Research Specialist​/Senior Research Specialist in Agriculture - Dixon Springs Agriculture Center

Research Specialist/Senior Research Specialist in Agriculture - Dixon Springs Agriculture Center College of ACES - Department of Animal Sciences

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The Department of Animal Sciences operates our animal farms, laboratories, Feed Technology Center, meat and eggs sales room, and other facilities to give students working experience in the field and to advance basic discovery and applied production research. Our farms operate on 1,300 acres, housing beef and dairy cattle, poultry, sheep, swine, and horses, and turning grain and forage into feed and bedding for our animals.

And our facilities don’t stop at the boundary of our Urbana campus; we maintain and study herds at research and Extension centers throughout Illinois. The Dixon Springs Agricultural Center (DSAC) is located in the southern part of the state near Simpson, Illinois. The station operates on approximately 580 acres of university-owned property, and about 4,200 acres under special use permit with the U.S. Forest Service.

The Department of Animal Sciences manages approximately 900 beef cows and their offspring that are involved in research focusing on improving beef cattle management, genetics, reproduction, and nutrition. The facilities at DSAC are also used for teaching activities, including training of undergraduate summer interns and graduate students. The University of Illinois Extension also houses a Livestock Extension Educator at DSAC and conducts numerous extension programs each year.

Primary Function of Research Specialist Agriculture Position: Serve as unit manager at the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center in the Department of ANSC. Manage operations, work closely with faculty conducting hands-on research, coordinating teaching, and upholding regulatory compliance at the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center in Simpson, IL.

Primary Function of Senior Research Specialist in Agriculture Position: Serve as unit manager and mentor to the DSAC team and provide advanced tracking and decision making based on animal production metrics. In coordination with research staff, assist in implementing and upholding research and IACUC protocols. Manage student interns and support departmental outreach activities.

Major

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Facilitate research, educational, and extension activities and needs of faculty, graduate students, and others at the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center.
• Maintain and support research protocol standards to assure quality animal care compliance procedures.
• Collect, analyze, evaluate, and summarize empirical data including formulation of recommendations and implementation of improvements and planning to facilitate programmatic goals.
• Design, develop, implement, integrate, and maintain research data collection systems for the unit.
• Provide on-site management and supervision of the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center in Simpson, IL.
• Establish written research targets, develop "Standard Operating Procedures", and enforce consistent research methodology associated with the unit.
• Aid with on-going teaching and/or training in any areas of human resources, environmental management, animal-care, safety, etc. which affect on-going regulatory requirements of the unit.
• Provide day-to-day supervision of animal care personnel including non-academic staff.
• Establish and maintain professional standards for facility appearance. Assist with supervision of maintenance of facilities to ensure competence and integrity of research efforts.
• Coordinate and facilitate procurement of commodities and resources necessary for optimal operations and maintenance of Dixon Springs Agricultural Center facilities.
• Maintain fiscal responsibility at the facility including management of facility expenses, development of budgets and reports, recovery of teaching and research costs, and maintenance of accounting records for budgetary and compliance purposes.
• Other duties as assigned to enhance the mission of the department.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities for Senior Research Specialist in Agriculture:

• Provide advanced-level decisions based on production metrics, serving as a team leader for cattle production at DSAC and ability to provide feedback on the beef program overall.
• In coordination with faculty and departmental administrators, assist in implementing and upholding research and IACUC protocols.
• Mentor and support new managers and staff as needed.
• Utilize data to support outreach activities and to communicate with extension personnel.
• Serve on College and departmental committees as requested to ensure collaboration and…