Research Associate (Plant Health) at Monsanto Company

Job description

KEY RESPONSIBILITY

Responsibilities Include But Are Not Limited To:

• This individual will be required to contribute in all aspects of corn pathology that include lab operations (disease diagnosis, and pathogen inoculum production) and field/farm operations (pathogen inoculation and rating).
• Collect and diagnose diseased corn plants, prepare pathogen inoculum, inoculate and evaluate disease
• Coordinate and assist with all field operations including planting nurseries, pollination, data collection, and harvesting of nurseries
• Coordinate and assist in all seed lab operations including seed shelling, packaging, treating and packet arrangement
• Perform computer-related activities, including hand held data collection, data management, bar coding functions and providing support for all day-to-day activities
• Assist with timely and accurate data collection
• Provide support to the Plant Pathologist and Breeders
• Training, motivating and supervising seasonal labor
• Assists in implementation of laboratory and field safety programs to ensure a safe work environment
• Ensure all staff working in the lab or fields are properly trained and compliant with the Monsanto ESH policies to ensure safe operations of the research program
• Actively participate in the evaluation and implementation of new equipment and technologies
• Offsite travel is required

Required:

BS degree in Plant Pathology, Agronomy, Plant science, or related discipline

Desired:

MSc in Plant Pathology, Agronomy, Plant science, or related discipline

• Basic knowledge of plant pathology/mycology, disease diagnosis and disease rating
• Individual leadership and people management skills
• Excellent organizational and record keeping skills
• Effective verbal communication skills
• Computer skills in word processing and spreadsheet programs with the ability to learn new programs
• Detail oriented with the ability to balance multiple tasks and achieve deadlines
• Attention to detail and accurate worker

Important:

• Knowledge of corn diseases and disease rating methods
• Knowledge of microbiology sterile techniques and laboratory practices
• Knowledge of methodology behind marker assisted selection
• Knowledge of breeding nursery set-up
• Attention to detail and ability to accurately take and record data
• Knowledge of farm and seed research equipment
• Computer literate

Nice to Have:

• Knowledge of Monsanto software packages
• Some people management skills

Must Have:

• BS degree in Agriculture/ Plant Pathology an MSC is prefered
• Driver’s license