Jarsm Russell
Agriculture Specialist
Union,NJ
Summary
Detail-oriented team player with strong organizational skills. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy. An agriculture professional with more than five years of experience working in agriculture, biodiversity conservation, natural resource management and community engagement. My experience includes R&D, agriculture extension, food security, forest governance, integrated pest management, protected area management, sustainable livelihood interventions, capacity development, and behavior change communication. With experience in the socio-economic and environmental dimensions of natural resource management. I am interested in research and development focused on agriculture and food security. Toward this goal, I have a keen interest in working with institutions to promote sustainable food systems through interventions that enhance well-being, reduce poverty, and promote a healthy environment.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
7
7
years of post-secondary education
2
2
Certifications
Work History
R&D Specialist (Strawberry)
Bowery Farming
Kearny, NJ
01.2023 - Current
- Responsible for the execution of strawberry farming and related tasks in the R&D farms.
- Worked closely with the supervisors, team leads and scientists to execute the day to day operations of the R&D farms including seeding, transplanting, data collection, irrigation and harvesting.
- Collected specialized R&D data, crop management and recipes configurations partnering with R&D experiment coordinator, R&D team leads and scientist on experiment design, execution, crop monitoring and on continuous improvement projects.
- Contributed to team tasks (compliance, plant health survey and maintenance, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), mixing nutrients and chemical compounds).
R&D Modern Farmer
Bowery Farming
Kearny, NJ
08.2022 - 12.2022
- Responsible for executing farming and R&D-related tasks in the R&D facility
- Worked closely with the Farm Manager to execute the day-to-day operations of the Farm including seeding, transplanting, and harvesting
- Collected relevant data on the performance of various plants to feed into the R&D performance system of the farm.
Collaborative Integrated Management Intern
Ecoagriculture Partners
Washington, DC
06.2022 - 08.2022
- Responsible for supporting the development of knowledge products that examine ways that Integrated Landscape Management (ILM) can affect food and livelihood security, climate adaptation and resilience, and related socio-ecological outcomes;
- Supported the Capacity Strengthening Design Team of the 1000 Landscapes initiatives in co- designing, developing, and testing learning modules that strengthen the capacities of landscape partners to practice ILM in ways that generate benefits for diverse stakeholders;
- Provided support on funding proposals that will enable the expansion of our program to reach more landscapes and accelerate our learning about scaling ILM;
- Supported the convening of diverse organizations involved in the '1000 landscape' initiative for assessment, planning, and capacity strengthening.
Technical Assistant (Governance & Livelihood)
Fauna & Flora International
Sinoe, Liberia
03.2021 - 08.2021
- Responsible for documenting and carrying out scientific research on the current agricultural practices in the Sapo Landscape to inform Fauna & Flora's (FFI) livelihood project interventions;
- Led the technical implementation of a conservation agriculture research and field pilot program to facilitate farming practices that enhance local livelihood;
- Worked with the local community members, especially women interested in conservation agriculture, to set up a network of local farmers to facilitate the work and act as a support system for community members implementing this work;
- Supported the establishment of other livelihood pilot activities, including honey production and vegetable farming, which helped diversify the income t source of beneficiaries, most of whom were women;
- Responsible for supervising all the Environmental Educational Clubs (EE Clubs) established in 24 schools around the park;
- Was the field lead in implementing project monitoring and evaluation to ensure compliance with donors' requirements (USAID);
- Responsible for generating technical reports and developing articles and communication materials on the livelihood and governance components of the projects.
Intern/ Research Assistant
Fauna & Flora International, Sapo National Park
Sinoe County, Liberia
08.2018 - 02.2021
- Supported the project technical team in implementing various activities on protected area management;
- Focused primarily on community engagement activities;
- Engaged with the fringe community members of Sapo National Park to understand, research and document the various farming practices;
- Led the design and piloting of conservation agriculture practice as a livelihood intervention in fringe communities of Sapo National Park;
- Worked with the project technical lead to develop communication materials on various conservation messages as a part of the awareness-raising campaigns;
- Supported the other technical team in carrying out biodiversity surveys, socio-economic surveys, and community engagement meetings to build support for biodiversity conservation.
Education
Master of Professional Studies - Global Development - International Agriculture and Rural Development
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 08.2021 - 05.2022
Bachelor of Science - Crop Science - Horticulture
University of Botswana
Gaborone, Botswana 08.2013 - 10.2017
No Degree - Soil Science – Agronomy
University of Liberia
Monrovia, Liberia 08.2011 - 07.2013
Skills
Scientific Writing, Research & Information Analysis, Project Management, Data Entryundefined
Affiliations
- Field Training for Conservation Agriculture Technicians, Lofa, Liberia (October 2019)
- Organizing Committee, Pygmy Hippo (Choeropsis liberiensis) Regional Conservation Strategy Workshop, Monrovia, Liberia, (July 2019)
- Member, National Species Working Group of Liberia
Certification
Monitoring & Evaluation
Timeline
R&D Specialist (Strawberry)
Bowery Farming
01.2023 - Current
R&D Modern Farmer
Bowery Farming
08.2022 - 12.2022
Collaborative Integrated Management Intern
Ecoagriculture Partners
06.2022 - 08.2022
Human Subjects Research (IRB) Training
03-2022
Master of Professional Studies - Global Development - International Agriculture and Rural Development
Cornell University
08.2021 - 05.2022
Technical Assistant (Governance & Livelihood)
Fauna & Flora International
03.2021 - 08.2021
Monitoring & Evaluation
12-2018
Intern/ Research Assistant
Fauna & Flora International, Sapo National Park
08.2018 - 02.2021
Bachelor of Science - Crop Science - Horticulture
University of Botswana
08.2013 - 10.2017
No Degree - Soil Science – Agronomy
University of Liberia
08.2011 - 07.2013
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