Postdoctoral Research Associate

Job Title

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Agency

Texas A&M Agrilife Research

Department

Institute for Advancing Health through Agriculture-Project Management

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, 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.

About the Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture (IHA)

The Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture (IHA) is dedicated to optimizing health for current and future generations by connecting agriculture, food systems, and nutrition through innovative research. As diet-related chronic diseases continue to rise nationally—with more than half of American adults affected by conditions such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol—the IHA addresses these critical challenges with a multidisciplinary approach.

IHA’s mission is to reduce diet-related chronic diseases, lower health care costs, increase nutrition security, eliminate health inequities, and transform agricultural ecosystems to ensure both economic viability and environmental sustainability. Research at IHA spans three integrated disciplines: Precision Nutrition, Responsive Agriculture, and Healthy Living—leveraging expertise from leading scientists to drive impactful solutions.

Through partnerships, scholarship, and outreach, the IHA is advancing healthy and sustainable food systems and empowering Texas communities to live healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Explore our current projects and learn how you can be part of this transformative mission.

Click here to learn more about joining AgriLife!

Position Information

The Postdoctoral Research Associate scientifically supports and manages “Hungry Minds: Neurophysiological Studies of Nutritional Quality and Cognitive Resources,” a collaboration between Texas A&M AgriLife Research and USDA-ARS. The project conducts a randomized controlled trial to examine the effect of dietary intake on cognitive performance, emotion regulation, and behavioral economics outcomes. The project integrates behavioral economics and neurophysiological measures, including EEG and eye tracking, with dietary, anthropometric, biochemical, and clinical assessments.

Responsibilities:

• Assists with research study implementation.
• Develops and maintains IRB protocols and ensures regulatory compliance.
• Supports participant recruitment, screening, enrollment, and scheduling.
• Assists with intervention compliance monitoring.
• Collects data at HBL and IHA Mobile Health Assessment Centers.
• Cleans, merges, and documents data.
• Conducts preliminary statistical analyses.
• Develops online data collection tools.
• Contributes to literature reviews, reports, manuscripts, presentations, and grant proposals.
• Summarizes study results.
• Communicates study progress and data needs to the research team while safeguarding confidential participant information.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• PhD degree in Nutrition, Behavioral Economics, Neuroscience, Public Health, or related fields.
• Previous experience conducting clinical studies or human subject research.

• Knowledge of statistical analysis packages and database applications.

• Experience with IRB applications.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational kills.
• Ability to work independently, multitask, and work cooperatively with others.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Research data management and analysis, and online data collection tools such as Qualtrics or REDCap.
• Experience with polyphenols or dietary/nutritional interventions.
• Experience using neurophysiological measures, including EEG, eye tracking, or facial expression analysis.

Other Requirements:

• Work beyond normal business hours and/or work on weekends.
• Travels to various field site locations (e.g., counties, field sites).
• Ability to lift or move light, moderate, or heavy objects.
• Ability to work outdoors in variable weather conditions.

What You Need to Know

Salary: Compensation is commensurate with the candidate’s qualifications.

Position Funding: This is a 3-year position funded through grants or contracts. Employment is contingent upon the continued availability of funding and satisfactory job performance. 

Important Notice Regarding H1-B Sponsorship:

Your employment at Texas A&M AgriLife may require nonimmigrant sponsorship. A Presidential proclamation issued on September 19, 2025, imposes a $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025. Texas A&M AgriLife will NOT pay this fee. If the fee is imposed on your petition, this offer of employment will be revoked. If actions taken during your employment result in the imposition of this fee, your employment will be terminated. To the extent that this statement conflicts with any applicable System or member Policy, Regulation, or Rule, this statement will control. We recommend that you consult with your private immigration counsel at your own expense regarding potential implications.

In addition, on January 27, 2026, Texas Governor Abbott issued a moratorium on the filing of any new H-1B unless approved by the Texas Workforce Commission. Accordingly, if you will now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status this moratorium may affect our ability to employ you should you be selected as the final candidate.

Benefits and Leave:

• Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance (AgriLife contributes to premiums)
• 12–15 annual paid holidays
• Up to 8 hours/month sick leave and at least 8 hours/month vacation
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
• Employee Wellness Initiative
• Access to ongoing professional development and training through Aspire, LinkedIn Learning, and internally developed programs

How to Apply

Applications must include all job application data or a complete resume. Incomplete applications may be rejected. Applicants are encouraged to upload a resume or use LinkedIn to prepopulate application fields. 

Required Documents:

• CV / Resume
• Cover Letter
• List of ReferencesCertifications / Additional Documentation (if applicable)

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.