About This Role

K-State and the Department of Horticulture & Natural Resources is seeking a Post-doctoral Fellow to lead applied and basic turfgrass research and extension programs, turning scientific discoveries into practical solutions. In this leadership role, the employee will guide both academic research and industry outreach for the department. Beyond primary research, this position will serve as a core mentor and manager within the laboratory, overseeing daily operations, training staff in technical protocols, and actively advising graduate students to cultivate a collaborative, highly productive research environment.
Responsibilities may include:

• Research Design & Execution: Lead the design, implementation, and management of complex field and greenhouse experiments, overseeing everything from initial trial setup to data collection and statistical analysis.
• Publication & Reporting: Synthesize experimental data to author high-impact, peer-reviewed journal articles, technical reports, and comprehensive literature reviews.
• Grant Collaboration: Collaborate with faculty on grant proposals to secure future funding for ongoing and novel research initiatives.
• Student Mentorship: Provide day-to-day mentorship and technical guidance to graduate students, assisting with their experimental designs, troubleshooting methodologies, and advising on academic progression.
• Laboratory Management: Oversee general laboratory operations, which include actively training incoming students and staff on specialized equipment, analytical protocols, and safety compliance to ensure high-quality, reproducible results.
• Extension Outreach: Translate complex, data-driven research findings into practical, actionable recommendations for industry professionals, stakeholders, and the public.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Develop and deliver impactful extension presentations, educational materials, and workshops at regional field days, industry conferences, and academic seminars.

About Us

The Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources originated in 1871 making it one of the first and oldest departments at Kansas State University. Today, as our mission statement underscores, we are committed to educating outstanding undergraduate and graduate students, contributing significant research results to solve problems associated with our disciplines, and providing our constituencies across the state, region and nation with excellent extension programs.

Our department conducts its activities at a variety of locations with facilities on the main campus in Manhattan and outlying research and education centers.

Founded in 1863 as the country's first operational land-grant university, Kansas State University has a student enrollment of 24,000 and 1,400+ full-time faculty members. It is located in Manhattan (The Little Apple), a culturally vibrant community of 55,000, surrounded by the Flint Hills regions of the state and rates as a Top 10 college town by the American Institute for Economic Research. The Princeton Review placed Kansas State University in the top 10 for several individual categories, including town and gown relationship (#3), best quality of life (#4), and happiest students (#8).

Additionally, Kansas State University is a national leader among public universities in the total number of Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Goldwater and Udall prestigious scholarship winners.

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:

• Ph.D. in Agronomy, Plant Science, Horticulture, or a closely related scientific discipline.


• Demonstrated ability to independently design, execute, and manage complex field and greenhouse experiments.
  
  The degree requirement is necessary to ensure candidates possess the specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities that can only be attained through a formal educational program at this level.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• A proven track record of synthesizing data and publishing original research in peer reviewed scientific journals.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey technical scientific information clearly to both academic audiences and the general public.


• Strong interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment and provide mentorship to graduate or undergraduate students.


• Advanced proficiency in experimental design and statistical analysis software (e.g., SAS, R, or similar programs).


• Prior experience developing extension materials, delivering presentations at field days, or engaging directly with industry stakeholders and practitioners.


• Hands-on experience managing laboratory operations, maintaining specialized equipment, and training personnel on safety protocols and analytical techniques.


• Experience assisting with or successfully securing competitive grant funding to support research initiatives.


• The ability to manage multiple research trials, balance field and lab work, and consistently meet publication and reporting deadlines.

Additional Role Information:

• Valid driver's license

Sponsorship eligibility:

This position is eligible for sponsorship

How to Apply

Please submit the following documents:

• Cover Letter or statement of interest


• Resume or CV


• Name, phone number and email for 3 professional references

Application Window

Applications close on:May 26, 2026

Anticipated Hiring Pay Range

$52,000 - $55,000