Studies commercial plants, animals and cultivation techniques to enhance the productivity of farms and agricultural industries.

Studies the environmental factors affecting commercial crop production, pasture growth, animal breeding, and the growth and health of forest trees; studies the effects of cultivation techniques, soils, insects and plant diseases on animal, crop and forest production; develops procedures and techniques for solving agricultural problems and improving the efficiency of production.

• Frequently works indoors in offices, laboratories, in universities, government or private research organisations.
• Works outdoors on orchards and farms to carry out fieldwork research unless based exclusively in a laboratory setting.
• Works with a range of living and dead plants and soils some of which may present bio-hazards. Protective equipment and clothing may be required.
• Works in adequately lit, heated, ventilated and clean, well maintained workspaces indoors. Outdoor venues may be cold, wet, dirty, dusty or hot.

• Medium physical demand. Frequently sits in office or laboratory.
• Frequently stands and walks in office, glasshouse, laboratory and when on-site to observe and collect samples.
• There is occasional lifting, carrying or pulling within medium to heavy physical range when working with soils, plants and related equipment.
• Occasional bending, squatting or crouching and stretching, twisting, climbing may be required in fieldwork.
• Occasional contact with skin irritants and/or water may be required.
• Protective clothing may be required.
• Driving may be required to undertake fieldwork.
• Occasional to frequent repetitive hand and finger movements are required when using hand-held objects and equipment including general laboratory equipment, computing, electronic microscopes, specimen preservation and storage tools and materials.
• Mental skills necessary include a high level of cognitive functioning with technical, computing, research, laboratory, analytical, report writing, communication, organisational, problem solving, and decision-making capabilities.

Master's degree or PhD in science in an area such as agricultural science, microbiology or biochemistry (ANZSCO Skill Level 1). In some instances particular experience and/or on-the-job training may be required.

There are opportunities for flexibility of movement.