Research Technician 1

Job Title

Research Technician I

Agency

Texas A&M Agrilife Research

Department

Vernon

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Vernon, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

About Texas A&M AgriLife

Texas A&M AgriLife is comprised of the following Texas A&M University System members:

• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

• Texas A&M AgriLife Research

• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University

• Texas A&M Forest Service

• Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory

As the nation’s largest most comprehensive agriculture program, Texas A&M AgriLife brings together a college and four state agencies focused on agriculture and life sciences within The Texas A&M University System. With over 5,000 employees and a presence in every county across the state, Texas A&M AgriLife is uniquely positioned to improve lives, environments and the Texas economy through education, research, extension and service.

Click here to learn more about joining AgriLife!

Position Information

Job Summary:

The Research Technician will support field-based agronomic research in the Intelligent Cropping Systems program at Texas A&M AgriLife Research in Vernon. The position will assist with establishing, maintaining, monitoring, and harvesting research trials involving winter wheat, cotton, and other agronomic crops.

Responsibilities include crop management, treatment application, field sampling, equipment operation, and collection of crop, soil, environmental, sensor, and precision-agriculture data. The technician will work closely with the Principal Investigator, students, staff, and collaborators to ensure experiments are conducted accurately according to research protocols.

Responsibilities:

• Establish and maintain field experiments from planting through harvest, including field preparation, planting, plot layout, staking, labeling, and treatment identification.
• Manage irrigation, fertilization, weed control, insect and disease management, and harvest-aid applications according to research protocols.
• Collect plant and soil samples and agronomic measurements such as plant population, height, growth stage, biomass, canopy characteristics, yield components, and other crop observations.
• Properly label, organize, transport, and document samples and measurements by plot, treatment, and replication.
• Operate tractors, planters, sprayers, fertilizer applicators, irrigation systems, harvest equipment, utility vehicles, and related machinery as appropriate to training and authorization.
• Calibrate equipment for accurate application of seed, fertilizer, pesticides, irrigation, and experimental treatments.
• Maintain field supplies, agricultural inputs, sampling materials, and research equipment, including routine cleaning, maintenance, and storage.
• Maintain accurate records of planting, irrigation, fertilizer and pesticide applications, sampling, treatments, crop growth stages, and other field activities.
• Follow applicable safety, pesticide, equipment, and field-operation procedures.
• Assist students, research staff, and collaborators with field research activities and travel to research locations as needed.
• Perform other research-related duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two years of related experience in farming, crop production, agricultural field research, or a related area.
• Experience with crop-production activities such as planting, irrigation, fertilization, pest management, harvesting, or agricultural equipment operation.
• Ability to follow field maps, plot layouts, treatment assignments, and research protocols.
• Ability to accurately measure and apply agricultural inputs and perform basic field calculations.
• Basic computer skills, including spreadsheets, electronic recordkeeping, and email.
• Ability to accurately collect and record crop, soil, field, and sensor data.
• Ability to work independently and cooperatively with faculty, staff, students, and farm personnel.
• Ability to work outdoors for extended periods.
• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel to offsite research location.
• Willingness to complete required safety and pesticide-applicator training or certifications.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with winter wheat, cotton, or other agronomic crops.
• Farming, research-farm, or agricultural equipment experience.
• Experience operating tractors, planters, sprayers, fertilizer applicators, irrigation systems, or harvest equipment.
• Experience mixing or applying fertilizers and crop-protection products.
• Experience with GPS/GNSS, agricultural sensors, soil-moisture sensors, weather stations, or other precision-agriculture technologies.
• Experience maintaining agricultural or research records using spreadsheets, tablets, or mobile applications.
• Pesticide applicator license or willingness to obtain one after employment.

What You Need to Know

Salary: Compensation is commensurate with the candidate’s qualifications.

Position Funding: This position is funded through grants or contracts and is appointed on an annual basis through August 31 of each year. Renewal is contingent upon continued funding and satisfactory job performance.

Flexible Work Arrangements: This position requires on-site presence and is not eligible for remote work. Flexible work schedules may be available depending on the nature of the role role and employee eligibility, in accordance with AgriLife Alternate Work Location Procedures.

Sponsorship: This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States and must not require sponsorship now or in the future.

Important Notice Regarding H1-B Sponsorship:

Your employment at Texas A&M AgriLife may require nonimmigrant sponsorship. A Presidential proclamation issued on September 19, 2025, imposes a $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025. Texas A&M AgriLife will NOT pay this fee. If the fee is imposed on your petition, this offer of employment will be revoked. If actions taken during your employment result in the imposition of this fee, your employment will be terminated. To the extent that this statement conflicts with any applicable System or member Policy, Regulation, or Rule, this statement will control. We recommend that you consult with your private immigration counsel at your own expense regarding potential implications.

In addition, on January 27, 2026, Texas Governor Abbott issued a moratorium on the filing of any new H-1B unless approved by the Texas Workforce Commission. Accordingly, if you will now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status this moratorium may affect our ability to employ you should you be selected as the final candidate.

Benefits and Leave:

• Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance (AgriLife contributes to premiums)
• 12–15 annual paid holidays
• Up to 8 hours/month sick leave and at least 8 hours/month vacation
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
• Employee Wellness Initiative
• Access to ongoing professional development and training through Aspire, LinkedIn Learning, and internally developed programs.

How to Apply

• Applications must include all job application data or a complete resume. Incomplete applications may be rejected. Applicants are encouraged to upload a resume or use LinkedIn to prepopulate application fields. 

Required Documents: 

• Resume
• List of References
• Certifications / Additional Documentation (if applicable)

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.