Research Associate

About the Role

Corteva Agriscience is seeking a hands-on Research Associate to help build field research capabilities at a growing agricultural research center in the Indianapolis area. You will join the Integrated Field Science team and support high-quality, multi-crop field research from trial setup through harvest and closeout.

Key Responsibilities

• Help plan and conduct field research trials, including site preparation, planting, treatment application, crop maintenance, sampling, assessment, harvest, and trial closeout.
• Working with minimal guidance, conduct experiments, complex technical operations, and information-search or analysis projects.
• Optimize, interpret, and independently adapt methodologies for current projects; recommend additional experiments or alternative approaches when appropriate.
• Recognize erroneous or unexpected results, analyze and interpret findings, draw sound conclusions, and recommend a path forward.
• Contribute to work plans and manage daily workflow to deliver accurate, timely research results.
• Execute research protocols accurately and collect, record, quality-check, and organize field data for use in project summaries and reports.
• Operate, transport, maintain, and help troubleshoot agricultural and research equipment used for application, planting, harvesting, sensing, and data collection.
• Coordinate day-to-day field activities with scientists, agronomy colleagues, seasonal employees, interns, contractors, and technical partners across on-site and off-site research locations.
• Promote strong standards for safety, stewardship, compliance, data integrity, equipment care, and continuous improvement.
• Support field demonstrations, tours, and other activities that connect agricultural research with customers, partners, and visitors.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• A Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy, Crop Science, Plant Science, Weed Science, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Agricultural Engineering, or a related discipline; or at least five years of directly related agricultural research experience.
• Experience conducting applied agricultural field trials and completing field activities such as planting, treatment application, crop maintenance, assessment, sampling, and harvest.
• Demonstrated ability to work with minimal guidance, analyze experimental results, identify unexpected outcomes, and make evidence-based recommendations.
• Experience operating and calibrating agricultural equipment, with the mechanical aptitude to perform routine setup, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• A valid driver’s license and the ability to work safely in outdoor agricultural conditions, including seasonal work demands.
• Indiana Commercial Applicator License, Category 10 Research and Demonstration at minimum, or the ability to obtain it as soon as possible.
• Authorization to work in the United States.

Qualifications (Preferred)

• Experience with multi-crop research, crop protection, biological products, or agricultural technology platforms.
• Experience using digital field-research tools, research data systems, sensors, drones, or precision agriculture technologies.
• Working knowledge of experimental protocols, data-quality practices, pesticide stewardship, or regulated field-research requirements.
• Experience independently adapting research methods or technical procedures to meet project needs.
• Experience coordinating seasonal employees, interns, contractors, or work crews.
• Experience supporting field demonstrations, tours, or other stakeholder-engagement activities.