Student Scientist Worker- Plant and Soil Science

Student Scientist Worker- Plant and Soil Science Lexington, KY Job Details Part-time $15.50 an hour 3 days ago Qualifications Spatial analysis Machine learning/AI-based analysis Mapping using GIS NumPy R Remote sensing Research Statistical analysis Analysis skills Statistical modeling GIS software Clustering Entry level Data extraction Full Job Description Posting Details Job Title Student Scientist Worker- Plant and Soil Science Requisition Number DU14444 Department Name 81060:

PLANT AND SOIL SCIENCES

Work Location Lexington, KY Salary Range 15.50/hourly Type of Position Student Position Time Status Part-Time Required Education N/A Required Related Experience To be discussed and determined by hiring supervisor Required License/Registration/Certification N/A Physical Requirements Positions may include, but not limited to, sitting for long periods of time, repetitive motion, lifting, pushing/pulling, exposure to heat/cold. Shift As required by project/supervisor. Job Summary We are seeking motivated undergraduate or graduate students with strong geospatial analytical skills to join a summer research project examining why some farmers underperform in "good" counties under USDA's Agriculture Risk Coverage-County (ARC‑CO) program . Using remote‑sensing tools and publicly available databases, we aim to map areas where farmers may be structurally disadvantaged under county‑level payment rules.

Your role will involve:

Extracting and processing geospatial data from CDL, Sentinel‑2 L2A, NASS QuickStats, NLCD, and Kentucky GIS portals Computing vegetation indices (NDVI/NDRE) and building spatial composites Identifying and mapping low‑vigor zones and persistent hot/cold spots Working with county‑level yield benchmarks and policy datasets Assisting with spatial statistics or clustering analyses (e.g., fuzzy k‑means) Ideal candidates will have experience with: ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, or Google Earth Engine Python (rasterio, geopandas, numpy), R, or similar Remote‑sensing or spatial modeling (Bonus) Statistical modeling or machine learning Position details: Start date: Any time (Spring or Summer)

Hours:

Flexible; part‑time or up to 40 hrs/week in summer

Compensation:

Hourly pay (based on experience) or research credits applicable toward degree completion Work environment: Hybrid; some on‑campus meetings with remote work supported Skills / Knowledge / Abilities Skills/knowledge will vary depending on project and area of research. Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? No Preferred Education/Experience ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, or Google Earth Engine Python (rasterio, geopandas, numpy), R, or similar Remote‑sensing or spatial modelin (Bonus) Statistical modeling or machine learning Deadline to Apply 04/02/2026 Our University Community We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus. The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status. Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.