Senior Research Associate
About The Position
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. Click here to learn more about how you can be a part of AgriLife and make a difference in the world! Position Information Applications are invited for a Senior Research Associate to work in a joint research project at Texas A&M AgriLife, Temple, TX and USDA-ARS, Maricopa, AZ. The associate will lead the collection, processing, and analysis of agricultural data using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and related sensing technologies. This position supports research aimed at enhancing in-season cotton monitoring, resource management, and decision-making through the use of high-resolution aerial imagery and data analytics.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Engineering, Agronomy, Remote Sensing, Geospatial Science, or related field and four years of related professional experience. Or, Master's degree in in Agricultural Engineering, Agronomy, Remote Sensing, Geospatial Science, or related field and two years of related professional experience.
- Proven 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 multi-task 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 aerial imagery using UAV for vegetation indices (NDVI, NDRE, etc.), 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 to enhance data-driven insights.
- 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 leaveâ¯and at leastâ¯eight hours of paid vacation each month
- Automatic enrollment in theâ¯Teacher Retirement System of Texas
- Employee Wellness Initiative for Texas A&M AgriLife
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Number of Employees
1,001-5,000 employees
