Field Research Intern – Remote Sensing

About Pivot Bio: 

Fueled by an innovative drive and a deep understanding of the soil microbiome, Pivot Bio is pioneering game-changing advances in agriculture. Our first commercial product harnesses the power of naturally-occurring microbes to provide nutrients to crops.  We are dedicated to providing new sustainable ways for farmers to improve yield as they work to help feed the world’s growing population. Read/Hear more about Pivot Bio on OneZero or CNN. 

Position: Field Research Intern – Remote Sensing, (Location: Cape Girardeau, MO)

Paid Internship

Start Date - May 10, 2021 (flexible)

3 Month Commitment

Are you someone interested in gaining hands on experience with the latest technology in agriculture research or in applying image analysis for processing drone imagery? Pivot Bio is looking for a qualified candidate to assist in a number of different field research projects. As a company, we are proactively working to change how farmers apply fertilizer, maximizing yield and lowering our impact on the environment. The successful candidate for this position will help Pivot Bio’s Product Development team continue to prove how microbes are changing the way we feed the world. Responsibilities of this position will include frequent visits to the field to monitor crop conditions, collect data using state-of-the-art equipment such as drones, thermal cameras, RTK GNSS, etc., and finally process, organize, and statistically assess data collected during visits.

Responsibilities:

• Assist in field data collection by conducting drone flights, collecting crop tissue samples, operating handheld sensors and GNSS equipment, etc.
• Support the Agronomy team with regular field observations and updates  
• Perform image orthorectification and mosaicking
• Perform basic image analysis
• Assist in data ingestion and quality control
• Program simple scripts to automate processing workflow
• Other duties as assigned

Physical Demands 

• Routinely walking, scouting, sampling, and working in production corn fields with varying summer elements 
• Driving between farm sites and other locations as needed 
• Regularly lifting objects (up to 60lbs) 

Qualifications and Experience

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or higher degree in Agronomy, Agricultural Engineering, Crop Sciences, Soil Science, Ecology, Geography, GIS, Remote Sensing, and/or related field
• Experience working with remotely sensed data in a geospatial software
• Preferred, experience with geospatial software such as QGIS/ArcGIS
• Preferred, experience with stitching software such as Pix4D, AgiSoft, or DroneDeploy
• Preferred, experience programming in Python, R, or related languages
• Preferred, has a FAA Part 107 Drone License
• Valid driver’s license with a safe driving record with dependable vehicle, mileage reimbursed 
• Strong verbal and communication skills 
• Ability to self-manage time and execute on assigned responsibilities 
• Must live in assigned territory for the duration of internship 

Must be authorized to work in the United States

What we offer:

• Exciting opportunity to contribute to and work with a talented and fun team

• Opportunity to gain real-world, practical experience in your field of interest