Postdoctoral Research Associate

Texas A&M University System • Dallas, TX

3d

About The Position

Texas A&M AgriLife’s Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture (IHA) Healthy Living program, based at the AgriLife Center at Dallas, is seeking applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate with a focus on the effect of physical activity on mental health outcomes under the mentorship of Dr. Chad Rethorst. The successful candidate will join a cohort of Postdoctoral Research Associates within the Health Living Research team, create an Individual Development Plan in close collaboration with Dr. Rethorst, receive training in grant writing, and have opportunities for research dissemination through published manuscripts and conference presentations. Further, the successful candidate will be actively engaged in a planned pilot trial of resistance training for men with depression and have opportunities to contribute to other active research projects (evaluation of app-based cardiovascular disease prevention intervention, microrandomized trials to support development of just-in-time adaptative interventions target physical activity and dietary behaviors). Texas A&M AgriLife is an organization that supports healthy living for all Texans, through the research of tailored agricultural practices that yield nutritious food sources, outreach programs that train community members on growing their own food, and preservation of natural resources via eco-friendly means, all while following practices that lead to a stronger Texas economy. Overseen by the Office of the Vice Chancellor and Dean for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M AgriLife includes the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences at Texas A&M University, Texas A&M Forest Service, and Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. The Texas A&M AgriLife Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture (IHA) is the world’s first academic institute to bring together precision nutrition, responsive agriculture, and social and behavioral healthy living research to reduce diet-related chronic disease in a way that considers environmental and economic factors. The IHA unites experts from various fields such as agriculture, nutrition, behavioral sciences, exercise physiology, health communications, public health, social sciences, life sciences, engineering, data and computation science, and economics. Healthy Living implements, evaluates, and disseminates scientific solutions, applicable to all Texans, for improved public health. The Healthy Living team works on a broad portfolio of extramurally funded, community-engaged research and active collaborations with community partners, cooperative extension, and many academic and nonprofit organizations throughout Texas and beyond. We aim to understand the means of building communities around healthy living and about facilitating the delivery of current, accurate, evidence-based programs, guidelines, and information that supports healthier living for Texans. Areas of particular interest to Healthy Living include health promotion, food access, food systems, food and nutrition insecurity, dietary patterns and behaviors, diet/food interventions, program development and evaluation, physical activity behaviors and intervention development, policy system and environmental change, citizen science and community-engaged research, and mHealth technologies and interventions. The IHA’s Healthy Living program is housed at the Texas A&M AgriLife Center at Dallas, which focuses on scientific research, public outreach, and education programs. The Center is a regional hub for Texas A&M AgriLife activity. It is one of 13 AgriLife Centers across the state - each focusing on issues specific to their region. Broad focus areas at the Dallas Center include healthy living, urban agriculture and forestry, and water and land resource management.

Requirements

• PhD in related field (e.g., Kinesiology, Public Health, Psychology).
• Appropriate research background, as demonstrated by publications in peer-reviewed journals, grant funding, and stature appropriate for a postdoctoral scholar.
• Professional demeanor and demonstrated ability to manage and safeguard confidential information with the utmost discretion and professionalism, ensuring sensitive data is handled securely and in compliance with privacy policies.
• Ability to take initiative, work independently, multitask, work cooperatively with others, and manage priorities and tasks as assigned.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others.

Nice To Haves

• Experience developing and evaluating physical activity interventions and related research studies in mental health.
• Experience with data analysis, including sufficient knowledge in statistical tools and software.
• Develop, write, and collaborate on grant proposals; engage in career development and training opportunities geared toward preparation for a faculty career.
• Develop, write, and collaborate on grant proposals; engage in career development and training opportunities geared toward preparation for a faculty career.
• Experience working with various individuals and communities.

Responsibilities

• Playing an active role in research projects, including project/program conceptualization, development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Lead and collaborate on manuscript preparation from relevant studies (e.g., data analysis, writing, and submission).
• Develop, write, and collaborate on grant proposals; engage in career development and training opportunities geared toward preparation for a faculty career.
• Develop, write, and collaborate on grant proposals; engage in career development and training opportunities geared toward preparation for a faculty career.

What This Job Offers

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