Research Associate

Online applications must be received before 12:00am on:

March 24, 2025

If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.

Available Title(s):

305-NN_FACULTY - Research Associate, 305-YN_FACULTY - Research Associate

Business Title:

Research Associate

Employee Type:

Faculty (+) (Fixed Term)12 Month

Summary of Duties:

The Research Associate position within the Winter Wheat Breeding program at Washington State University will assist with various responsibilities to improve the efficiency of cultivar selection and development.  Responsibilities include annually updating and running genomic selection models on all breeding lines within the breeding program, along with improving models with the use of environmental data.  This position will also run cross prediction models to help facilitate identification of crosses to be made within the program to maximize genetic diversity and favorable allele frequency.  These efforts will support the introgression of new traits into the breeding program such as herbicide tolerance.  Responsibilities also include the participation in writing and obtaining grant funding and developing an extramurally funded research focus that would benefit the winter wheat breeding program and provide future funds for the position.  Additional responsibilities include assisting with the breeding program during the summer months, including data collection, selection of segregating populations, data analysis, planting preparations, harvest, post-harvest data collection, breeding line organization, and supervision of undergraduate researchers.  Further, it is expected that this position will assist in scholarly output with the writing of research manuscripts, plant registration articles, and PVP applications. 

Required Qualifications:

• A PhD in the area of plant breeding, plant genetics, or a related field.  A minimum of two years of post-PhD experience in the area of plant breeding and genetics.

• Experience in the implementation of genomic selection and cross prediction models

• Demonstrated ability of scholarly output

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

• Ability to work independently on plant breeding related projects

• Knowledge of plant breeding and selection theory

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability of scholarly output

• Experience developing research proposals for granting agencies

Area/College: College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS)
Department Name: Crops and Soil Sciences
Location: Pullman, WA

Application Instructions: Applicants must upload the following required documents to their online application. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements.

1) Resume
2) Cover Letter

External candidates, upload all documents in the “Application Document” section of your application.
Current WSU Employees (internal candidates), before starting your Workday application, please use these instructions to update your education and experience in your worker profile in Workday. Internal candidates, upload all documents in the “Resume/Cover Letter” section of your application.

Documents may be submitted as one file or separate files. Applicants are encouraged to upload as a PDF, if possible.

Reference contact information will be requested later in the recruitment process through Workday.

Background Check: This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.

Full time

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EDUCATOR AND EMPLOYER. Members of ethnic minorities, women, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam-era, recently separated veterans, and other protected veteran, persons of disability and/or persons age 40 and over are encouraged to apply.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or [email protected].

Notice of Non-Discrimination

WSU prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates compliant with Title IX. Inquiries regarding Title IX and reports of sex discrimination can be directed to the WSU Title IX Coordinator. More information on WSU’s policies and procedures to respond to discrimination and harassment are available here: Nondiscrimination statement.