This position is primarily based at the Fort Collins, CO campus location, providing the opportunity to work alongside exceptional plant improvement programs in wheat, maize, and sorghum as well as with faculty leading vibrant programs in microbiome research, plant metabolomics, and plant-microbe/insect interactions. The incumbent will also travel to work onsite with faculty, scientists, and staff at the San Luis Valley Research Center (SLVRC) in Center, CO. Currently, the potato improvement program is supported at the SLVRC by four research associates with expertise in classical field-, greenhouse-, and laboratory-based plant improvement approaches. This position also collaborates with the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station (CSU AES), the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee (CPAC), and the Colorado Certified Potato Growers Association (CCPGA). Stewarding and supporting these existing relationships and those with extension specialists and grower collaborators will be essential to the continued success of this program. The San Luis Valley Research Center is part of a network of 10 research centers throughout the state. The first San Luis Valley Research Center was estab...lished in 1888 (the same year the main station at Fort Collins was established) on 200 acres of state land near the Rio Grande River, seven miles east of Del Norte. The research center has a continuing commitment to the people of the San Luis Valley (SLV) and the State of Colorado to provide research information, conduct extension education and seed certification programs. Beginning in 1940, the principal research activity was focused on selecting potato varieties adaptable to the region. In 1979 a potato breeding program was initiated to complement the selection activity. Research on cultural practices including disease and pest studies was also conducted. In the early 1920s, the Colorado Certified Seed Growers Association initiated a seed certification program located on the Colorado State University campus which was co located at the SLVRC in 1964.