Postdoctoral Research Associate

Texas A&M • Lubbock, TX

15h • Onsite

About The Position

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.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in soil science, agronomy, crop physiology, or related fields, with a focus on nutrient management, soil water dynamics, or plant physiology.
• This position requires physical activities, including extensive fieldwork, heavy lifting, and working in extreme environments.
• This position requires travel.

Nice To Haves

• 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.

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.

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
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees