Horticulture Technician

North Carolina A & T State University•Greensboro, NC

41d•Onsite

About The Position

The Research Technician - Horticulture provides technical, hands-on support for top-ranked integrated field research and educational programs involving the North Carolina A&T State University Agricultural Research program, and the Center for Environmental Farming Systems Small Farm Unit, in Goldsboro, NC. This position is responsible to support and assist in a unique long-term specialty fruit and vegetable research program in the nation involving production, variety trials, data collections, data analysis, report preparation, and community engagement under the leadership of CEFS Director at NC A&T and the Small Farm Unit manager. Duties include crop establishment and maintenance; harvesting/post-harvest handling of crops associated with researchers and research support in CAES; greenhouse and high tunnel management; recordkeeping, financial benchmark analysis, data collection and entry; and communication with researchers, staff, students, producer groups and community-based organizations, co-workers, and other organization staff.

Responsibilities

Performs data collection and hands-on clinical procedures per study protocols.
Compiles and maintains data, organizes and prepares data for computer input.
Operates and maintains farm equipment and tools.
Prepares and stores or sends laboratory samples per study protocol.
Meets with PI, study monitors and sponsors regularly.
Generates data and presents information in narrative and graphical format at regular project meetings.
Responsible for record-keeping and farm benchmarking analysis, including data collection and entry as well as evaluations using software programs (e.g., EXCEL, FINPACK).
Demonstrates in-depth knowledge of the area of specialization, the program, process, and organizational operation.
Provides technical, hands-on support for research and educational programs in horticulture and financial benchmarking
Establishes and maintains crops, including activities of seeding, planting, weeding, fertilizing, pest control, harvesting, and other horticultural and agricultural tasks.
Harvests crops and handles post-harvesting duties, including plot clean-up
Assist with preparation of reports, peer-reviewed articles, and educational materials.
Manages greenhouse and high tunnels.
Uses and maintains job related tools, equipment and facilities
Interacts positively with researchers, staff, producer groups, community-based organizations as well as co-workers and other organization staff .
Analyzes the resulting data and reports them to principle investigator. This includes problem solving, if required, and revising experimental procedures accordingly.
Manages time allocation, analyzes data, reports results to principle investigator and collaborating investigator.