Agricultural Researcher

Initially this job is focused on completing an agroecological data set, focusing on the botanical characteristics of certain plants. The ideal candidate will have research experience and is an independent problem solver. After the completion of the data set, the job will revolve around analyzing this data, and dependent on the research interests or strengths, further research will be done in a certain area, building upon this foundational data set. Future research could be in any of the following fields of agriculture: Horticulture, Plant Physiology, Plant Pathology, Ecology of Disease and Pests, and Soil Fertility.

Success in this endeavor is dependent on independence and flexibility, and the work structure is dependent on that. 

• Plant List:
• Find pictures and present them in an appropriate manner.
• Find growing conditions.
• Water requirements (dry-mesic etc.) and put that into liters with known water holding capacity of the soil (may need to calculate that themselves)
• Shade tolerance
• Heat tolerance
• Ideal planting time (relative to soil and atmospheric temperatures)
• Soil pH and nutrient requirements, both macro and micronutrients
• Canopy/spread (space requirement+ shade creation in understory).
• Propagation method- cutting, grafting, seeds.
• Time to fruiting/productive years.
• Length of productive years
• Method of regeneration and maintenance
• Ideal pruning method for tree/shrub in our climate
• Pests and diseases
• Biological remedies (bacterial or fungi species)
• Cultural practices for avoidance
• Natural predators
• Living conditions for parasitoid/predatory insect etc.
• Life cycle of pest/disease
• Sourcing and procurement of plant material (seeds/grafts etc.)