Research Associate

About This Role

New Research Associate position to lead and manage a defined research area within the K-State Pet Food Program focused on protein and amino acid requirements in domestic species. This position requires specialized prior experience in protein and amino acid requirement research and provides independent scientific leadership, project management, and research continuity rather than mentored postdoctoral training.

About Us

The Department of Grain and Food Science is committed to providing high-quality education, advancing innovation in grain and food science research, and building strong industry partnerships to meet the evolving needs of global food systems.

Our faculty includes several current and former Grain and Food Science members who are ranked among the world’s top 2% of researchers in a 2020 Stanford University study.

For more than 110 years, Kansas State University has been a global leader in flour milling and industry-focused education. Since 1951, it has remained one of the few institutions worldwide to offer four-year bachelor’s degrees in Bakery Science and Management, Feed and Pet Food Science, Food Science, and Milling Science and Management.

Our internationally recognized graduate program also provides a wide range of opportunities for both applied and fundamental research, leading to master’s and doctoral degrees in grain science, food science, and related fields.

Worksite Description

This position is On-site.

All employees must reside in the United States when they begin working to comply with state law. K-State is unable to provide remote or hybrid work opportunities for residents of the state of Idaho.

What You'll Need to Succeed

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree
• Two years of relevant experience
• Valid Driver’s License

Education beyond the minimum degree requirement may count toward required experience if deemed relevant by the hiring manager. This degree requirement ensures candidates possess the scientific knowledge, research methodology and analytical skills essential for designing studies, interpreting data and contributing to scholarly publications. These competencies are typically developed and validated only through the comprehensive curriculum and critical thinking training inherent in a bachelor's degree in a relevant scientific field.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in animal science, Animal Nutrition, Nutritional Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Biology
• PhD in Animal Science, Animal Nutrition, Nutritional Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Biology or a closely related discipline with a research focus on protein and amino acid requirement.
• Demonstrated experience designing and conducting controlled animal nutrition studies in domestic species on protein and amino acid requirements
• Direct research experience in protein and/or amino acid requirement
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage and execute research activities, develop detailed experimental protocols, troubleshoot scientific and operational issues, and coordinate multiple components of animal nutrition studies.
• Record of peer-reviewed scientific publications
• Excellent oral and written scientific communication skills.
• Experience with dose-response studies and quantitative approaches used to establish or estimate nutrient requirements.
• Peer-reviewed publications specifically related to protein and/or amino acid requirements as the leading or corresponding author

Sponsorship eligibility:

This position is eligible for sponsorship

How to Apply

Please submit the following documents:

1. KSU Page Up online application
2. Resume
3. Letter of Interest
4. List of three professional references with email addresses and phone numbers listed

Application Window

Applications close on:11/4/2026

Anticipated Hiring Pay Range

$49,825.00 to $68,497.00