Research Support Staff (0097631T; CTAHR/ADSC)

University of Hawaii•Honolulu, HI

20h•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Hawai‘i’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR), Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center (ADSC), is hiring temporary, full-time Research Support Staff for its CARES Wailua location in Kapaa, Kauai County. This is an 11-month position subject to funding availability. Renewal depends on satisfactory performance, staffing requirements, and/or funding availability. The position coordinates technical support for agricultural research related to crop performance, soil responses, pest management, and full-cycle seed production. Duties span field trials, laboratories, research facilities, seed quality and distribution, scientific data collection, equipment maintenance, safety compliance, and support for research personnel. The role may require work outside normal business hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays, and travel to various locations.

Requirements

Baccalaureate degree in Botany, Biology, Horticulture, or a related field, with no prior years of progressively responsible professional experience required; or an equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience.
Functional knowledge of principles, practices, and techniques in research support, data collection, and reporting, including the ability to apply relevant concepts and terminology.
Functional knowledge and understanding of principles, theories, federal and state laws, rules, regulations, and systems associated with research support and data collection.
Ability to recognize problems, identify possible causes, and resolve commonly occurring problems in research support and data collection.
Ability to understand oral and written documentation, write reports and procedures, and communicate effectively in varied situations.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external organizations, groups, team members, and individuals.
Ability to operate a personal computer and use word-processing and agricultural research, environmental management, and/or program management software.
Active listening skills and ability to work independently across multiple locations and adapt to changing research or operational needs.
Ability to travel independently to various geographical locations in a timely manner. This may be met by a valid Hawaii Class 3 driver's license, comparable driver's license, or other transportation meeting position needs.
Ability to work outside normal business hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and/or holidays as needed.
Ability to lift, carry, or otherwise move supplies and equipment weighing up to 40 pounds, with or without assistance or appropriate methods such as carts, dollies, or team lifts.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting agricultural research operations, field trial logistics, greenhouse operations, and/or biological research data collection, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Working knowledge of technical methods in agronomy, horticulture, and/or soil science, including controlled-environment facility operation, pest and/or disease identification, and scientific data logging and/or record keeping.
Ability to coordinate technical field research tasks and maintain accurate data logs.
Ability to operate and program automated environmental and irrigation systems.
Ability to enforce safety protocols for chemical application and facility operation.

Responsibilities

Coordinate technical logistics for establishing and maintaining field and laboratory trials evaluating crop performance, soil responses, and pest management in full-cycle seed production.
Oversee scientific data logging systems and collect environmental parameters, soil metrics, water quality data, and plant growth measurements using field instruments.
Coordinate the collection, cataloging, and preparation of soil, plant tissue, water, and microorganism samples for laboratory processing.
Manage field isolation procedures in seed-production plots, including spatial separation and buffer zones, to protect genetic integrity and cultivar stock purity.
Oversee seed quality assurance testing, including purity, moisture, and standardized viability trials, in alignment with state regulations and HDOA requirements.
Oversee daily seed distribution logistics, inter-island shipments, and bulk packaging to meet delivery schedules and quality standards.
Conduct field evaluations of pest and disease incidence and report crop conditions to research project leads.
Enter trial parameters, field mapping coordinates, and observations into research databases and web-based decision tools.
Oversee daily technical operations and environmental schedules for research greenhouses, shade houses, hydroponic units, and/or field plots.
Program, troubleshoot, and calibrate automated irrigation networks, environmental control computers, and research facility equipment.
Coordinate research plot layouts, treatment application timing, and technical equipment setup for trials.
Inspect research facilities, environmental controls, and field instrumentation; perform technical maintenance and schedule major repairs.
Maintain operational logs, chemical and pesticide application tracking, inventory records, and facility usage schedules.
Manage procurement logistics for research supplies, fertilizers, field tools, and safety gear.
Monitor compliance with state, federal, and University environmental health, safety, and worker protection standards.
Assist research personnel with trial summary tables, field demonstration plot layouts, and technical documentation.
Support time-critical research trials, crop maintenance, facility monitoring, and other research functions, including work outside normal business hours as needed.
Transport research equipment and materials to various locations.
Perform other duties as assigned.