IR-4 Project, North Carolina State University
Closing date: 1/21/2020
For more information, visit https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/127846
PRIMARY FUNCTION OF ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT
The IR-4 Project is a national Federal/State partnership research program to assist farmers of fruits, vegetables, nuts, herbs, ornamentals, and other specialty crops by facilitating registration of safe and effective chemical and bio-based pest management products. The IR-4 Project is needed because the crop protection industry focuses their research efforts on major crops such as corn, soybean, and cotton that provide the companies adequate return on their development investment. Without IR-4, farmers of specialty crops would only have access to a few crop protection products to protect their crops. IR-4 Project Headquarters provides national leadership, coordination, and regulatory compliance for the IR-4 Project research activities performed by approx. 125 scientists at over 20 public sector research farms and five analytical laboratories throughout the United States.
ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES
The Principal Weed Scientist position will be a integral part of the IR-4 Research Unit. The position will be expected to:
Manage the technical handling of new IR-4 Request for Assistance for products that manage weeds or control the control the growth of plants (PGRs or Plant Growth Regulators) (40%):
- Critically review and provide comments all new IR-4 Request for Assistance (PRs) with herbicides and plant growth regulators in IR-4's Food Program, including request for residue research, product performance, and integrated solutions projects. Perform same function for new Request for Assistance within the Environmental Horticulture Program when needed.
- Interpret if the product use proposed in Request for Assistance is covered by existing Federal and/or State registrations. If it is not deemed not registered, utilizing knowledge of the herbicides/PGRs, the proposed use pattern, target weeds and sensitivity of the crop along with any preliminary data, develop an assessment of the data required for registration and/or project classification.
- Send formal IR-4 inquiry to cooperating company (owner of pest management technology) explaining justification of assessment and survey if the company is interesting in registering the use. Based on assessment of existing data, develop and share recommendations to the company on proposed next steps needed for successful registration.
- Receive and review assessment from company. If appropriate, develop a response and/or provide clarity or additional information.
- Attend annual company meeting as part of the IR-4 team. On behalf of IR-4 lead all discussions about products that can be used to manage weeds and modify the growth of plants.
- Develop a potential list of open/research projects with herbicides, PGRs, and other technology that manages weeds for consideration in the initial steps of IR-4 priority setting.
- Contact IR-4 network of researchers to inquire about initial and preliminary results of their research. Encourage the submission of new requests if products are showing significant promise.
- Follow-up with companies to ensure the most up-to-date information is in the IR-4 databases.
- Participate in regional conference call and meetings to assist in preliminary priority setting activities.
- Manage the discussions and subsequent development of priorities about national and regional projects that manage weeds at the IR-4 priority setting workshops. Develop and distribute information that assists stakeholders in their selection of the safest and most effective products.
- Assist stakeholders in the development of Priority Upgrade Proposals and Regional Upgrades.
- Participate in selection of national Priority Upgrade Proposals and Regional Upgrades.
Manage IR-4's national efforts with product performance and integrated solutions research with herbicides, plant growth regulators and other weed management technology (30%):
- Actively solicit information from IR-4's national/international network of weed scientists to gather information that is relevant products in research protocols and studies. Review preliminary data and develop extrapolation plans.
- Draft all efficacy and crop safety protocols used in IR-4's research with herbicides and plant growth regulators.
- Draft all integrated solutions protocols used in IR-4's research with herbicides and plant growth regulators.
- Provide guidance and answer questions by research community in regards to IR-4's research protocols.
- Visit some of IR-4's key research sites throughout the United States to assess performance of products in tests.
- Review the results of research, checking at first was the research performed according to provisions in the protocol.
- Develop a summary report of the national/international research. Transmit research summary reports to appropriate companies and other stakeholders.
Support for Residue Research Program with Herbicides and PGRs (15%):
- Working with the assigned study director draft the directions for use section in IR-4 GLP residue studies with herbicides and plant growth regulators.
- During the conduct of the study, assist the study director with any questions/issues on herbicide performance, crop injury or general crop biology.
- Draft the public interest finding section of petition and discuss the existing product comparison, product performance and biology attributes.
Represent IR-4 and various regional, national and international meetings and conferences regarding IR-4 activities to manage weeds and/or control plant growth (10%):
- Attend the annual Weed Science Society of America meeting. Participate on relevant committees such as Herbicides for Minor Use Committee.
- As resources are available, attend other relevant regional and/or international weed science meetings.
- Field questions from stakeholders on herbicides. Serve as resource individual to stakeholders in weed management issues.
Other activities involving herbicides/PGRs (5%):
- Ensure that IR-4 database with herbicides and plant growth regulators is accurate and up-to-date.
- Monitor and assess new registrations and provide closure to open files when the new uses are approved.
- Follow up on labels after tolerances are set.
- Keep track all new herbicide technology with information available for multiple resources.
- Utilize knowledge to provide stakeholders with sound recommendations on products that may solve problems.
- As part of the IR-4 team assist with the education of involving weed science including formal lectures on herbicide technology, regulatory affairs, weed contests, etc.
OTHER WORK/RESPONSIBILITIES
Other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE
PhD in Weed Science or another one of the pest management areas (Entomology, Plant Pathology), horticulture, agronomy, chemistry or related area with at least 8 years of direct experience in applied weed science/pest management research or regulatory sciences, or a Masters of Science degree in areas stated above with at least 10 years of direct experience in applied weed science/pest management research or regulatory sciences.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply for the Principal Weed Scientist position, please visit:
https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/127869