Jobs and Internships

Available positions for the Smart Foodscapes Project

Jobs
Please check back in January when we start hiring for summer field technicians! Below is an example of what we will be looking for summer of 2026. Please check the USU Job board and handshake sites for current job listings. Links are below. Field Technician - Posted 1/16/2026 Job Description RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES: The purpose of this part-time position is to help conduct innovative pasture research on cattle performance, diet selection and environmental impact. The project is funded by a USDA NIFA Sustainable Agriculture Systems Coordinated Agricultural Project (CAP) grant focused on creating landscape interventions through the establishment of “islands” of diverse legumes and forbs in rangelands in order to enhance the sustainability of livestock production systems. Responsibilities include handling livestock, measuring pasture and animal productivity, preparing rations and determining food intake. Training cattle to methane collection equipment at the USU South Farm and fencing grazing plots at the USU Richmond Farm. The incumbent will also be involved in the care of animals and in the maintenance of research facilities at the Green Canyon Ecology Center. Knowledge, skill and ability requirements Experience with cattle handling and animal husbandry practices. Experience with electric fencing. Experience with grazing settings is preferred Starting part-time May-August Pay rate: Starting at $20/hour.
How to apply: https://usu.joinhandshake.com/login Students will use their A# to log in Job #10715890

Jobs

Please check back in January when we start hiring for summer field technicians! Below is an example of what we will be looking for summer of 2026. Please check the USU Job board and handshake sites for current job listings. Links are below.

Field Technician - Posted 1/16/2026

Job Description

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

The purpose of this part-time position is to help conduct innovative pasture research on cattle performance, diet selection and environmental impact. The project is funded by a USDA NIFA Sustainable Agriculture Systems Coordinated Agricultural Project (CAP) grant focused on creating landscape interventions through the establishment of “islands” of diverse legumes and forbs in rangelands in order to enhance the sustainability of livestock production systems. Responsibilities include handling livestock, measuring pasture and animal productivity, preparing rations and determining food intake. Training cattle to methane collection equipment at the USU South Farm and fencing grazing plots at the USU Richmond Farm. The incumbent will also be involved in the care of animals and in the maintenance of research facilities at the Green Canyon Ecology Center.

Knowledge, skill and ability requirements

Experience with cattle handling and animal husbandry practices.
Experience with electric fencing.
Experience with grazing settings is preferred
Starting part-time May-August

Pay rate: Starting at $20/hour.

How to apply:

https://usu.joinhandshake.com/login

Students will use their A# to log in

Job #10715890

QANR Undergraduate Research Grants
The Smart Foodscapes Project aims at enhancing the biodiversity of rangelands by seeding patches or “islands” with an array of different forage species across a “sea” of monotonous grass. A diversity of deep-rooted perennial legumes and non-legume forbs high in nutrients and functional biochemicals can be grown and stockpiled in resource patches across the landscape to be used as low-cost supplementation for beef cattle to increase productivity and biodiversity while reducing environmental impacts. Thus, the long-term goal of this project is to improve the economic and environmental sustainability of beef production systems in the western U.S. through the establishment of islands of multifunctional diversity in the landscape. Any registered undergraduate student majoring in a Quinney College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (QANR) degree program of sophomore rank or above who is in good academic standing is eligible to apply for a QANR Undergraduate Research Grant (URG) to support the development and completion of an independent research project. Students may receive a maximum of $2,500 in QANR undergraduate research funding (including scholarships, travel and research support) during their undergraduate degree program. 24% of QANR students participate in undergraduate research projects, more than any other USU college. To receive an undergraduate research grant, students should work with a faculty member to develop a plan for a project that can be completed in one or two semesters. You can start by talking with any of your professors—most have ongoing projects that you can join and make your own contribution to! What the Grants Will Support QANR Undergraduate Research Grants will provide funds for any combination of these categories, with a maximum of $1,500 total for a 15-week project or $2,500 for a project spanning two 15-week periods: Research Costs (up to $1,000 per project): Materials and supplies Costs of sample processing in service labs Research-related travel to field sites Student scholarship to assist with living expenses while planning and conducting research (up to $1,000 per 15-week period and up to a maximum of $2,000 during their undergraduate degree program). Please visit qanr.usu.edu/students/undergraduate-research/ to submit an application. For questions, please contact QANR Smart Foodscapes Program Manager, Resha Whitaker, resha.whitaker@usu.edu

QANR Undergraduate Research Grants

The Smart Foodscapes Project aims at enhancing the biodiversity of rangelands by seeding patches or “islands” with an array of different forage species across a “sea” of monotonous grass. A diversity of deep-rooted perennial legumes and non-legume forbs high in nutrients and functional biochemicals can be grown and stockpiled in resource patches across the landscape to be used as low-cost supplementation for beef cattle to increase productivity and biodiversity while reducing environmental impacts.

Thus, the long-term goal of this project is to improve the economic and environmental sustainability of beef production systems in the western U.S. through the establishment of islands of multifunctional diversity in the landscape.

Any registered undergraduate student majoring in a Quinney College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (QANR) degree program of sophomore rank or above who is in good academic standing is eligible to apply for a QANR Undergraduate Research Grant (URG) to support the development and completion of an independent research project.

Students may receive a maximum of $2,500 in QANR undergraduate research funding (including scholarships, travel and research support) during their undergraduate degree program.

24% of QANR students participate in undergraduate research projects, more than any other USU college.

To receive an undergraduate research grant, students should work with a faculty member to develop a plan for a project that can be completed in one or two semesters. You can start by talking with any of your professors—most have ongoing projects that you can join and make your own contribution to!

What the Grants Will Support
QANR Undergraduate Research Grants will provide funds for any combination of these categories, with a maximum of $1,500 total for a 15-week project or $2,500 for a project spanning two 15-week periods:

Research Costs (up to $1,000 per project):

Materials and supplies
Costs of sample processing in service labs
Research-related travel to field sites

Student scholarship to assist with living expenses while planning and conducting research (up to $1,000 per 15-week period and up to a maximum of $2,000 during their undergraduate degree program).

Please visit qanr.usu.edu/students/undergraduate-research/ to submit an application.

For questions, please contact QANR Smart Foodscapes Program Manager, Resha Whitaker, resha.whitaker@usu.edu

Internships
Smart Foodscapes Project – Internship Program (2 Positions) Description We are seeking applicants to assist our Research and Education teams in creating more sustainable rangelands for beef production systems Duties Successful applicants will assist in cattle grazing trials, and in the preparation and seeding of research plots containing a diversity of legume and forb species at the USU Richmond farm facility. Incumbents will collect plant establishment and production data, as well as animal performance data, welfare and environmental impact parameters. Qualifications Junior or high-school students with an interest in applications of biology in the areas of natural resources, agriculture or animal sciences. Applicants must have the ability to learn new skills rapidly and effectively as well as take instruction and conduct field work as directed. Salary: $15/h Number of Openings: 2 Closing Date: applications will be accepted until May 20, 2024. Employment Dates: May-July 2024. Application How to Apply - Apply on USU Job Board. Or please send the following information: Please include a cover letter and your resume. Email to: Juan.Villalba@usu.edu - subject line "Smart Foodscapes Internship" Juan Villalba Professor Department of Wildland Resources Utah State University 5230 Old Main Hill Logan, Utah 84322-5230 Ph: 435-797-2539 Fax: 435-797-3796 Email: Juan.Villalba@usu.edu web: https://www.usu.edu/smart-foodscapes/

Internships

Smart Foodscapes Project – Internship Program (2 Positions)

Description

We are seeking applicants to assist our Research and Education teams in creating more sustainable rangelands for beef production systems

Duties
Successful applicants will assist in cattle grazing trials, and in the preparation and seeding of research plots containing a diversity of legume and forb species at the USU Richmond farm facility. Incumbents will collect plant establishment and production data, as well as animal performance data, welfare and environmental impact parameters.

Qualifications
Junior or high-school students with an interest in applications of biology in the areas of natural resources, agriculture or animal sciences. Applicants must have the ability to learn new skills rapidly and effectively as well as take instruction and conduct field work as directed.

Salary: $15/h
Number of Openings: 2
Closing Date: applications will be accepted until May 20, 2024.

Employment Dates: May-July 2024.

Application
How to Apply - Apply on USU Job Board. Or please send the following information:

Please include a cover letter and your resume.
Email to: Juan.Villalba@usu.edu - subject line "Smart Foodscapes Internship"

Juan Villalba
Professor
Department of Wildland Resources
Utah State University
5230 Old Main Hill
Logan, Utah 84322-5230
Ph: 435-797-2539
Fax: 435-797-3796
Email: Juan.Villalba@usu.edu
web: https://www.usu.edu/smart-foodscapes/