Postdoctoral Research Associate

Texas A&M University System • Bushland, TX

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Texas A&M AgriLife Research seeks a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to support research advancing nutrient management and air quality in livestock–crop production systems at the USDA-Agricultural Research Service Conservation and Production Research Laboratory (CPRL) at Bushland, TX. The successful candidate will develop and evaluate strategies that reduce nutrient losses from manure, assess fertilizer contributions of nearby feedyards to surrounding crop and forage production, and add value to abundant stocks of manure and agricultural biomass in the region. The postdoc will work closely with CPRL scientists and collaborators to conduct lab‑, pilot‑, and feedlot‑scale research to develop and evaluate approaches to reduce nutrient losses from manure and improve nutrient cycling in livestock–crop systems.

Requirements

• Earned Ph. D. in Soil Science, Animal Science, Agricultural Engineering, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Atmospheric Science, or a closely related field.
• Strong background in nutrient management, air quality, emissions monitoring, or livestock waste systems.
• Experience with data analysis, modeling (e. g., ammonia emissions or air quality models), and statistical software (R, SAS, Python, etc.).
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent and collaborative field and laboratory research.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with a track record of scientific writing.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and meet project deadlines.
• Valid Texas driver’s license.
• Ability and willingness to work outdoors in varying and adverse weather conditions characteristic of the Texas High Plains.

Nice To Haves

• Earned Ph.D. in Soil Science, Animal Science, Agricultural Engineering, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Atmospheric Science, or a closely related field within the past three years.
• Experience with open-path laser-based gas monitoring systems or similar instrumentation.
• Knowledge of CAFO operations, manure management, or High Plains agricultural systems.
• Familiarity with air pollution dispersion models such as CMAQ or STAGE.
• Peer-reviewed publication record.
• Grant writing or project management experience.

Responsibilities

• Complete data analysis for the ammonia-deposition project (ADAPT Phase I).
• Conduct ammonia emissions modeling for a local concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO), and prepare results for publication.
• Collaborate with USDA‑ARS workgroup contributing to enhancements of the USEPA CMAQ/STAGE model.
• Deploy an open‑path laser–based monitoring system for continuous ammonia and methane measurements at a local CAFO.
• Initiate and lead data collection, processing, and interpretation to support peer‑reviewed publications.
• Participate in weekly research meetings (in person or virtual).
• Lead the preparation of manuscripts, research presentations, and USDA‑ARS annual performance reports.
• Submit all resulting publications to the ARS Principal Investigator for inclusion in the USDA‑ARS publication database.
• Ensure all research data comply with USDA Departmental Regulation 1020‑006 (Public Access to Scholarly Publications and Digital Scientific Research Data) and ARS P&P 630 (Data Management & Public Access Requirements).

Benefits

• 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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree