Postdoctoral Research Associate

Job Title

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Agency

Texas A&M Agrilife Research

Department

Lubbock

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Lubbock, 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 and 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:

Texas A&M AgriLife Research is seeking applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work closely with Drs. Joseph Burke and Katie Lewis, along with other faculty at Texas A&M AgriLife Research, and industry collaborators on an industry-funded project to determine the impact of variety × irrigation timing × fertilizer application timing on cotton growth, development, and yield in the semi-arid Texas High Plains. The Texas High Plains account for nearly 40% of the U.S. cotton production annually, but diminishing groundwater quantity and quality threaten the region's production capacity. Ultimately, this project aims to support cotton farmers in taking bold and decisive actions to better manage these environmental challenges.

Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will lead efforts to design and implement innovative and regenerative cotton production systems that integrate novel irrigation and fertility management strategies. To enhance agricultural production for cotton farmers, the postdoctoral research associate is expected to manage the project in order to generate new insights on the climate resilience of cotton and the preservation of dwindling irrigation resources. The postdoctoral research associate is expected to lead field experiments, collect data on soil, water, plants, and climate, analyze the data, interpret the results, present findings at local, regional, and national meetings, and prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Physical activities, including extensive fieldwork, travel, heavy lifting, and working in extreme environments, will be required. Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in soil science, agronomy, crop physiology, or related fields, with a focus on nutrient management, soil water dynamics, or plant physiology.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Excellent English oral, written, and electronic communication skills.

• Ability to work both independently and as a member of a multidisciplinary team.

• Ability to communicate effectively with various audiences

• Knowledge of advanced statistical models/tools.

• Experience with large, varied datasets.

• Experience working with soil, water, and plant sensors and remote sensing technology.

Other Requirements:

• This position requires physical activities, including extensive fieldwork, heavy lifting, and working in extreme environments.

• This position requires travel.

What You Need to Know:

This position is available in Spring 2026, with guaranteed funding through June 2028.

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

Position Funding: Job continuation and extension are contingent upon employee performance & funding availability. The project is fully supported through June 2028.

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; and

·         Employee Wellness Initiative for Texas A&M AgriLife

Applicant Instructions:

Applications received by Texas A&M AgriLife must either include all required job application data or have 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.

Closing Date for Applications:

Applications will be reviewed immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Required Documents:

Send a copy of your cover letter, CV, and all post-secondary transcripts to [email protected].

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.