Hourly Research Fellow

Classification Title Research Asst II

Working Title Research Assistant II

This position is located at the MSU Eastern Agricultural Research Center, in Sidney, MT. MSU EARC has a nice research facility with modern research labs, greenhouses, and irrigated and dryland research farms. The research farms are equipped with three linear irrigation systems and modern planting and harvesting equipment, conducting agronomic and plant pathology research on cereal, pulse, and oilseed crops. This position is to support the field, greenhouse, and lab research activities for cereal variety trials and other projects as needed.

Division College of Agriculture/MAES

Contract Term Fiscal Year

Union Affiliation FOCUS-MFPE

Salary $20.00 per hour, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications.

Contract Type Classified Salary

This position is under the supervision of the superintendent to support the variety testing team on the on- and off-station cereal and pulse variety trials and other duties as needed.

Packaging and organizing seeds;

Planting field plots (driving tractor or operating planter);

Applying fertilizer and controlling weeds;

Processing soil and plant samples in the lab;

Measuring grain quality parameters in the lab

Recording and entering data into a computer.

This person will also clean and maintain EARC ground and facilities and help in other projects as needed.

High school diploma or B.S. in related fields.

Knowledge and experience in organizing field and greenhouse experiments.

Knowledge and experience in processing soil and plant samples in the lab.

Experience in using Microsoft Word and Excel.

Knowledge in statistical analysis.

Experience in operating small farm equipment.

Occasional in and out of state overnight travels are required.

Ability to work in Montana’s climate and field environment.

Position End Date (if temporary)

Applications will be:

Screening of applications will begin on October 13, 2026; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.

In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.