Employment Opportunities

The primary responsibility for this position will be to assist the Nutrient Management Researcher in maintaining several agricultural edge-of-field water quality research projects. This will involve sample collection, site maintenance, laboratory analysis, data management, and coordination of technicians and graduate students to ensure projects are managed in accordance with the research objectives. Strong communication skills are essential in order to work collaboratively with technicians and students, as well as to coordinate field activities with Miner Institute’s field crops team. There will be opportunities to assist with additional agronomic and environmental research projects, as well as provide support to undergraduate educational programs and various outreach events held throughout the year.

The William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute is a private, not-for-profit organization with research, education, and demonstration facilities located in Chazy, New York. Visit www.whminer.org for more information. Miner Institute is an equal opportunity employer.

Duties

1. Project planning and preparation for research primarily in the areas of agronomy, soil and water quality
2. Manage research field sites (including maintenance of monitoring and sampling equipment) and sample collection, preparation, and analysis
3. Develop research protocols for agronomy, soil and water quality research
4. Coordinate and manage technical staff to achieve research objectives (in collaboration with the Nutrient Management Researcher)
5. Data entry and summarization using software programs such as Microsoft Excel
6. Data analysis using statistical software programs
7. Proposal and report writing
8. Instruction and mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students
9. Additional duties as assigned by the Nutrient Management Researcher and Director of Research

Qualifications

1. Must have strong oral and written communication skills and ability to interact cooperatively with coworkers
2. Flexibility to adjust to the changing priorities of a research institute
3. Ability to multi-task while being detail-oriented
4. Must have the ability and motivation to work independently and to work flexible hours to accommodate research needs
5. M.S. degree in the plant/soil sciences or environmental sciences is preferred
6. Experience working in an agricultural setting preferred

Salary/Benefits

Salary is commensurate with experience.
Miner Institute offers a generous benefits package including an employer-funded retirement plan, paid time off, health insurance and more.

Application

Please submit the following in a single PDF file to Laura Klaiber (klaiber@whminer.com):

1. Cover letter describing interest and qualifications for the position
2. Resume
3. Contact information for three references

The position will be available immediately, but start date is negotiable and can be discussed during the interview process. Review of candidates will begin February 5, 2021 and continue until a suitable candidate is hired.

Work Experience for Farm Management students includes milking, herd health, calves, and a variety of field work activities such as tillage, planting, and harvest. The students fit and show a string of dairy cattle at the local county fair. The Summer Experience in Farm Management introduces students to the modern farm as a business, which has as its objective the conversion of plants into milk and meat.

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The emphasis of this program is the management of a commercial equine facility and improved horse handling and training skills. Students will learn ground training techniques including halter breaking, lungeing, longlining, and ground driving. The versatility of the Morgan and varied ages and abilities of horses at Miner Institute allow for students to experience many different disciplines to varying degrees: saddleseat, huntseat, dressage, western pleasure and driving. Students become proficient at stallion handling, semen collection, and processing as well as broodmare management.

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The work experience for Agricultural Research students will include learning research techniques and processes in a variety of areas including nutrient management, dairy cattle nutrition, agronomy, reproductive physiology of dairy cattle and horses, and dairy cattle behavior. Forage quality assessment procedures will be taught in Miner Institute’s Forage Laboratory. Students may also gain work experience in the dairy research facility: feeding cows for individual feed intakes, measuring in situ digestibilities in ruminally cannulated cows, milk sampling, urine/fecal sampling, blood sampling, and assessing dairy cattle behavior.

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This internship is a 12-month position for four-year graduates in equine studies. The goal of this program is to improve technical skills and knowledge of equine management to better prepare the intern for a career in the horse industry. Miner Institute is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with federal and state law, all applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, military status, domestic violence victim status, predisposing genetic characteristics, sexual orientation or any other basis protected by law.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in animal or equine science.
• Ability to work with others under supervision of the Equine Manager and Equine Program Coordinator.
• Ability to perform a variety of tasks in stable management, breeding management and training.

Responsibilities:

• Perform assigned duties including, but not limited to, daily care of the Morgan Horse herd and related facilities.
• Interact as needed with Summer Experience in Equine Management students, including training and supervision.
• Assist as needed in equine research and education projects conducted with the Miner Institute horse herd.
• Attend equine-related seminars as work schedule permits.
• Embrace and represent the values of Miner Institute and the “Spirit of Heart’s Delight Farm.”

Compensation

• Annual Stipend
• Housing provided
• Meals when cafeteria is in session
• Health and Life Insurance based on eligibility stated in the employee handbook

For more information, contact:
Equine Manager Karen Lassell
518-846-7121, ext. 120