Plant Phenomics Research Specialist

Bachelor's degree in a related field of science

• Possess knowledge of plant phenotyping, remote sensing, scientific imaging, agronomy, plant breeding, crop science, data science, or related disciplines.
• Ability to operate and troubleshoot unmanned aerial systems and field- and laboratory-based sensing equipment, including RGB, multispectral, hyperspectral, thermal, X-ray, and other imaging technologies.
• Ability to process, organize, analyze, interpret, and manage large and complex datasets using appropriate scientific programming, statistical, geospatial, photogrammetry, image-processing, and remote-sensing software.
• Understanding of experimental design, statistical analysis, data quality assurance, research data management, and the development of clear, reproducible, well-documented, and scalable data-processing workflows.
• Demonstrate strong problem-solving, organizational, written communication, and oral communication skills; careful attention to detail; and the ability to manage multiple projects and seasonal deadlines.
• Demonstrate the ability to work independently and collaboratively, train students and research personnel, and learn new sensors, software, analytical methods, and emerging phenotyping technologies.

• Work in office, laboratory, greenhouse, and outdoor field environments.
• Work outdoors for extended periods under hot, humid, cold, dusty, and otherwise variable environmental conditions.
• Frequent walking, standing, bending, kneeling, reaching, and movement through turfgrass research plots and other areas with uneven terrain.
• Lift and carry equipment weighing up to 50 pounds
• Possess sufficient visual acuity and manual dexterity to operate unmanned aerial systems, computers, cameras, sensors, laboratory instruments, batteries, and related technical equipment.
• Occasional early-morning, evening, weekend, and overnight travel may be necessary to accommodate weather-dependent data collection and research activities at UGA and cooperating locations.
• Driving as needed to perform job duties.

• Plan, coordinate, and conduct high-throughput phenotypic data collection for turfgrass breeding and genetics research.
• Operate unmanned aerial systems and field- or laboratory-based RGB, multispectral, hyperspectral, thermal, X-ray, and other sensing platforms.
• Coordinate data collection with field trial schedules, environmental conditions, plant developmental stages, and project objectives.
• Establish and follow standardized procedures to ensure that measurements are accurate, consistent, safe, and reproducible.

• Process, organize, document, and maintain large sensor-derived and image-based datasets. Perform data-quality assessments, identify collection or processing errors, and implement corrective procedures when needed.
• Maintain logical file structures, metadata, backups, version control, and data-retention practices that support long-term accessibility and reproducibility.
• Integrate phenomics data with field observations, environmental measurements, experimental designs, breeding records, and other relevant information.

• Develop, evaluate, document, and improve reproducible workflows for sensor calibration, image processing, data extraction, statistical analysis, visualization, and reporting.
• Use scientific programming, geospatial software, photogrammetry tools, and other computational resources to reduce manual processing and improve research efficiency.
• Evaluate opportunities to automate repetitive data collection and processing activities while maintaining appropriate quality-control procedures.
• Stay current with emerging phenotyping technologies and recommend methods that advance the program's research capabilities.

• Collaborate with faculty, staff, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and external partners to incorporate phenomics methods into research projects.
• Assist with experimental planning, selection of appropriate sensors and sampling schedules, data analysis, interpretation of results, and development of research conclusions.
• Contribute technical information and analytical results to manuscripts, presentations, grant proposals, progress reports, and other scholarly products.
• Support the use of phenomics data in breeding decisions and the development of predictive tools for research and turfgrass management.

• Maintain, calibrate, inventory, and troubleshoot unmanned aerial systems, cameras, sensors, computers, data-storage systems, and related field and laboratory equipment.
• Coordinate equipment repairs, software updates, replacement parts, and preventative maintenance in consultation with the supervisor and appropriate vendors.
• Develop standard operating procedures and safety documentation for equipment and data-collection activities.
• Train students, staff, and collaborators in equipment operation, field protocols, data management, and quality-assurance procedures.

• Maintain clear records of methods, equipment settings, software versions, data-processing procedures, and changes to established workflows.
• Prepare summaries of phenotyping activities, data status, equipment needs, and project progress for the supervising faculty member and research collaborators.
• Participate in relevant meetings, workshops, field days, conferences, and professional development activities.
• Perform other research-related duties consistent with the positions purpose and classification.