The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University is seeking a motivated and hands-on Agricultural Assistant II to support field, greenhouse, and precision agriculture research within their Field Crop Plant Pathology laboratory in Ames, Iowa. This exciting full-time research support role involves field operations, drone-based UAS research, greenhouse management, and precision agriculture data collection — offering a rare opportunity to work at the cutting edge of applied agricultural science in the USA alongside world-class faculty, researchers, and graduate students.
About Iowa State University — A Leader in Agricultural Research
Institution: Iowa State University — one of America’s premier land-grant research universities
College: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Ames, Iowa
Laboratory: Field Crop Plant Pathology Lab — field, greenhouse, and precision agriculture research
Technology: Drone/UAS operations, precision agriculture tools, and controlled environment systems
Term: Fixed Term Appointment through May 15, 2027 — 12-Month Full-Time Work Period
Why This Agricultural Research Role in Iowa Stands Out
Innovative Research: Contribute to groundbreaking field crop, pest management, and precision agriculture studies
Drone & UAS Technology: Hands-on experience with Uncrewed Aerial Systems in a real agricultural research environment
University Benefits: Comprehensive ISU benefits including medical, dental, retirement, and generous paid leave
Career Growth: Gain multidisciplinary research experience across field operations, plant pathology, and emerging agri-tech
Position Overview
This Agricultural Assistant II position at Iowa State University is a hands-on, field-facing research support role perfect for agriculture professionals who thrive in dynamic, outdoor, and laboratory settings. You will work directly within the Field Crop Plant Pathology laboratory — supporting everything from field planting and pesticide application to drone flight planning, aerial imaging, greenhouse plant care, and precision agriculture data management. If you are passionate about agricultural research careers in Iowa and want to work with emerging technology alongside leading scientists, this ISU role in Ames is an outstanding opportunity to grow your career while contributing to research that directly supports Iowa’s crop production systems and agricultural future.
Why This Role Matters: As an Agricultural Assistant II at Iowa State University, your daily contributions directly advance applied research that shapes the future of American crop production, pest management, and precision agriculture. From managing greenhouse growth chambers and supporting drone-based aerial imaging to collecting critical field data and maintaining pesticide trial plots, every task you perform feeds into scientific discoveries that benefit Iowa farmers and the broader US agricultural industry. This is a meaningful, varied, and technically exciting role at one of the country’s most respected agricultural research institutions.
Key Responsibilities
Field Research Operations
- Support all field operations including crop planting, pesticide and fungicide application, harvesting, plot maintenance, and research equipment setup and teardown
- Coordinate field research activities and ensure all work adheres strictly to established research protocols and crop health standards throughout the growing season
- Assist with pesticide and fungicide efficacy trials including precise application techniques, plot evaluation, and systematic data collection
- Perform quality checks on field data and research records, ensuring accuracy and reproducibility across multiple concurrent research projects
Greenhouse & Growth Chamber Management
- Manage daily greenhouse and growth chamber operations including plant care, irrigation scheduling, nutrient program management, and treatment applications
- Collect, record, and organize greenhouse research data in accordance with established laboratory protocols and data management systems
- Support plant pathology research activities including disease inoculation, symptom evaluation, and standardized disease rating for major crop systems such as corn and soybean
- Assist with basic microbiological and plant pathology laboratory techniques including aseptic technique, culturing, and pathogen isolation procedures
Drone & Precision Agriculture Research
- Assist with all drone-based research activities including flight planning, pre-flight checks, aerial imaging missions, and post-flight data retrieval and storage
- Support the maintenance and operational readiness of Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) equipment used in field research campaigns
- Ensure all drone and field operations are conducted in full accordance with applicable safety standards and FAA regulatory requirements
- Contribute to the development and refinement of drone-based data collection workflows that support precision agriculture and crop health monitoring research
Data Collection, Records & Research Support
- Collect, record, and perform thorough quality checks on all research and field data collected across laboratory, greenhouse, and field environments
- Maintain accurate, reproducible, and well-organized datasets across multiple simultaneous research projects using strong data management practices
- Assist with a wide variety of additional agricultural research activities and perform additional duties as needed to support the overall research program and laboratory goals
- Collaborate effectively with faculty, graduate students, and technical staff — contributing clearly to multidisciplinary research team communications
Qualifications & Requirements
Minimum Required Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent — this is the minimum educational requirement for the Agricultural Assistant II position at Iowa State University
- Minimum of 3 years of related work experience in agriculture, agricultural research, or a closely related field
- Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States on an ongoing basis — immigration sponsorship is not available for this position
Preferred Qualifications
- Previous hands-on experience assisting with agricultural or biological research including data collection, plot maintenance, and basic data analysis
- Practical experience in field, greenhouse, and laboratory research systems — particularly in plant pathology, agronomy, or related crop science disciplines
- Familiarity with plant disease identification and standardized disease rating methodologies for major Iowa crop systems including corn and soybean
- Experience supporting pesticide or fungicide efficacy trials with demonstrated knowledge of application techniques and plot evaluation methods
- Familiarity with basic microbiological or plant pathology laboratory techniques such as aseptic technique, culturing, and pathogen isolation
- Strong organizational and data management skills with a demonstrated ability to maintain accurate and reproducible datasets across multiple concurrent projects
Iowa State University Employee Benefits
Iowa State University offers one of the most comprehensive benefits packages available to research staff in the United States. As an Agricultural Assistant II at ISU, you will enjoy medical and dental insurance, defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plans, generous vacation, holiday, and sick leave, life insurance, long-term disability coverage, flexible spending accounts, onsite childcare at the Ames campus, an Employee Assistance Program, and access to ISU’s WorkFlex program for schedule flexibility. This is a compelling total compensation package for anyone seeking a stable, rewarding agricultural research career in Iowa.
Application Deadline: April 27, 2026 — Job Requisition Number R18984. Apply online through Iowa State University’s official careers portal and submit your resume and cover letter.
Who Should Apply?
- Agricultural Research Technicians: With 3+ years of field, greenhouse, or plant pathology research experience seeking a full-time ISU position in Ames, Iowa
- Precision Agriculture Enthusiasts: With hands-on field experience and interest in drone/UAS technology and emerging agricultural research tools
- Crop Science or Agronomy Graduates: Seeking a research assistant career in Iowa with exposure to plant pathology, pest management, and data collection
- Greenhouse Operations Specialists: With plant care, irrigation, and growth chamber management experience at a university or research institution
- Field Research Assistants: Who have supported pesticide efficacy trials, plot maintenance, or disease rating in corn, soybean, or other major US crop systems
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