Undergraduate Employment

The interdisciplinary Center for Agricultural Profitability is based in the Department of Agricultural Economics. It facilitates faculty research, conducts extension outreach related to agricultural profitability and farm and ranch management and trains undergraduate and graduate students — all to support informed decision-making in agriculture.

The Center for Agricultural Profitability offers a number of temporary student worker positions open to undergraduates at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Updated openings are posted below. Questions? Contact our center's director, Larry Van Tassell, at lvantassell2@unl.edu.

Current Openings

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Basis Publication Intern

POSITION TITLE	Basis Publication Intern
POSITION DESCRIPTION	Update and Modernize University of Nebraska Basis Publications. The student would update UNL basis publications with missing years for multiple crops and help modernize data collection with technology. Student would assist in creating interactive web-based basis maps. Gain experience in how university Extension provides data to stakeholders. Gain experience in grain marketing.
ESTIMATED HOURS PER WEEK	5
ESTIMATED WAGE	$12+/hour (based on education/experience)
DURATION OF WORK	ASAP until project completion.
STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS	Anyone with an interest in computer commodity marketing and/or computer programs.

Apply for Basis Publication Intern

Enterprise Budget Assistant for Ag Budget Calculator Program

POSITION TITLE	Enterprise Budget Assistant for Ag Budget Calculator Program
POSITION DESCRIPTION	Seeking an agriculture economics undergraduate student with an interest in enterprise budgeting to assist with enterprise budget entries into the Ag Budget Calculator program. The new 2023 UNL Crop Budgets will need added to the ABC program this fall. Students will become familiar with the program, which could lead to additional opportunities to work with the program in the future. Students will have an opportunity to test the program and make suggestions as its development continues, including management decision points and livestock budgets.
ESTIMATED HOURS PER WEEK	10-15
ESTIMATED WAGE	$12+/hour (based on education/experience)
DURATION OF WORK	4-6 weeks (primary time period would be October to November 2022)
STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS	At least 2nd or 3rd year student interested in farm & ranch management and who has taken at least two ag economics courses.

Apply for Enterprise Budget Assistant for Ag Budget Calculator Program

Ethanol Plant Analysis Intern

POSITION TITLE	Ethanol Plant Analysis Intern
POSITION DESCRIPTION	Evaluate grain marketing opportunities for producers with a nearby ethanol plant. The student would help assist in the analysis of whether a nearby ethanol plant improves grain marketing opportunities. Gain experience in how university Extension provides data to stakeholders. Gain applied experience in grain marketing.
ESTIMATED HOURS PER WEEK	10
ESTIMATED WAGE	$12+/hour (based on education/experience)
DURATION OF WORK	August 2022 through the winter.
STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS	Anyone with an interest in commodity marketing.

Apply for Ethanol Plant Analyst Intern

Farm Financial Management Intern

POSITION TITLE	Farm Financial Management Intern
POSITION DESCRIPTION	Assist the Center for Ag Profitability transition their Extension farm financial management course to the online platform Canvas. Update course content, using the latest research and information in the field of farm finance, and insights gleaned from previous course evaluations Recommend ways to modify course activities to be more interactive for online participants. Work with Center for Ag Profitability faculty to develop new modules and activities, and update video content. Review certification requirements from USDA and Nebraska Department of Agriculture. Ensure program meets minimum standards for certification and University “badging” requirements. Prepare materials to receive certification approval. Attend synchronous course activities to gain insight into participant needs. Review course statistics, and evaluations. Recommend future amendments.
ESTIMATED HOURS PER WEEK	5-10
ESTIMATED WAGE	$12+/hour (based on education/experience)
DURATION OF WORK	At least two semesters.
STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS	Sophomore+ Interest in agricultural economics, agricultural business, farm financial management, extension, or agricultural education. Willingness to learn software: Canvas, Articulate, video editing etc. Ability to work in a remote environment. Solid math and writing skills.

Apply for Farm Financial Management Intern

Land Link Intern

POSITION TITLE	Land Link Intern
POSITION DESCRIPTION	The Land Link Intern will expand the Nebraska Land Link program’s communications protocols, recruitment model, and data management systems. Our Intern will streamline the application process for land-seeking and land-owning program participants while also improving Land Link’s databases and analytics to track program reach, participant engagement, and the outcomes of land exchanges.
ESTIMATED HOURS PER WEEK	5-10 (remote work is an option)
ESTIMATED WAGE	$12+/hour (based on education/experience)
DURATION OF WORK	1-2 semesters.
STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS	Sophomore+ Interest in agricultural economics, agricultural business, farm management, estate and transition planning, agricultural law, extension, or agricultural education. Willingness to learn software: Microsoft Teams, Excel etc. Ability to work in a remote environment. Solid math and writing skills.

Apply for Land Link Intern

Livestock Risk Management Program Evaluator Intern

POSITION TITLE	Livestock Risk Management Program Evaluator Intern
POSITION DESCRIPTION	Design a program evaluation form for livestock risk management workshops Administer program evaluation form to participants that previously attended a workshop Clean and format responses Write a 3-5 page report summarizing findings and recommendations for improvement
ESTIMATED HOURS PER WEEK	5-7
ESTIMATED WAGE	$12+/hour (based on education/experience)
DURATION OF WORK	Sept. 1-Dec. 31 (possibility for renewal during spring semester depending on performance)
STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS	Any year, no previous qualifications necessary.

Apply for Livestock Risk Management Program Evaluator Intern

MINE Game Intern

POSITION TITLE	MINE Game Intern
POSITION DESCRIPTION	Update and Improve Game Flow of the Marketing In a New Era (MINE) Marketing Simulation Game The student would update the MINE game with recent futures and basis data. The student would provide guidance on how to improve game flow and work with the programmer to implement the improvements. Gain experience in how university Extension provides web-based programming to stakeholders. Gain applied experience in a simulated grain marketing world.
ESTIMATED HOURS PER WEEK	5
ESTIMATED WAGE	$12+/hour (based on education/experience)
DURATION OF WORK	ASAP until project completion.
STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS	Anyone with an interest in commodity marketing and/or computer programs/games.

Apply for MINE Game Intern

Winter Cow Care Entrepreneurship Intern

POSITION TITLE	Winter Cow Care Entrepreneurship Intern
POSITION DESCRIPTION	An opportunity for young people to get into the beef business is by doing winter cow care. Developing trust and good relationships are keys to success and a well-documented plan is an important aspect of doing it. This internship will support the work of the UNL Beef Extension team and CAP to develop opportunities for young people to become involved in the beef industry while serving an important industry need. The intern will help research and develop Extension materials for the following components to support a winter cow care enterprise: Developing the cow care agreement Developing a cow health plan Developing a cow nutrition plan Leasing agreements for grazing corn stalks (or other feed resources); including contingency plan for ice/heavy snow Budgeting and cash flow
ESTIMATED HOURS PER WEEK	Up to 20
ESTIMATED WAGE	$12+/hour (based on education/experience)
DURATION OF WORK	The opportunity is available immediately and is expected to last for the 2022-2023 academic year. The position includes opportunities for potential transition to other undergraduate research projects, graduate enrollment, and assistantship funding.
STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS	Open to upper-class undergraduate student with demonstrated expertise in farm and ranch management through coursework, research, or other experiences. Preference given to students enrolled in The Engler Entrepreneurship Program.

Apply for Winter Cow Care Entrepreneurship Intern

August 16, 2022