Senior Research Associate

Texas A&M University System • Temple, TX

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Research Associate will lead the acquisition, processing, and analysis of high-resolution agricultural data using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and advanced sensing technologies. This role supports ongoing cotton research in two key areas: (1) high-throughput phenotyping to improve varietal performance under heat and water stress, and (2) in-season crop monitoring to inform and optimize management decisions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering, Agronomy, Remote Sensing, Geospatial Science, or related field. Four years of experience in agricultural remote sensing and UAV flight operations.
• Or, a master's degree in Agricultural Engineering, Agronomy, Remote Sensing, Geospatial Science, or a related field. Two years of experience in agricultural remote sensing and UAV flight operations.
• Proficiency with photogrammetry and GIS software (e.g., Pix4D, Agisoft Metashape, ArcGIS, QGIS).
• Strong data analysis skills using Python, R, or similar analytical tools.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with multispectral and thermal imagery applications in crop monitoring.
• Knowledge of agricultural management practices, crop phenology, and environmental monitoring.

Responsibilities

• Collect multispectral and hyperspectral imagery using UAV for vegetation indices (NDVI, NDRE, etc.), chlorophyll, canopy structure, soil variability, and water stress analysis.
• Process raw imagery using photogrammetry and GIS software to generate orthomosaics and vegetation maps.
• Manage geospatial data and integrate UAV and other sensor-derived datasets with ground-based observations and crop models.
• Work with crop modelers and data scientists to integrate UAV-based analytics into precision agriculture workflows.
• Performs 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
• Career Level: Senior