and crop records data analysis. Sugar beet storage research will include working closely with the Ag Operations team to understand the value of implementing new pile storage management strategies. The scope of the research projects extends throughout the Michigan Sugar growing region. The Research Scientist will have a strong relationship with the Research Manager, Director of Ag Strategy and Logistics and Director of Agronomy. This position also has the responsibility of managing the sugar testing research lab at the MSC Agricultural Research Center and developing new sugar beet storage testing techniques.

Primary Responsibilities

• Coordinate and facilitate agriculture research projects.
• Statistically analyze agriculture research and grower crop records data.
• Lead the publication of the annual Research Results book.
• Manage the sugar testing research lab and Lab Technician.
• Understand the operation and calibration of the Betalyser and NIRs testing equipment.
• Work with Factory Operations to implement new sugar testing methods.
• Improve our research lab processes and practices to increase lab efficiency.
• Improve and develop new sugar beet storage testing techniques.
• Develop testing protocols for pile storage that calculate pile loss and sugar loss.
• Work closely with the Research Manager to train research workers.
• All other duties as assigned.

Position Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. Degree in Agronomy or related field of study.
• Competent in computer software packages such as ARM, SAS, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Strong background in statistics, small plot research design, data analysis and reporting.
• Experience in sugar beet pile storage testing procedures.
• Strong communications and public speaking skills.
• Ability to apply research findings to producer scale agronomic practices.

Key Competencies

• Strong attention to detail.
• Must be self-motivated and able to work independently without supervision in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment.
• Ability to work well with others in a team environment.
• Ability to work with confidential information.
• Ability to calmly manage adversity and difficult situations.
• Be able to professionally deal with conflict.
• Demonstrate ethics and integrity.
• Provide model behavior to demonstrate professional values.
• Ability to learn new software/computer programs.