Scientific and Technical Advisor: Agricultural Chemistry / Plant Toxicology / AgTech
$90,000–$220,000 year
RemoteMount Pleasant, South Carolina, United States
Job Summary
Conduct technical due diligence, market and regulatory analyses, and literature reviews for ARPA-H programs, synthesizing findings into decision-quality reports and executive briefings. Evaluate scientific proposals for merit and feasibility, organize reviewer feedback, and develop recommendations on herbicide discovery, agrochemical monitoring, and non-contact chemical analysis. Operate independently to track performer progress against milestones, identify research gaps, and advise the Program Manager on program development and execution. Manage multiple priorities with minimal guidance while balancing technical and non-technical audiences. This remote position includes approximately 10-20% CONUS travel.
Required Qualifications
- PhD in a relevant field with 2+ years of experience
- Master's degree in a relevant field with 5+ years of experience
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field with 7+ years of experience
- Experience in plant toxicology and/or agricultural chemistry, including herbicide mechanisms of action, phytotoxicity, molecular markers, and environmental fate in soil, water, or ecological systems
- Experience developing and/or evaluating analytical chemistry methods for agricultural applications, field-deployable sensing platforms, biosensor-based detection systems, and spectroscopic or chromatographic techniques
- Ability to evaluate scientific and technical proposals, conduct literature reviews and technical due diligence, and translate complex findings into actionable recommendations
- Demonstrated record of producing high-quality technical reports, program documentation, project summaries, and briefing materials for technical and non-technical audiences
- Strong oral and written communication, organization, teamwork, and the ability to manage multiple priorities on short timelines with minimal guidance
- Advanced proficiency with Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel, including the ability to create and revise briefing slides and analytical files rapidly in high-pressure meeting environments
- Professional curiosity, adaptability, attention to detail, and a continuous drive for learning
- Ability to obtain a federal government Public Trust
- Familiarity with the Advanced Research Projects Agency model, including ARPA-H, DARPA, IARPA, ARPA-E, or U.S. Department of Defense advanced development programs
- Knowledge of AI-enabled and high-throughput methods for herbicide discovery, including biological herbicides, precision agriculture technologies, agrochemical remediation, and chemical sensing and detection
- Familiarity with USDA- and EPA-regulated agricultural technologies and policies, including relevant intersections with FDA-regulated biotechnology
- Experience coordinating independent verification and validation and overseeing programs supported through cooperative agreements, Other Transaction awards, milestone-based contracts, FFRDCs, interagency efforts, or commercialization activities
- Experience conducting market and regulatory analyses involving farming practices, agricultural chemicals, soil health, worker safety, consumer health, or related public-health considerations
- Familiarity with spectrometry and other non-contact chemical analysis methods for assessing the quality and safety of drugs or other medical products
- Experience supporting executives or program managers responsible for large-budget R&D portfolios
- Ability to anticipate and help mitigate ethical, legal, and societal implications associated with high-profile research programs
- Mastery of scientific literature, technical writing, and public presentations, with the ability to communicate across scientific, engineering, policy, and operational communities
- This is a remote position with approximately 10-20% CONUS travel
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