Postdoctoral Research Associate

Job Title

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Agency

Texas A&M Agrilife Research

Department

Vernon

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Vernon, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

About Texas A&M AgriLife

Texas A&M AgriLife is comprised of the following Texas A&M University System members:

• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
• Texas A&M AgriLife Research
• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University
• Texas A&M Forest Service
• Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory
  
  

As the nation’s largest most comprehensive agriculture program, Texas A&M AgriLife brings together a college and four state agencies focused on agriculture and life sciences within The Texas A&M University System. With over 5,000 employees and a presence in every county across the state, Texas A&M AgriLife is uniquely positioned to improve lives, environments and the Texas economy through education, research, extension and service.

Click here to learn more about how you can be a part of AgriLife and make a difference in the world!

Position Information

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will assist the project leader (Associate Professor/Geospatial Hydrologist) in research projects related to the development and evaluation of decision support tools for crop production in semi-arid regions under the current and future climate change scenarios.

Responsibilities

• Conduct interdisciplinary research in the following areas: i) assess the long-term effects of changes in land use (e.g., row crops to perennial forages) and management practices (e.g., grazing) on soil health indicators, ecosystem services, and climate adaptation, ii) evaluate the long-term impacts of using treated produced water for regenerative crop production on water catchment functions, soil carbon sequestration, soil health indicators, and climate resiliency. The candidate is also expected to contribute to ongoing research projects focused on identifying alternative field and forage crops, assessing crop transition strategies, and developing and evaluating efficient irrigation strategies/decision support tools, as needed.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams and contribute to various research activities, including ecosystem modeling; downloading and processing projected future climate data; designing and conducting field experiments; procuring necessary field and laboratory equipment and supplies; and collecting and analyzing research data, including imagery from unpiloted aerial systems (UAS).
• Prepare research manuscripts for publication based on modeling and fieldwork results. Assist in the development of grant proposals by conducting literature reviews and contributing to the collection, analysis, and interpretation of preliminary data.
• Train technicians and graduate students in modeling, research planning, execution of research experiments, and data analysis techniques.
• Participate in field days, conferences, and stakeholder meetings to present research findings to consumers, growers, researchers, and policy makers, as directed.
• Install, maintain, and operate laboratory and field equipment, as required.
• Perform other duties as necessary.
  
  

Required Qualifications

• Earned Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering, Water Management and Hydrologic Science, Agronomy, Soil Science, Ecosystem Science or closely related field at the time of appointment.
• Proven experience in independently executing complex and high-responsibility assignments in support of research objectives, under the direction of a supervisor.
• Demonstrated expertise in hydrologic, water quality, crop, and ecosystem modeling.
• Strong computer and statistical programming skills, with proficiency in languages such as R and Python.
• Experience in GIS, remote sensing, and processing projected climate data.
• Proven ability to manage multiple tasks effectively, work collaboratively in team environments, and communicate fluently in English.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Skills in the setup, instrumentation, and maintenance of sensors and sensor networks; experience in applying machine learning models and processing imagery from UAS and satellite platforms.
  
  

Other Requirements

• Willingness to work irregular hours and in occasionally adverse weather conditions.
• Flexible and open to reassignment to other funded research projects during the project duration.
• Must be able to travel overnight as needed and lift or move heavy objects such as 50 lbs or more.
  
  

What You Need To Know

Salary: Compensation for this position is commensurate based on the selected candidate’s qualifications.

Why Work at Texas A&M AgriLife?

When you choose to work for Texas A&M AgriLife, you become part of an organization that is an established leader in agriculture and life sciences with a wide range of capabilities to meet the needs of our statewide, national, and international constituents.

In addition, Texas A&M AgriLife offers a comprehensive benefit package including the following:

• Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M AgriLife contributing to employee health and basic life premiums
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
• Employee Wellness Initiative for Texas A&M AgriLife
  
  

Applicant Instructions

Applications received by Texas A&M AgriLife must either have all job application data entered or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume or use a LinkedIn profile to prepopulate the online application.

Please combine: i) a cover letter clearly explaining your research interests/experience and suitability for the advertised position (2 pages maximum), ii) an updated CV, and iii) a list of three references into a single PDF document and upload it.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.