Research Associate Life Science-CSS

Research Associate Life Science-CSS

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Posting Number: S14833P

Working Title:

Research Associate Life Science-CSS
Department: CAES-Crop & Soil Sciences

About the University of Georgia:
Founded in 1785, the University of Georgia is a public research university with its main campus in Athens, Georgia. It is ranked among the top public universities in the U.S. and employs approximately 3,100 faculty and 7,700 staff.

Posting Type:
External Retirement Plan TRS or ORP

Employment Type:

Employee
Benefits Eligibility:
Full/Part time
Salary:
Commensurate with Experience
Posting Date: 03/09/2026
Open until filled:
Yes
Closing Date:
Provisional 04/01/2026
Location of Vacancy:
Tifton Area

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field of science and 2 years of professional experience

• PhD and experience in related field of science.

This position will independently support and advance the high‑throughput phenotyping efforts within the Peanut Breeding Program by applying sensing technologies, robotics, machine learning, and AI to in‑field digital crop phenotyping. This position will take a lead role in planning and executing research activities, including experimental design, data collection, and the development and optimization of phenotyping workflows. The employee will manage, maintain, and enhance aerial and ground‑based phenotyping platforms, integrate and troubleshoot sensors, and refine automated data processing pipelines to ensure efficient, high‑quality data delivery.

The employee will exercise professional judgment in coordinating field operations, scheduling data collection, and ensuring timely analysis to support critical breeding decisions. They will summarize results for field days, stakeholder presentations, and reporting needs, and will contribute to manuscript preparation and dissemination of research outcomes. This role utilizes a high degree of technical independence, initiative in improving program capabilities, and proactive problem‑solving to advance digital phenotyping within the breeding pipeline.

• Leads the design, integration, and optimization of sensor systems to enhance data accuracy and reliability across the ground‑based phenotyping platform.
• Independently evaluates sensor performance, identifies functional gaps, and implements engineering improvements to strengthen overall platform capabilities.
• Develops and executes testing protocols to validate new hardware and software configurations, ensuring seamless interaction between sensors and core platform components.
• Manages end‑to‑end refinement of sensing workflows, from concept and prototyping through deployment and on‑platform calibration.
• Proactively identifies emerging technologies and integrates advanced sensing solutions to expand phenotyping functionality and system scalability.

• Designs and implements advanced analytical pipelines that integrate multi‑sensor, multi‑temporal phenotyping datasets to generate accurate, decision‑ready outputs for the breeding program.
• Independently evaluates and applies algorithmic approaches—including machine learning, statistical modeling, and feature engineering—to improve trait extraction, analytical efficiency, and predictive accuracy.
• Develops and validates robust data‑integration frameworks that merge HTP outputs with traditional breeding data, ensuring reproducibility and alignment with program objectives.
• Plans and executes field‑based high‑throughput phenotyping (HTP) data collection, including determining optimal timing, platform configurations,…